If you’re shopping for automotive two post lifts for the first time, the financing terms and payment schedule can feel more confusing than the lift itself. We hear this constantly from folks in central Iowa who want a place to store their project car, truck, or motorcycle over the winter and finally lift it off the ground instead of squeezing around it with jack stands. Auto Lift Services is based in Ames, and we sell, deliver, and install automotive two post lifts for home garages all over the state. This guide walks through what a first-time buyer actually needs to know before signing anything, from what payment options look like to what your garage needs to be ready for install day.
Browse home garage and commercial two post models, then call us for a quote that includes freight and install for your specific central Iowa address.
Why Central Iowa Buyers Choose Two Post Over Four Post
Most first-time buyers come to us thinking they need a four post drive-on lift because it looks simpler to use. Once we talk through the actual goal — usually seasonal vehicle storage plus occasional access to brakes, suspension, or an oil change — automotive two post lifts almost always make more sense. A two post lift lets you get underneath the car for real work, not just parked storage, and it takes up noticeably less floor width in a typical two-car garage. We’ve quoted plenty of Iowa homeowners who initially asked about a wide four post like the BendPak HD-9SWX for a second daily driver, only to switch to a two post once they realized how much floor space the wide-body four post units actually eat up.
The tradeoff is that two post lifts need a certain concrete slab thickness and condition to anchor properly, which is something we always check before quoting. If your garage floor is original to a home built decades ago, we may need to look at core samples or recommend reinforcement before installation. This isn’t meant to scare anyone off — it’s just part of doing the job right so the lift stays anchored securely for the life of the equipment, whether that’s a Rotary lift or a BendPak model.
What Financing Terms Actually Look Like
When people ask us about financing terms and payment schedule for automotive two post lifts, they’re usually picturing something complicated. In practice it’s simpler than most auto loans. We provide a written estimate up front that itemizes the lift, any accessories like jack trays or adapters, freight delivery, and installation labor as separate line items. That itemization matters because it lets you decide what to pay for now versus later — some buyers choose to have the lift delivered and installed together, while others take delivery first and schedule installation for a few weeks out once their concrete work or electrical is finished.
We don’t do the lift financing ourselves, but we work with buyers on payment schedules tied to project milestones — a deposit to place the order, a payment when the lift ships, and the balance due at or shortly after install. If you’re financing through a third-party lender or a home improvement loan, we can provide the documentation and spec sheets you’ll need for that application, the same way we send BendPak spec sheets to buyers comparing single-wide and double-wide storage lift options. Ask us early in the process so the paperwork lines up with your loan timeline instead of holding up delivery.
Seasonal Storage: What You’re Really Solving For
Seasonal vehicle storage is one of the most common reasons central Iowa homeowners call us about automotive two post lifts. Maybe it’s a convertible, a motorcycle, a boat trailer combo, or a second vehicle you only drive half the year. Lifting it up and out of the way during snow season frees up floor space for the vehicle you actually drive daily, and it keeps tires off cold concrete for months at a time, which matters more than people expect.
For pure storage with occasional wrench time, a symmetric two post lift in the 9,000 to 10,000 pound range covers the vast majority of home garage vehicles, including full-size trucks. If you’re storing something heavier or want to eventually work underneath commercial vehicles too, we quote extended-height and higher-capacity versions, similar to the 12,000 pound Rotary two post units we’ve supplied to dealership service departments. The key question we always ask is how you’ll actually use the space in the off-months — pure storage changes the accessory list versus a lift that also needs to handle regular service work.
Ceiling Height and Garage Measurements Come First
Before we quote anything, we ask about ceiling height, door height, and the width between any support columns or utility boxes in the garage. This is not a formality. We’ve had customers reach out wanting a home storage lift only to realize their garage door header or ceiling joists sit lower than the lift’s fully raised height plus the vehicle. If we don’t know your numbers, we can’t tell you whether a standard two post fits or whether you need a low-overhead or shorter-column configuration.
We ask buyers to send us four measurements: ceiling height at the install location, floor-to-bottom-of-any-obstruction height, the width available between walls or other equipment, and door opening dimensions if the vehicle needs to be driven in fully assembled. Central Iowa garages vary a lot — older farmhouses often have lower ceilings than newer suburban builds around Ames, Des Moines, or Ankeny. Getting these numbers right the first time saves everyone a wasted trip and gets your automotive two post lifts installed correctly on the first visit instead of requiring a return trip to swap components.
What Install Day Requires From You
A common question we get is whether the homeowner needs equipment on site for install day. For most residential two post installs, we bring what we need, but there are a few things that make the day go faster. Clear the install area completely — no stored boxes, no second vehicle parked where the lift columns need to go. If your garage has a finished or epoxy-coated floor, let us know in advance since anchoring involves drilling into the slab.
We also ask whether there’s a forklift or loading dock on site, mostly relevant for commercial buyers, but even residential deliveries sometimes need a lift gate truck depending on how the columns and crossbar are packaged. Electrical is the other piece — most two post lifts need a dedicated circuit for the power unit, and if your garage wiring is older, we’ll flag that during the quote stage rather than surprising you on install day. None of this is complicated, but skipping it is the most common reason installs get delayed or rescheduled.
New vs. Used Automotive Two Post Lifts
We get regular calls asking about used lifts, and it’s a fair question when budget is tight. The honest answer is it depends heavily on brand and age. If a used two post lift is a name brand like Rotary or Challenger and still has parts support, a rebuild on the cylinders or hydraulic system can make sense. If it’s an older or discontinued brand, we’ve had to tell customers that a blue American-brand two post lift they own has no parts available anymore, and if the cylinders are scored internally, custom replacement cylinders get expensive fast.
Before buying any used lift, ask the seller for the brand, capacity rating, whether it’s symmetric or asymmetric, and whether it’s been rebuilt or is original. We’re happy to look over photos or specs and tell you honestly whether it’s a good buy or a money pit before you hand over cash. Sometimes a new entry-level lift ends up cheaper over five years than a used lift needing cylinder replacement and seal kits every other season.
Getting a Straight Answer on Your Quote
Our goal with every first-time buyer is a straightforward buyer’s guide approach to the actual quote — no surprise line items after the fact. When we send an estimate for automotive two post lifts, it includes the lift model, capacity, any adapters or accessories, freight, and installation as clearly separated numbers so you can see exactly what you’re paying for and adjust if needed. If you want to compare a couple of models side by side, like a standard 9,000 pound symmetric versus an extended-height 12,000 pound version, we’ll send spec sheets for both so you’re deciding with real numbers instead of guessing.
If it’s been a few weeks since your quote and you’re still deciding, that’s normal — we follow up but we’re not going to pressure anyone into automotive two post lifts they’re not ready for. Call us when you’ve measured your garage and thought through your budget, and we’ll walk through financing terms and payment schedule options that actually fit your timeline.
Our Clients Include: