4 post lift?
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 247
Likes: 0
From: Granger IA
4 post lift?
Hey guys, I am very serious about getting a 4 post lift so I can double up the vehicles in one of my garage stalls. I figured someone here has probably got one in their garage. Any advise or something you would do difffrent or have it built diffrent?
Also of main concern is installation. We just moved to Des moines IA and I dont really know anyone out here. So I'd be doing the istallation by myself. Any worries or concerns you'd forsee in doing it by yourself?
Also of main concern is installation. We just moved to Des moines IA and I dont really know anyone out here. So I'd be doing the istallation by myself. Any worries or concerns you'd forsee in doing it by yourself?
Posting Guru
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 1,734
Likes: 2
From: Kansas City area
I and two buddies bought 4 post lifts this summer and installed them ourselves. We ended up with Direct Lift's 7000lb unit due to the fact one of the guys talked them into a little lower price for buying 3 at a time. I was leaning toward the BendPak 9000 lift but it was more costly. Direct lift instructions are well written and you can do it yourself with either some help or planning with the correct tools to help you lift the heavy parts, mainly the runners that you drive on. Direct Lift shipped to a local freight dock (they will deliver to your home for extra $ and drop on your driveway) and we picked them up with a flatbed trailer. We used an engine hoist to lift from the trailer and a heavy furniture type flat dolly to position them. Other than that all you need are some hand tools. Be sure you have ceiling clearance. I will need to vault an area of ceiling in my garage to be able to lift to the max height. Most all of the lighter home use lifts are of China origin. Direct Lift is of decent quality and I have no complaints.
Last edited by LEckart; Oct 7, 2006 at 10:25 AM.
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 247
Likes: 0
From: Granger IA
Originally Posted by LEckart
I and two buddies bought 4 post lifts this summer and installed them ourselves. We ended up with Direct Lift's 7000lb unit due to the fact one of the guys talked them into a little lower price for buying 3 at a time. I was leaning toward the BendPak 9000 lift but it was more costly. Direct lift instructions are well written and you can do it yourself with either some help or planning with the correct tools to help you lift the heavy parts, mainly the runners that you drive on. Direct Lift shipped to a local freight dock (they will deliver to your home for extra $ and drop on your driveway) and we picked them up with a flatbed trailer. We used an engine hoist to lift from the trailer and a heavy furniture type flat dolly to position them. Other than that all you need are some hand tools. Be sure you have ceiling clearance. I will need to vault an area of ceiling in my garage to be able to lift to the max height. Most all of the lighter home use lifts are of China origin. Direct Lift is of decent quality and I have no complaints.
I'll take a look at the bendpak and the direct lift. You said that you need to vault part of your ceiling, how tall is your garage ceiling right now? That will give me a good idea where I stand too. Thanks for the help.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 1,769
Likes: 39
From: Minnesota
To figure out what you need for height you need to figure how much walking height you want below the vehicle plus the height of the vehicle on top. If you put an MG on top you need less headroom than a pickup truck or van. The vehicle usually sticks above the lift legs.
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 15,882
Likes: 88
From: Durham NC
Call the local unemployment office and ask if there is a location where you can pick up a day laborer or two to do the heavy lifting for you or rent an engine hoist or pallet dolly to move the parts around with. I built my garage with 12' 6" ceiling height to accomidate a lift. They are more expensive, and not meant for stacking, but I plan to get a full height scissors lift.
Posting Guru
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 1,734
Likes: 2
From: Kansas City area
Sundown-
Most of the lifts give you 70+" of clearance below the runner when fully up. I only have a 9'-4" ceiling in my garage. Something I might also add at a future date is aluminum ramps, the steel ones are heavy. The runners will be the heaviest item, probably 400-500# each. If you can lift with a chain from the engine hoist and put on a heavy flat dolly you can most likely get them in position. You do need to position them on top of the crossmember at each end and that will be a chore by yourself but doable. When I checked with a local lift maintenance company they wanted $400 to install and they figure two men 4-6 hrs. We did the last one in about 3 hours. Be sure to purchase your hyd. fluid ahead of time so you can test it when finished.
Most of the lifts give you 70+" of clearance below the runner when fully up. I only have a 9'-4" ceiling in my garage. Something I might also add at a future date is aluminum ramps, the steel ones are heavy. The runners will be the heaviest item, probably 400-500# each. If you can lift with a chain from the engine hoist and put on a heavy flat dolly you can most likely get them in position. You do need to position them on top of the crossmember at each end and that will be a chore by yourself but doable. When I checked with a local lift maintenance company they wanted $400 to install and they figure two men 4-6 hrs. We did the last one in about 3 hours. Be sure to purchase your hyd. fluid ahead of time so you can test it when finished.
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 247
Likes: 0
From: Granger IA
4-500 lbs. ea... whew, now I see why you used a engine hoist. Ok good info. For ceiling height I have 14'. So I should be good. Plus the top of my cab on my truck measures 49" from the ground, and the car I want to stick under it is a 72 citroen ds 19 which has a factory air over hyd suspension so its sits pretty low when its not running.
Good stuff guys thanks a lot!
I'm just worried about the 500 lb runners....Anyone in the des moines area want to help out, theres pleanty of ice cold beer and delivery pizza in it for ya?!!
Good stuff guys thanks a lot!
I'm just worried about the 500 lb runners....Anyone in the des moines area want to help out, theres pleanty of ice cold beer and delivery pizza in it for ya?!!
Trending Topics
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 227
Likes: 0
From: Bethesda, Maryland
Sundown, I went with the four post lift from Revolution - it's the hobby version of the Rotary lift. Same situation with shipping; they shipped to a local terminal and I picked it up there. I was able to do it with one other guy (they recommend four people) by using a bunch of long 2x4's as levers. I'm really thrilled with the quality of the lift and so far it's been totally reliable. I went with the extra long model because it offers additional height. My ceiling, like yours, is 14 feet. If you go to their web site they have a calculator where you put in the height of your vehicles and it tells you how tall your ceiling needs to be. Check out www.revolutionlifts.com and click on "products". That's where you'll find the calculator. I also have a picture of my truck on the lift in my gallery. Feel free to PM me if you have any other questions.
I researched for months before I bought mine and found this one to be the best value. It has the same 7,000 lb capacity as the BendPak but was cheaper. It also came with drip trays and jack stands. Good luck!
I researched for months before I bought mine and found this one to be the best value. It has the same 7,000 lb capacity as the BendPak but was cheaper. It also came with drip trays and jack stands. Good luck!
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make
Brett Foote
Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!
Michael S. Palmer
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home
Verdad Gallardo
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!
Joe Kucinski
2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?
Brett Foote
2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Most Surprising 2026 Ford Truck Features!
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 Ford Trucks Coming to Mecum Indy 2026
Brett Foote
