Comprehensive Comparison of Car Lift Styles

Car lifts come in various styles, primarily categorized into wheel-engaging and frame-engaging types based on how they support the vehicle. The most common examples are four-post lifts (wheel-engaging) and two-post lifts (frame-engaging). Car Lift For Sale Specialty lifts, such as scissor lifts, portable lifts, mobile column lifts, in-ground lifts, and parking lifts, are less common. Here’s an overview of each type and its applications for home or business use.

Four-Post Car Lifts

Car Lift For Sale Four-post automotive lifts are known for their versatility and high lifting capacity due to the added support columns. These lifts are user-friendly, often featuring a drive-on design that simplifies mounting. They are a popular choice for quick-lube stations and muffler shops. Hobbyists and home users also favor four-post lifts for garage parking since they typically don’t require floor anchors and can even be made portable with caster kits. The robust four-column design allows for storing two vehicles in a single space. However, four-post lifts are generally more expensive and may require additional accessories like rolling or sliding bridge jacks for wheel service.

Two-Post Car Lifts

Car Lift For Sale Two-post car lifts are prevalent in professional automotive shops. They feature two sturdy posts and support arms, allowing for a variety of vehicle sizes and offering unobstructed access to wheels. Two-post lifts are more affordable and space-efficient compared to four-post lifts. They come in symmetrical and asymmetrical designs. Symmetrical lifts have posts facing each other, distributing the load evenly, while asymmetrical lifts feature different arm lengths and a rotated post design, providing better clearance for vehicle doors and improved balance for longer trucks. Two-post lifts are less common in residential settings due to their height and complexity but are ideal for busy garages.

Scissor Car Lifts

Car Lift For Sale Scissor lifts use accordion-like mechanisms to raise vehicles and come in various configurations, including “X” type, parallelogram type, and pantograph type. They range from low-rise models, raising up to 36 inches, to full-rise versions exceeding this height. While scissor lifts have a compact, low-profile design that is ideal for home use, they cannot stack vehicles and require some tweaking for frame-engaging models. Scissor lifts retract into a low profile when not in use, making them suitable for home garages where space is limited.

Portable Car Lifts

For garages or shops with limited space, portable car lifts are a practical option. These include mobile scissor lifts, portable single-post lifts, and QuickJack systems. While portable lifts are convenient and space-saving, they often have lower capacities and cannot handle larger, heavier vehicles. It’s essential to choose a portable lift that meets the capacity needs of the vehicles you plan to lift.

In-Ground Car Lifts

In-ground lifts are ideal for larger shops or rental businesses, as they remain hidden within the floor when not in use. They can be elevator or scissor style and can be either wheel or frame engaging. Despite their aesthetic and space advantages, in-ground lifts are more expensive, often double the cost of a comparable two-post lift, due to installation and environmental safeguards. Recent advancements have addressed previous environmental concerns with non-toxic hydraulic fluids.

Alignment Car Lifts

Car Lift For Sale Alignment lifts are specialized for performing vehicle alignments, featuring built-in turn plates and slip plates that allow for easy wheel movement. They can be any wheel-engaging lift type, but mobile column lifts are not suitable for alignment tasks due to their design.

Mobile Column Lifts

Mobile column lifts offer flexibility with adjustable posts and advanced models that support wireless communication for simultaneous lifting of multiple posts. They are typically wheel-engaging with lifting forks but are usually reserved for heavy-duty applications and are not commonly used by home users.

Parking Lifts

Parking lifts maximize space by allowing one car to be parked above another. They feature a full drive-on deck and are intended solely for parking, not for automotive service. Parking lifts are ideal for maximizing parking space in both private and public settings.

When choosing a car lift, consider your space limitations, vehicle dimensions, and budget to select the most suitable style for your needs.
Auto Lifts: Selecting the Right Lift for Your Shop

If you’re servicing vehicles, you’ll need a reliable method to elevate them. While in-ground lifts were once the most common, there are now seven different types of lifts certified by the Auto Lift Institute. Choosing the right lift—or combination of lifts—depends on understanding your specific needs and the options available.

Two-Post Surface Mounted Lifts

Once rare, Car Lift For Sale two-post surface-mounted lifts are now among the most popular in the US. They accommodate a wide range of vehicles while occupying less space than four-post or other types of lifts. These lifts are bolted to the shop floor and typically use an electric motor to power a hydraulic system that lifts the vehicle. Each upright has two swing arms that extend under the vehicle, with adjustable feet to engage the frame or subframe as needed. Many two-post lifts feature a top-mounted shutoff bar to prevent the vehicle from being raised beyond a safe height.

Four-Post Runway Lifts

Four-post runway lifts are also gaining popularity. They are usually floor-mounted and allow vehicles to drive on and off the lift for servicing, eliminating the need to position arms under the vehicle. These lifts support the vehicle by its tires, making them ideal for undercarriage access without removing wheels. However, they can be equipped with wheel-free systems for tasks like brake work, tire replacements, and suspension or steering service.

Drive-On Parallelogram Lifts

Car Lift For Sale Drive-on parallelogram lifts offer a drive-up function similar to runway lifts but generally require the vehicle to be backed off after service. Some models feature two runways, allowing vehicles to be driven on and off without reversing. These lifts are often used for alignment work and can be fitted with tire adjustment plates. Due to their strength and size, they are commonly used for larger, heavy-duty vehicles.

Scissor Lifts

Scissor lifts have become increasingly popular for various service tasks, including oil changes, tire replacements, and alignment work.