Garage clutter is the most significant reason that homeowners aren’t able to from parking in their garages. However, another reason is that the fact that they have more vehicles for family members than space for garages.
The regular “vehicle shuttle” for families with a limited parking spaces is a hassle.
In some instances there’s a chance that you have an unoccupied vehicle for a season that is occupying one of your garage’s parking spaces for months at a stretch even if you’re not using it.
If the cost of yearly remote vehicle storage or an expensive garage expansion aren’t options that you are interested in having a lift for your car at home is a fantastic option to reduce parking issues.
What’s the ideal car lift to use in your garage?
If you’re looking into the various kinds of garage car lifts available You’ll discover that there are three types of garage car lifts:
4 post car lift
2 post car lift
scissor car lift
Scissor lifts aren’t an ideal garage parking solution because they aren’t able to be parked underneath them. They are also generally smaller in capacities for lifting, and are appropriate for lifting vehicles temporarily for maintenance purposes, but and not for long-term vehicle storage.
There are two well-known home car lifts that are 4 post and 2 posts car lifts. The 4 post car lift vs. 2 post car lift debate could be complicated, and we’re here in order to clarify the matter.
Here are seven crucial things to take into consideration in deciding which home car lift is well for you and your family’s requirements.
1. Parking at home
Many people who purchase an auto lift to your garage possibility to provide more parking space is the only aspect they’re looking at.
Possibility of parking your vehicle beneath another elevated by the car lift is a tempting option for those who are unhappy with having more vehicles than their garage can hold.
If you are looking to use it for this purpose For this kind of use, a four-post lift is the best choice. The majority of 4-post car lifts have been designed specifically for this use while only certain 2 post models are suitable for use as a parking lift.
The support posts of the lift with two posts are placed in the same spot on the point where vehicles are lifted. It is more difficult to open the doors and to get out and in the vehicle that’s parked beneath the 2 car lift.
Since the lift’s 4 posts are on the four corners of the vehicle that is parked under the lift side obstructions aren’t an issue.
The advantage of having four post lifts for cars versus 2 post lifts is the ease to get into and out of the car parking under the lift.
2. The convenience and user-friendliness
Two-post car lifts can be described as two-post car lifts are a “frame engaging” kind of lift which uses two arms of steel to carry the load of a car.
The disadvantage of two-post lifts is that there’s less margin for error in employing them correctly. You must be able to recognize the proper lifting points that can differ between vehicles. This means that two-post car lifts need greater care and attention when using these lifts.
The ease of use and convenience are two aspects to consider in the 4 post lift and. 2 post lift comparison, where the one is clearly the superior choice.
No matter what, every car lift needs users to be cautious while using it. A car lift with four posts is, however, basically requires users to drive their vehicle to the platform.
All four of the wheels support your weight of your vehicle There’s no need to guess and additional time to ensure that your vehicle is properly aligned to safely lift it.
3. Security considerations
If you don’t own one the idea of using the car lift could be a bit intimidating. Cars weigh thousands of pounds and it’s normal to feel slightly nervous about to park a car that is expensive above another one.
Finding the correct lifting points for the 2 post lift is vital to secure your vehicle. If you don’t, you’ll end up with a vehicle that is hoisted with an uneven center of gravity, which can increase the chance of your vehicle falling.
It doesn’t take an expert in physics to know that a four post car lift with more posts than the 2 post lift will give you greater stability.
This, in conjunction with the ease of using the lift with four posts, is one of the reasons they’re an attractive choice for homeowners. They simply provide them with greater security. Four post lifts are considered to be safer to use for vehicles that are heavier and to store long-term items.
A car lift manufactured by a trusted manufacturer must be in compliance with the highest safety standards, have ALI certification and installed by a professional. Maintenance of your car lift is essential as well.
Every 2 or 4 post car lift must include a safety lock, and possibly the hydraulic flow limiter feature. All four post lifts should also come with rear and front wheel chocks to stop vehicles from falling off the rear or front of the platform.
Make sure you visit concept-ge.co.uk when shopping for a 2 post ramp.
4. Garage space is used with the lift for cars
Four post car lifts as well as 2 post lifts benefit from the vertical space available within your garage. You’ll need to be sure that there’s plenty of clearance space overhead in your garage to allow your car lift to work effectively.
It is important to take factors such as the position of the garage door opener the height of how the garage doors are opened and the location of lighting and storage racks into consideration. The high-lift conversion is one way to make more space in which a lift for cars be put in.
In the case of 4 post car lifts vs 2-post lift cons and pros it’s true that a two post lift occupies less space in garages. If you’re in an enlarge garage or lower budget this could be the only choice.
If the budget you have and the space available in your garage don’t pose any issues However, you’ll be satisfied with the benefits the car lift that has four posts provides.
5. Installation process is easy
As safety is of utmost importance when operating the car lift, setting up one is not an DIY task unless you are sure of the ropes.
Car lifts can also be difficult to install due to their size (a typical four-post car lift could weigh between 1,800 and 2,500 pounds).
A reputable car lift installer will be able to examine the floor of your garage to ensure the concrete is strong enough to support the huge load it is expected to support. A concrete slab that is that is 4-5 inches thick is usually advised.
All car lifts with 2 posts require anchoring and the installer needs to consider the state of the floor as well as the location of seams and cracks prior to putting in anchors. Due to their greater stability, the majority of 4 post lifts aren’t required to anchors.
It is also important to understand what you’re doing when concerns the electrical wiring to install a car lift. A lot of car lifts have an 110V motor which can be used effortlessly with electrical systems found in the majority of garages.
Some car lifts use a 220V motor, however. For these models of lifts it is likely that you will require an electrician to modify the electrical system in your garage to accommodate more voltage.
6. Extra car lift functionality
For some, having extra storage for cars could be a second priority having a car lift for repairs to their cars.
25% of homeowners who were surveyed in the Wall Street Journal survey used garages to maintain their vehicles.
There’s a wide range of views when it comes to the car lift with 4 posts vs 2 lift debate on which is the better option to use for home use lift.
Some car enthusiasts argue that a lift with two posts is more effective due to the ease of access it provides to the wheels and other places on the underside of a car when it’s lifted.
Four post car lift owners could counter this argument with the claim that they can use the an attachment for a jack tray to lift the vehicle off of the platform to accomplish these tasks.
In terms of flexibility, a four-post lift offers greater storage options. With the appropriate vehicle lift, large items such as a motorcycle or riding lawn mower or snowblower could be tucked away in the car lift.
Another advantage of a lift with four posts for some is the fact that the lift is able to be moved within the garage in case of need. Contrary to an anchoring 2 post car lift the four post lift offers some mobility thanks to the help of a caster kit that allows the lift to move around.
7. Cost
With their generally lower capacities for lifting and the amount of materials employed for their construction 2-post car lifts are less expensive than 4 post lifts.
Be sure to keep a few things in mind while setting your budget for your car lift:
Do your research and select a reliable, reputable car lift manufacturer
lower-cost car lift brands may not be able to meet the more stringent safety standards set by a well-established lift manufacturer.
the additional cost you’ll pay on a four post car lift is likely to be worth it in the end for the additional convenience and flexibility.
Budget car lifts can take longer to lift and lower your car and also operate more loudly when doing this
the car that you’ll be lifting will affect the price you’ll be charged for a lift
Whatever type of lift you purchase take note of how much you’ll save If you’ve been paying each year on the storage of your vehicle from a distance.
It also offers a greater level of convenience as well as assurance that comes with having your vehicle stored during the winter months at home.
Think about how much it will cost to install an auto lift as opposed to having a chaotic garage renovation.