Four-Post Lifts

For heavier vehicle lifting, Car Lift For Sale four-post lifts are commonly used. These lifts offer greater capacity than two-post lifts due to their extra support columns.

Four-post lifts are user-friendly and appeal to a broad range of clients, from hobbyists to home garages and shops of all sizes. They don’t require floor anchors, making them more versatile. However, if you plan to use a four-post lift for wheel service, you’ll need to invest in sliding bridge jacks to lift the wheels off the runway.

Car Lift For Sale Four-post lifts also offer variety in terms of design and capacity. The open-front lift, which lacks a front crossbar, allows easy entry and exit from beneath the vehicle, making front-end adjustments quick and easy. The closed-front lift includes a front crossbar, so the choice depends on the type of work you plan to do.

These lifts come in a range of capacities, from 6,000 lbs. to 40,000 lbs., accommodating everything from small sedans to large trucks. JMC offers a wide selection of four-post lifts, with discounts of up to 30% on selected brands and products.

Advantages:

• Requires only a 115-volt power supply, unlike the 220-volt requirement of two-post lifts.
• Offers a variety of accessories and weight capacities.

Disadvantages:

• Slightly more expensive.
• May take up more space, depending on the type.

Scissor Car Lifts

They are often used as mid-rise lifts and can also be used for wheel service where lifting a vehicle to great heights isn’t necessary.

Car Lift For Sale Scissor lifts come in three main types: X-type, parallelogram, and pantograph lifts.

These lifts also vary in height and capacity to suit both professional shops and hobbyists. Low-rise scissor lifts raise vehicles up to 36 inches, mid-rise lifts raise between 36 and 48 inches, and full-rise scissor lifts exceed that height. Parallelogram lifts, in particular, are some of the strongest on the market, with scissor lifts generally increasing in size with higher weight capacities.

These lifts are known for their low profile, making mounting straightforward with minimal effort.

Advantages:

• Low profile, depending on size and capacity.

Disadvantages:

• Frame-engaging scissor lifts may require some adjustments.

Portable Car Lifts

When space is at a premium, Car Lift For Sale portable car lifts are an excellent solution. Ideal for garages or shops with limited space, these lifts are available in various types, with most brands offering portable versions. However, with portable lifts, you often sacrifice some features for compactness. For instance, a portable four-post lift might lack the functionality and gadgets of its non-portable counterpart. Additionally, check the capacity before attempting to lift larger vehicles.

Advantages:

• Saves space, making it ideal for tight areas.

Disadvantages:

• Lacks many features found in non-portable lifts.

In-Ground Car Lifts

Car Lift For Sale In-ground lifts were once the standard in large shops and rental businesses, allowing vehicles to be stored underground when not in use. These lifts, which can be either elevator-style or scissor-style, are great for keeping the shop floor clear of clutter.

However, the extra space comes at a higher initial cost. For example, an in-ground lift may be more expensive than a two-post lift with similar features. Additionally, the installation involves cutting and preparing the shop’s concrete, which can add thousands of dollars to the cost.

In-ground lifts have also gained a reputation for being environmentally unfriendly and prone to oil leaks.

Mobile Column Car Lifts

Mobile column lifts are designed for lifting large vehicles, such as city buses, with added support. These lifts allow you to add or remove posts as needed, and advanced models come with wireless communication features, enabling one operator to lift platforms simultaneously on up to eight independent post structures.

Currently, mobile column lifts are wheel-engaging and use lifting forks instead of runways to engage the vehicle. Due to their size and price, these lifts are more suited for large shops than garages.

Parking Lifts

Car Lift For Sale Parking lifts are often misunderstood; they are not designed for vehicle maintenance or repair, but strictly for parking. These lifts feature a full drive-on deck, supported by either a single post or two posts, and are designed to allow you to park another vehicle beneath them.

Advantages:

• Maximizes parking space, effectively turning one spot into two.

Disadvantages:

• Not suitable for vehicle maintenance, repair, or service.

Before purchasing a vehicle lift, consider the space you have, your budget, and which type of lift best suits your needs as a shop owner or hobbyist. You should also ensure your garage or shop has enough ceiling height for a 72-inch under-car height, concrete thick enough to support the lift, and the appropriate power supply (115 or 220 volts).

In upcoming articles, we’ll dive deeper into each category of lift, explore our best sellers, and discuss the essential tools every new shop needs. We’ll also cover the top brands that produce these tools.

For more information on vehicle lifts and automotive equipment, contact one of our industry experts and inquire about our current specials.

Comprehensive Comparison of Car Lift Styles

Car Lift For Sale Auto lifts come in various designs, but they can generally be categorized into two main types based on how they engage with the vehicle: wheel-engaging car lifts and frame-engaging car lifts. The most popular lifts in each category are four-post lifts (wheel-engaging) and two-post lifts (frame-engaging). There are also less common, specialized lifts, including scissor lifts, portable lifts, mobile column lifts, in-ground lifts, and parking lifts. Here’s a quick overview of each type and their benefits for your home or business.

Four-Post Car Lifts

Four-post automotive lifts offer great versatility, especially when it comes to heavy lifting. They are also user-friendly, utilizing a drive-on and park method that is standard for wheel-engaging lifts. This makes them a favorite in quick-lube stations and muffler shops.

For hobbyists and home garage users, four-post car lifts are particularly popular because they generally don’t require floor anchoring. Smaller capacity models can even be made portable with an optional caster package. The sturdy four-column design also makes them ideal for storing two vehicles in a single parking space.