Forward Lifts 2 Post: The Iowa Buyer’s Guide

When shops in Iowa ask us about forward lifts 2 post style equipment, the conversation almost never starts with a model number. It starts with a problem. A tech is walking under a hood on jack stands. A dealership has three flat-rate bays and only two working lifts. A new independent shop just signed a lease in Ankeny and needs to be turning brakes in six weeks. That is where our team at Auto Lift Services comes in. We install, service, and stock parts for the full Forward two-post line across Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, Iowa City, Ames, Waterloo, and the whole state.

What Forward Lifts 2 Post Buyers Are Actually Choosing

Forward is one half of Vehicle Service Group (VSG), the same parent that owns Rotary. That matters because Forward two-post lifts share DNA with the Rotary lineup we install every week. The columns, the hydraulic gear, the safety-lock design, and the powerpack are all built at the same U.S. plant to the same ALI-certified spec. What differs is the finish, some column geometry, and the model naming. If you are cross-shopping brands, do not talk yourself out of Forward because the paint is a different color.

Most of what leaves our warehouse in the Forward two-post category is the 9,000 lb and 10,000 lb capacity range. That covers roughly 95% of what a general repair shop or a used-car dealer actually lifts — sedans, SUVs, half-ton trucks, and light commercial vans. Above that we move into 12K and 15K territory, which is where medium-duty vans, dually pickups, and heavier fleet work start to matter.

The Current Forward Two-Post Lineup, Model by Model

The core Forward two-post line we quote most often runs from the Forward F9 (9,000 lb symmetric) up through the Forward DP15 (15,000 lb). In between sit the Forward F10 and Forward F12, plus the Forward DP12 direct-drive variant that many shops prefer for taller trucks. The 9K and 10K models are the volume sellers because they fit most residential 12-foot ceilings once you plan for the overhead crossbeam, and because they handle the vehicle mix a suburban shop sees every day.

Configurations matter more than horsepower on this class of equipment. You will choose between symmetric arms (equal length front and rear), asymmetric arms (rotated columns for door clearance), and versymmetric arms that let you set up either way on the same lift. Overhead vs floorplate is the other big fork — overhead is standard and safer for door dings, floorplate lives on when your ceiling is too low. Our team walks you through it before you sign.

Symmetric, Asymmetric, and Versymmetric — Pick Right the First Time

Roughly seven out of ten Iowa shops we install for end up on a versymmetric configuration. The reason is simple: it handles both a heavy pickup and a low-slung passenger car without asking the tech to redo the arm setup. The columns are rotated slightly toward the front, which opens the door for the driver and passenger to step out cleanly, and the swing arms are engineered to accept short or long pads. If you are running a one-brand dealer bay, symmetric is fine. If you are running mixed vehicles, go versymmetric.

The one place we still steer buyers to true symmetric is heavy-truck and dually work above 12,000 lb, where load balance around the columns is what keeps the lift geometry safe. The DP-series in that capacity range is symmetric on purpose. Our installers have set up hundreds of these across central Iowa and can tell you within a few minutes what your vehicle mix actually wants — that phone call saves people a lot of money.

Installing Forward Two-Post Lifts in Iowa

Every install we do on forward lifts 2 post equipment starts with the same three questions: what is your slab, what is your ceiling, and what is your power? Slab thickness needs to be at least 4 inches of 3,000 psi concrete for the 9K and 10K, and 6 inches for anything at 12K and up. If the slab is thinner, we cut and pour footings — we do this constantly in older Des Moines and Cedar Rapids buildings that were never designed for lifts. It is routine work; it is not a dealbreaker.

Ceiling height is where most home garages get in trouble. A standard overhead Forward two-post wants roughly 12 feet of clear ceiling to work comfortably with a full-size SUV. Under that, we move you to a low-ceiling variant or a floorplate model. Power is almost always single-phase 220V, which most shops already have or can add cheaply. We handle the anchoring, shimming, arm restraint calibration, and the final ALI safety check the same day the truck lands, and we stand behind the install with a written warranty.

Cables, Sheaves, Cylinders, and Long-Term Service

Forward two-post lifts use an equalization cable system that runs between the columns to keep the carriages synchronized. That system is bulletproof when it is maintained and expensive when it is ignored. We tell every customer the same thing: inspect the cables every six months, look for broken strands and bird-caging near the sheaves, and replace them in pairs when one starts to fray. We stock OEM Forward cables and sheaves along with the aftermarket equivalents in our parts warehouse, and most orders ship same-day.

Cylinder reseal work is the other predictable service item on this class of lift. A Forward two-post cylinder that starts weeping at the rod seal is not scrap — it is a $200-range reseal job most of the time. We handled a leaking Forward two-post for an independent shop last year where the customer thought they needed a whole new lift; a fresh seal kit and a fluid change put it back into service the same afternoon. Read our related walkthrough on car lift cylinder repair for the details.

Used and Refurbished Forward Two-Post Lifts

We keep a rotating inventory of used and take-out Forward two-post lifts in Ames. These are lifts we pulled from dealer trade-ins and shop closures, cleaned up, replaced wear items on, and re-certified. A refurbished 9,000 lb Forward two-post typically lands in the middle price tier — well below new, well above the Craigslist gamble — and it comes with our install and a limited warranty. Used two-post inventory moves fast; if you are shopping this route, call us before you look elsewhere because our list is not always on the website.

Buying used is not for everyone. If you are running a commercial book of business with billable hours on the line, a new lift with the full manufacturer warranty pays for itself in the first year. If you are a hobbyist restoring a couple of trucks a year in your pole barn outside Ankeny or Boone, a good used Forward two-post is a smart way to spend less and still get real equipment. We are honest with buyers about which category they are in — if you want to see the current mix, our used car lifts for sale guide lays it out.

Getting a Quote on Forward Lifts 2 Post Equipment

Quoting a Forward two-post lift takes about ten minutes on the phone. We need to know the capacity you want, the ceiling height in the bay, the slab you are working with, and whether you need us to handle install or you have a contractor. From there we send back a written quote that includes the lift, freight to your address, tax, and either delivery-only or turnkey install with anchoring, ALI safety check, and training on your first vehicle. We do not play the “call us for pricing” game — the number goes on the quote.

If you are ready to move, call us at 800-674-9302 or email [email protected]. If you are still comparing, browse our full 2-post inventory at store.autoliftserv.com and read our related piece on 2-post car lift installation to understand what the day-of-install actually looks like. We install Forward across all of Iowa — Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, Iowa City, Ames, Ankeny, Waterloo, Sioux City, Council Bluffs, Davenport, and Dubuque — and we have techs on the road every week.