A pre install checklist 2 post lift buyers should run through before install day saves everyone a wasted trip, a delayed opening, or a lift sitting in crates in the corner of the shop for weeks. We’ve shown up to installs in Iowa where the slab wasn’t rated for the anchors, the ceiling was six inches too short, or there was no 220V circuit anywhere near the bay. Every one of those problems is fixable ahead of time with a phone call. This article walks through exactly what we check before our crew rolls a truck, so you know what to confirm before you ever schedule your appointment.
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Why a Pre Install Checklist 2 Post Matters
Most lift problems on install day aren’t equipment problems — they’re planning problems. A pre install checklist 2 post buyer works through before the truck shows up catches the issues that would otherwise turn a half-day install into a two-day headache. We’ve seen shops order a lift, get excited, and forget to check whether their existing slab was poured for a lift at all. We’ve also seen shops assume any 220V outlet would work, only to find out it was on the wrong breaker size for the power unit.
Running through a checklist forces you to answer questions in the right order: is the space physically big enough, is the floor strong enough, is there power close enough, and can the lift even get through your door. Skip any one of those and the install crew either has to make a call, delay the job, or in the worst cases, walk away and reschedule. A pre install checklist 2 post review takes maybe twenty minutes with a tape measure and a phone call to us — cheap insurance against a lost install day.
Slab Thickness and Concrete Condition
Every two post lift anchors into concrete, and every manufacturer specifies a minimum slab thickness and cure time for that model. Most commercial two post lifts need at least four inches of properly cured concrete with no rebar mesh directly under the anchor points, and the slab needs to be at least 28 days old at time of install. We ask every customer in Iowa to tell us the age and thickness of their slab before we schedule, because older buildings sometimes have thinner floors than people assume, and new construction slabs are sometimes poured just weeks before the lift shows up.
Cracked, spalling, or patched concrete near the anchor bolt pattern is a red flag we want to know about in advance, not discover with a hammer drill in hand. If your slab is questionable, we can talk about a concrete pad addition before install day rather than after a failed anchor pull test. This is one of the most important items on any pre install checklist 2 post buyers use, because it’s the one item that can’t be fixed quickly once the crew is on site.
Ceiling Height and Overhead Clearance
Two post lifts need enough overhead room for the vehicle to reach full rise without the roof, antenna, or lift arms hitting anything. We tell customers to measure from the floor to the lowest overhead obstruction — bar joists, ductwork, sprinkler heads, and light fixtures all count, not just the roof deck. A lift rated for a certain rise height on paper won’t do you any good if a duct run cuts that clearance short in your actual bay.
We also ask about garage door header height and door track position, since some two post lift columns need clearance from a door track when it’s fully open. Getting this measurement wrong is one of the most common reasons an install gets delayed, because there’s no quick fix for a low ceiling on install day. Confirming ceiling height early is a non-negotiable line on any pre install checklist 2 post shop owners should be using.
Electrical Service and Power Unit Placement
Most two post lifts run on a 220V single-phase circuit, though some heavier-duty and three-phase models need something different. We ask customers to tell us what’s already run to the bay and how far the nearest suitable outlet or panel is from where the lift will sit. Running new electrical after the lift is already in place adds cost and delay that’s completely avoidable with one conversation ahead of time.
We also talk through where the power unit itself will mount, since it needs to be within hose reach of both columns and accessible for future maintenance. A pre install checklist 2 post buyer completes should include a quick photo of the panel and breaker labeling sent to our team, so we can confirm compatibility before the truck ever leaves Ames.
Bay Width, Column Spacing, and Door Clearance
Two post lifts need enough width between columns to swing doors open on the vehicles you actually service, plus enough side clearance to walk around comfortably. We ask for the width and depth of the bay, plus the location of any support columns, workbenches, or parts washers that might crowd the footprint. This matters even more in older Iowa shop buildings where support columns weren’t planned around lift placement.
We also confirm that the crated lift itself can get through your bay door — columns and arms are heavy and awkward, and a door that’s too narrow or too low means unloading outside and carrying components in by hand. This adds real time to an install day that a five-minute measurement could have prevented. Every pre install checklist 2 post crew we run through catches this before it becomes a surprise.
Vehicle Types and Lift Capacity Fit
The vehicles you actually lift should drive the lift capacity and configuration you order, not the other way around. We ask customers what they service day to day — light passenger cars, half-ton trucks, or heavier fleet and commercial vehicles — because arm length, lifting points, and rated capacity all need to match. A shop that upgrades to bigger trucks after buying an undersized lift ends up needing a second purchase sooner than they should.
This is also where we talk about symmetric versus asymmetric arm lifts, since door swing clearance and vehicle balance change depending on which style fits your typical vehicle mix. Getting this decision right before ordering saves you from a lift that technically works but fights you every single day. It’s a step worth pairing with our two post lift install checklist for a full picture of install-day readiness.
Scheduling, Access, and Final Walkthrough
The last section of any pre install checklist 2 post buyer should cover is logistics: who unlocks the building, is there a forklift or means to move the crate, and is the bay actually clear of vehicles and debris on install morning. We’ve had install days slip because a bay we were told would be empty still had two cars parked in it when our crew arrived.
We recommend a short phone walkthrough with our team a few days before the scheduled date to confirm every item above one more time — slab, ceiling, power, bay dimensions, and vehicle fit. It takes fifteen minutes and it’s the difference between an install that wraps in half a day and one that drags into a second visit. For a broader look at prepping any lift type, our general pre install checklist and 4-post install checklist cover similar ground for other configurations.
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