Purchasing a car lift is straightforward, but the research required can be more complex. There’s a lot to consider when finding the best lift to suit your needs. That’s why here at Car Lift For Sale, we provide all the essential information you need before making a purchase. This article will guide you through everything you need to know about our 2-post lifts.

There are two types of 2-post lifts: overhead models and floor-plate models. The key difference is that the overhead model has a bar connecting the two posts at the top, while the floor-plate model has a plate running across the floor to stabilize the posts during use.

Car Lift For Sale offers 2-post lifts with two different lift capacities: 10,000 lbs. and 12,000 lbs. The 10,000 lb. capacity lift is suitable for standard cars and smaller trucks, while the 12,000 lb. capacity lift is designed for larger vehicles like SUVs and work trucks. Both capacities are available in overhead and floor-plate models.

All 2-post lifts must be anchored to the ground for safety and stability. The floor must be made of concrete that is free of debris and seams, with minimal slope. For a 10,000 lb. capacity lift, the concrete depth needs to be 4.5″. For a 12,000 lb. capacity lift, the depth should be 5″. These specifications, along with the ability to withstand 3,500 psi, help reduce the risk of lift failure.

Our 2-post lifts are designed to fit in a standard garage. The recommended garage bay size is 12′ tall by 12′ wide by 24′ deep. A ceiling height of 12′ ensures that an overhead model has enough clearance. If your garage has lower ceilings, a floor-plate model is a better option, requiring only 9.5′ of ceiling height while still offering full use and access like the overhead model. The other dimensions ensure there is sufficient room to maneuver around the lift and accommodate larger vehicles.

All of the 2-post lifts from Car Lift For Sale are symmetrical, meaning each arm of the lift bears an equal portion of the vehicle’s weight, keeping it centered. The only drawback to this design is that the vehicle’s doors cannot be opened widely while on the lift. However, symmetrical lifts offer greater drive-through clearance and more space between the posts compared to asymmetrical lifts.

It’s frustrating to spend a significant amount of money on what should be one of the best purchases of your life, only to be disappointed by an underpowered car lift or an unreliable automotive equipment company. At Car Lift For Sale, we hate hearing about fellow auto-enthusiasts getting burned by a bad deal. That’s why we created the following checklist to help you avoid an unfavorable outcome and get the car lift of your dreams.

Car Lift For Sale’s Guide to Finding Your Perfect Automotive Lift

Please remember, this checklist is just a starting point. The first and last steps will always be research. Be an informed consumer, not a victim.

10. Availability of Information

Since research is such a crucial part of your decision-making process, be wary of car lift companies that don’t provide much product or company information. Reputable companies are proud of their products, features, and corporate achievements, so they stand behind them publicly. They usually aim to spread the word about their products as widely as possible. If you find yourself on the sixth page of Google without useful information, the company might be hiding something. Some companies will try to force you to call in for more details, often to sell you based on sales tactics rather than product features. Don’t fall into this trap. When information is easy to find, you can be confident you’re on the right track.

9. Who REALLY Made This Lift

This ties directly to the previous tip. A legitimate lift manufacturing company should proudly place its name on the lift. Unfortunately, many lift “brands” are just labels created by small-time warehouse dealers, falsely presenting these products as their own. These car lifts are often manufactured offshore in factories with little regard for global standards. If you’re interested in a particular car lift, be sure to find a detailed manufacturing company website or at least a brochure. Also, check if multiple dealers in your country sell the brand. Some shady dealers will claim to be “exclusive suppliers,” but if they were offering a superior product, the manufacturer would likely seek to expand its business by incorporating as many dealers as possible. If you can’t find solid, verifiable information about the actual manufacturer or if only a limited number of dealers sell the lift, it’s probably best to look for other options.

8. Know Your Car Lift For Sale Garage

Sometimes enthusiasm can overshadow what’s physically feasible. It’s important not to get carried away. Measure, re-measure, and re-re-measure your garage. While car lift alterations are sometimes possible, they are rare and usually costly. Triple-check the physical dimensions of your chosen car lift either online or over the phone. Also, make sure you know where your electricity is, if you need a compressor to operate the locks, and if your concrete can handle the bolts required to secure the lift to the floor. It comes down to really getting to know your garage. A quick-reference notebook containing your garage’s key dimensions is a great way to keep track of everything and be prepared with your install-site information at all times.

7. Car Lift For Sale Company Reputation

After you get past all the marketing hype, feel free to consult one of the many online forums where you can discuss with everyday people the pros and cons of the lift for you. However, keep in mind that the feedback, whether positive or negative, might be more extreme than reality. Use opinions as an additional source of information in your quest for the best car lift, but remember that the truth is usually somewhere in the middle. Also, watch out for potential shills—salesmen posing as concerned community members to make their products look better than the competition. If you have any doubts about bold statements, request proof in the form of pictures.