Two Post Lift Install Day Tools: What You Actually Need

If you’re staring down a pallet of steel columns and a box of hardware wondering what two post lift install day tools you’ll actually need, you’re not alone. We get this question constantly from Iowa shop owners and home garage guys who bought a lift online and are now realizing the install isn’t just a couple of wrenches and good intentions. Auto Lift Services installs two post lifts across Iowa every week, and we’ve learned the hard way which tools save hours and which ones you can skip. Here’s the real list, not the generic one printed in the owner’s manual.

The Concrete and Anchoring Tools

Anchoring is where most botched two post lift installs go wrong, and it’s the first place your two post lift install day tools list needs to be complete. You need a rotary hammer drill capable of the anchor bit diameter specified by the manufacturer — usually 3/4 inch or larger for wedge anchors — plus the correct carbide bit, a shop vacuum to clear drilling dust from each hole, and a torque wrench rated high enough to hit the anchor manufacturer’s spec. Skipping the vacuum step is the number one reason anchors fail pull tests later; dust in the hole reduces holding capacity even if the anchor seats fine visually.

Beyond the drill, bring a chalk line or laser level to mark your column centerlines accurately before you drill anything, a tape measure long enough to check bay width and column spacing in one pull, and a concrete test hammer or at minimum a good visual read on the slab to confirm it meets minimum thickness and age requirements. We’ve shown up to installs where the customer had every tool ready except a way to verify slab thickness, and that one gap turned a same-day install into a two-day job once we had to core-drill a test spot. Having these tools staged before the crew arrives is what separates a smooth install from a frustrating one.

Lifting and Rigging Equipment

Two post lift columns are heavy — often 400 to 700 pounds each depending on capacity — so your two post lift install day tools need to include real rigging, not just extra hands. An engine hoist or shop crane rated for the column weight, heavy-duty ratchet straps, and a pallet jack to move crated components around the bay before you’re ready to stand them up are all standard on our trucks. A forklift is even better if your shop has one, since it lets you position columns within inches of their final anchor points without manhandling them.

You’ll also want a couple of adjustable jack stands or blocking to temporarily support a column while you check plumb before final anchoring. Ratchet straps double as a way to hold columns loosely against the overhead beam during dry-fitting, which makes the alignment step in the next section far less stressful. Never rely on people bracing a column by hand while someone else drills — that’s how installs turn into injuries. If you don’t own rigging equipment, renting an engine hoist for the day is far cheaper than the alternative.

Alignment and Leveling Tools

Getting columns plumb and parallel is non-negotiable, and it’s a step where the right two post lift install day tools make all the difference. A four-foot level minimum, ideally a six-foot level, checks plumb on both faces of each column. A framing square or the overhead beam itself (on above-ground models) helps confirm the columns are parallel to each other and square to the bay, not just individually plumb. Many installers also use a laser level projected across the bay floor to double-check that both column base plates sit at the same reference height, since even a quarter-inch discrepancy in an older, uneven slab can throw off door swing clearance later.

Digital angle finders have become popular for checking column tilt more precisely than a bubble level alone, especially on taller commercial two post lifts where a small angle error at the base translates to a bigger gap at the top. We also carry shims rated for structural use, because almost no slab is perfectly flat, and shimming the low side of a base plate correctly is part of a proper alignment — not a shortcut. Skipping precise alignment tools is the fastest way to end up with a lift that racks or binds under load.

Hydraulic and Cable Assembly Tools

Once the structure is anchored and plumb, your two post lift install day tools shift toward the hydraulic and cable systems that make the lift actually work. You need line wrenches sized to the hydraulic fittings (usually flare nut wrenches to avoid rounding soft fittings), Teflon tape or thread sealant appropriate for hydraulic connections, and a way to bleed air from the system — often just patience and the bleed procedure in the manual, but a small catch pan keeps hydraulic fluid off your new anchors and slab.

For cable-equalized two post lifts, you’ll need cable tensioning tools, usually just wrenches and a way to measure equal slack on both sides, plus a grease gun for any pulleys or sheaves that require lubrication before first use. Having spare cable clamps and a small selection of retaining clips on hand prevents a mid-install trip to the hardware store when a factory-supplied piece gets dropped down a column or comes up short. We stage all of this in a dedicated hydraulics tote so nothing gets lost in the shuffle of bigger structural tools.

Electrical and Power Unit Setup

Most two post lifts run on a 220-volt power unit, which means your two post lift install day tools list needs basic electrical gear even if you’re hiring an electrician for the final hookup. A voltage tester confirms the circuit is dead before anyone touches wiring, wire strippers and a proper crimping tool handle the power unit connections, and a set of nut drivers fits the control box cover screws that always seem to be a different size than everything else on the lift.

If your shop layout requires running new conduit to the lift location, add a conduit bender and fish tape to the list, though most Iowa shops we work with already have a dedicated 220 circuit near each bay from a previous install. Once wired, you’ll want the tester again to confirm proper phase and voltage at the power unit before running the pump for the first time. Rushing this step because you didn’t bring a tester is how motors get damaged on day one.

Safety Gear You Cannot Skip

No two post lift install day tools list is complete without the safety equipment that protects everyone on site. Hard hats are standard whenever columns are being raised overhead, safety glasses are mandatory during any drilling or grinding, and gloves rated for handling steel components prevent the cuts that come from crated edges and sharp column brackets. A first aid kit should be within reach, not buried in a truck three bays over.

We also treat fall protection seriously on above-ground two post lifts installed near mezzanines or pits, and we always keep a fire extinguisher nearby whenever hydraulic fluid and grinding sparks are both present in the same bay. None of this is optional gear for us, and it shouldn’t be for you either — an install day injury costs far more time and money than the few extra minutes it takes to gear up properly before the first bolt goes in.

Final Checks and Documentation Tools

The last category of two post lift install day tools is often forgotten: the ones you use to prove the job was done right. A torque wrench for a final anchor torque check, a camera or phone to document anchor spacing and torque values for your records, and a copy of the manufacturer’s installation checklist to sign off against each step. If you ever need warranty support or sell the shop down the road, this documentation is worth more than people expect.

We also recommend keeping a running load test on hand — cycling the lift empty several times, then with a vehicle at rated capacity, checking for even rise, proper latch engagement, and no unusual noise from the hydraulic system. If you want a full walkthrough of what to expect before, during, and after installation, our two post lift install day what to expect guide covers the sequence in detail, and our two post lift install guide breaks down the full process start to finish. If timing is your bigger question, our two post lift install timeline article lays out realistic day-of expectations.