Which lift is best for me?
We at equipment4garages hear this question many times each week.
There is no right answer to this question but if we go through the pros and cons for each lift type we supply - 2 Post, 4 Post and Scissor. From that information you should be able to come to the best buying decision for you.
A car lift is one of the most useful tools the keen home mechanic can have for repair or maintenance, as much of the work to be done on a modern car is from underneath the car. They do make life easy whether it's to work on the brakes or the engine/transmission and it sure does beat sliding under a jacked up car.
"Working safely under motor vehicles being repaired" is a Health and Safety Executive Leaflet that can be downloaded as a PDF Just click here. This leaflet is aimed at owners, managers and supervisors of motor vehicle repair facilities - it may also be useful to employees. It contains excerts from accident reports illustrating the risks involved in working under vehicles in motor repair, which can prove fatal. Contents: Among other things, there is advice on using the correct equipment, making sure it's installed correctly, maintenance, training, checking equipment and roadside working
|
|
 | Will a lift fit into my garage?
Professional shops know what type of lift works best for them. They may well have both 2 Post & 4 Post types in their service bays but the small car repairer or home motor mechanic usually only has room for one lift in his garage or workshop.
It is important when you are thinking about installing any car lift that you have space not just for the lift but for a space around the lift where you can safely work on the vehicle and freely move around the raised lift. This means that in best health and safety practice you should allow at least 2.foot (60cm) from any wall or obstruction around the lift.
Don't forget to measure the height of your workshop or garage to make sure the lowest part of the roof under the lift will not impede the lifting height of the lift with a vehicle on board. |
|
Installation.
Lifts should be installed on a sturdy level concrete base at least 6" thick and it's into this base that the retaining bolts can be screwed. Your barn may have all the height you need to take a lift but a cow flattened mud floor will not take the bolts for a 2 post lift and will not be level..
You should not install your lift near the edge of the concrete base or within 3 feet of any cracks or seams in the base to ensure stability of the lift.
We can't do the ground work but we can arrange for any lift to be delivered and installed on a suitable floor. It usually takes two men all day to complete an installation but you will need to have a qualified electrician on site to sort out the electricity supply.
You can do the installation yourself as all the bolts and instructions are supplied but remember lifts are very heavy and you will need two, three or four people to help you - don't try and do it alone. |  |
|
 | Single or three phase electric supply?
Single or three phase electric supply? All electrical installations must be carried out by a fully qualified electrician - It's the LAW.
Domestic premises usually only have a 230v single phase supply and you would need to have an independent spur taken from your fuse box of 30 amps - like an electric oven - direct to your lift.
Commercial workshops may have a 415v three phase supply from which an electrician would be able to supply power to your lift.
It is therefore very important to state when you order your lift if you require a single or three phase motor, and most of our lifts can be supplied in either single or three phase. |
|
Compressed Air Supply
Compressed Air Supply - some lifts may also need a compressed air supply to work the safety locks. You can also use this air supply to safely power tools when working under and around a vehicle. Normally an air supply is required by our 4 Post Lifts and some scissor lifts. |
|
2 Post lift
The most popular lift we sell is the model 209 a 2 post floor plate model which will lift up to 4 tons, so can lift small trucks and 4x4's as well as most family cars. With a 2 Post lift you can do most jobs on a vehicle easily including removing the wheels to get to the brakes. You do have to position the lifting arms under the car which on a sports car that sits close to the ground could be tricky.
Just becareful when working on lightweight sports cars that if you remove a heavy part from one end it does not upset the balance of the car on the lift making it unstable.
If you don't have much height in a low ceiling garage you will find that a 2 post lift will give you a little extra space under the vehicle compared to a 4 post lift when the top of the vehicle is raised to the same height due to the fact that the four wheels and their assembles hang below the lifting arms on a 2 post lift.
You can also buy 2 post lifts which have a bar over the top which contains a safety stop so you cannot lift the vehicle through the roof. This style of lift also gives you a clear floor area between the posts.
"Risk of vehicles falling off two-post vehicle lifts in motor vehicle repair " is a Health and Safety Executive report which you can access here. It alerts Enforcing Authorities to the risks of vehicles falling from 2-post lifts in motor vehicle repair facilities and outlines the key safeguards to safe operation. It explains action that has already been taken by the industry and some emerging issues that visiting staff may wish to be aware of. |  |
|
 x 220.jpg) | 4 post lift
A 4 post lift takes up more space than a 2 post lift but is best for sports cars which are close to the ground and classic cars which may have a weak under body.
With a 4 post lift you can also open all the doors without posts being in the way. To lift the wheels up you will need to spend out on a jacking beam.
Some people feel safer working under a car on a 4 Post lift than under a 2 post lift.
You can also use a four post lift to store one car above another when not in use.
Some 4 post lifts are designed to fit into a pit especially those designed for MOT bays, these require substantial ground work before fitting and cannot be easily moved. |
|
Scissor lift
Scissor lifts tend to be smaller and easier to move around even going outside if the weather permits.
Some allow you to either lift by the wheels as per a 4 post lift or leave the wheels dangling like a 2 post lift perfect for working on wheels and brakes. Again you have no posts in the way of doors ideal for bodywork repairs.
These lifts lie flat on the garage floor when not in use and the low profile allows you to park your vehicle over them when not being used.
Because the lifting mechanisms are under the lifting trays you cannot stand directly beneath the vehicle when it's on a scissor lift but they are a popular choice and should be considered. |  |
|
New or Second-hand?
New or Second-hand? Like most items lifts are constantly being improved either to come up to new European standards or to use the latest technology available to make it more reliable with less wear on moving parts and easier to use. But we understand that not everyone can afford a new lift so we offer a range of used lifts usually taken out of main dealers' service bays. These may not be the latest models or cleanest of lifts but they do the job. |  |
|
 | Maintenance
Maintenance To keep your lift in a good condition you will need to check the rubber pads, wire-ropes, cylinders and pistons at regular intervals and keep all moving parts lubricated. It is good workshop practice to keep the lift area free from any debris which may find its way into the lift mechanism
We can supply replacement parts for all the new lifts we stock. plus we hold a range of replacement rubber pads. |
|
| |
Expert advice
Rember expert advice on all our products is only a phone call away. For an answer to your product or delivery queries you just have to
Speak to Richard on:
07785 377799 or 01727 809334
Fax him on : 01727 875695
email him at: info@equipment4garages.com |
|
Pay by Credit Card
We accept Visa and Mastercard. We do not charge for any item until it is ready to ship. Backordered items are not charged until they are shipped. You may send your credit card information via phone, fax, mail or over the Internet. Payment is taken through Actinic Payments!
 |
 | We also advertise our products on eBay
Click the eBay logo to visit our eBay shop
http://stores.shop.ebay.co.uk/Equipment4garages
Same products, Same low prices.
|
|
