2 Post or 4 Post Lift?

I'm getting close to finishing up my new shop (actually painting this weekend) and I'm curious what is the easiest lift to use in a novices shop?

I know my limits so I doubt I'll be doing body swaps or anything crazy.

Just routine racecar maintenance and daily driver stuff.

I'm leaning towards a 4 Post for ease of use. My cars all sit pretty low and laying on the floor adjusting the 2 post arms sounds like no fun.

I have owned a 2 post for 15 years.. bought
it used.. am getting ready to buy another hoist
and its going to be another 2 post.. I can do
about 90% of my work on a 2 post.. I might even
look at a 4 post also but on rollers

2 post takes up very little floor space. You can put the arms up when not in use and use the space. Also easier to work under the car, around the car, etc. I've used both and have a 2 post in my shop with no regrets. Yes, I have to use a floor jack to get the arms under some of the low stuff.

For jobs where you don't need to remove the wheels, a 4 post is easiest. You drive on, and raise it up. But the ramps hinder access to the wheels and under the rockers. A 2 post is harder to lift the car, you have to swing the arms into place. But then the wheels are hanging, you you have unrestricted access to 95% of the underside. So it depends on the type of work you plan to do.

2 post, easy choice for me. Takes up less floor space and maximum access to the underside for the car. A 4 post is just a PITA to me. Most low cars still have trouble getting on a 4 post lift too.

Really depends on size of shop, and work you plan on doing.

4-post
pro
Simple oil change or underside inspection. Use it to scale car(Easy to adjust the stops so its level). You also have a shelf to set tools and parts on. I move it around my shop to different locations and store a car all winter on it.
cons
Takes a lot of space when not used. Make sure on wider cars the mirrors don't hit the posts. The antenna on the lower car can snag. I do not have the lift jacks to raise the wheels off the lift so no brake work or tire rotations. The ramps are fairly heavy, probably can get some lighter aluminum ones

2 post
pro
All tires, suspension, and brakes easy to work on. Takes less shop space when not used.
cons
I can not move the lift around and sometimes it just in my way, Always have to crawl around to position lift arms, and I always seem to have the tool I need out of reach.

I would keep the two post if I only had one lift. Tire rotation and brake work is often at my house.

I'm thinking about this one.

NSS-8 8,000 lb Service Storage Four Post Automotive Lift
https://nationalautotools.com/products/nss-8-service-storage-four-post-automotive-lift

It comes with casters.

I'm not sure space is huge concern right now. The shop is 30x40 and I only have a couple cars right now.

I laugh because I said the same thing. Don't kid yourself. When I got my shop done and walked in before there was a thing in it, it looked like an aircraft hanger. Now? It's crowded, I have to move stuff around all the time to get it out of my way and I'm going to get an estimate on a cold storage addition soon.

They just finished a new industrial building near me (about 200' square) and, as I drove by this morning, I was thinking it'd take me about a year to fill that.

I think it depends on you what you are doing and why you want a lift. If you are guy that primarily does oil change type work or like to clean the car or using it simply for additional storage of two cars where one would fit then use a 4 post. If you are a guy who does most of your own work on your cars then a 2 post is by far more versatile a tool than the 4 post variety.

LOL.. a shop is never big enough and you can never have
enough light.. I have my shop basically broke down into
3rd.. the one third is my machine shop and welding area..
the center is the hoist area and the far section is storage
area for my 38 Ply and my small trailer(goes behind the
Rampage.. I wanted 2000sqft but the township shut that
down.. I have 1200sqft in the shop and a 2000sqft pole barn
and the wifes garage... I do have a office and a clean room
thats part of the machine shop area.. they are all small
if you ask me

No matter which one you get buy it and enjoy it ASAP. I've been working on my back for 44 plus years and will never have a lift, but I sure would have loved one. I finally bought a used Quick Lift 6 years or so ago and it helps some. Last years transmission issues about wore me out pulling and installing my transmission 6 or 7 times by myself on the floor. I built my 28-36 shop in 1991 with 8 foot ceilings and was so used to working on my back and knees from doing Millwright work I never thought about my old age years.



https://www.kwik-lift.com/

I hope to be in a very similar boat in the next 12-16 months and the only thing that keeps me looking towards a 4 post lift is that it would be a better option (I feel) for storing cars/parking under a lifted car. I'll be using mine for this purpose as much as other uses. Ill just need to buy the jack that connects to the lift to remove wheels.

The one reason I am replacing my 2 post hoist
is that its a little short on vertical lift..
I'm sick of banging my head and the new one I'm
going to buy will lift another 10 above the one
I have now... this new one has lower arms on it
also.. my Rampage is VERY LOW and the arms will
still get under it.. my buddy has one right now
and I love it.. I have plenty of over head clearance

Best money spent. Maybe a toss up with A/C. I was putting gears in a 7.5 in a Trans Am or something and cracked my head getting up from under it for about the hundredth time. Put tools down, wiped my hands off, called the parts store and ordered it. Express. Didn't even ask the price.

I have both . For 2 post get a clear floor type, but this needs a higher ceiling . Way better if pulling transmissions
With a 4 post i have a air operated scissor lift that slides end to end for wheels off work

Tex

I had a version of this at the dealer. I loved it. Building a new workspace next year, and this is part of it. I am limited to 1000 sq ft in my neighborhood so space is at a premium. The benefits, they take up no space, they give you a table area for brake work, doesn’t matter how low your car is, can use as a motorcycle/ atv lift etc...
Drawbacks are washing the floor or spills fill the pits, initial install is trickier than a flat floor. Not horribly difficult to do to an existing floor.
Cost for hoist set is cheaper than a two post in most cases( under 10,000 lbs). That doesn’t factor in the floor cost though.

https://youtu.be/JcJAnEcCsnM

As a former longgg time mechanic I would have a 2 post lift.
A 4 post is safer for a novice to use, no arms to move around. But is a pain to use to actually work on a car, but good to use for extra car storage, no tires hanging down.

This is the 2 post lift I will be getting for my 30x40 pole barn this summer.
http://www.gregsmithequipment.com/Elite-9KOH

I'm fortunate to have one of each now.

Started with an asymmetric 2 post based on consulting with numerous people more experienced with shop hoists than I was. My original leaning had been a four post, like you. I've never regretted the decision.

The only thing that bugs me is if I'm going to have a big car sitting on the hoist for a long time (as in a day or two) I start worrying about the rear end and suspension hanging there unsupported and the stress on the body. My biggest concern came when I did the brakes on a 70 convertible. I put screw type jack stands under the rear end to provide some support while the convertible was up there for a couple days.

As it is you can see the body of most any car move around some when using this style lift by watching the door gaps. I'm not talking about rusty, patched up bodies, either. Perhaps I'm over thinking this entire subject. The cars always come right back in line when I set them back down. It just bugs me. You're lifting a unibody car from the ends of the front and rear frame rails, so the engine is hanging out front and rear end hanging out back, along with all that rear end sheet metal, gas tank, etc.

Access under the car with a 2 post is very nice. When I installed the four post I quickly realized you have to stoop down to get under the ramps to work under the car. Remember the ramps are below the wheels, and are 4-6" thick, so you need to stoop over a fair amount to clear.

That I found to be a pain in the rear, especially when you're going back and forth a lot. That is much more irritating to me than kneeling down to place the arms on the 2 post.

The second thing I don't like is the ramps are hanging out there at the back, at an elevation that it's just a matter of time before you walk into one of them. I speak from experience and wrap foam around the leading edge of each.

Finally, the wheel kit is handy, but in my case at least, even with a good floor, it's enough work to push it around that I don't care to do it very often. I'm using my 4 post more for storage than work.

One last thought on a 4 post. Get the wider version if at all possible. Many of the standard ones are quite narrow between posts when you're dealing with a full size car or a truck.

The main issue with a 2-post lift is that it will always be where it is, you can't move it around like a 4-post. Also you limit access to the interior with a 2-post while you can have the doors wide open on a 4-post. So like said above, it really depends on what you will mainly do on the lift. Plenty of accessories for a 4-post to mimic a 2-post.

Neighbor just bought 2 of these for his garage,
https://nationalautotools.com/products/c7000-portable-two-post-auto-lift
I think if you only need it for occasional work the 4 post is a better option,
but if you are going to be working on anything more than 2-3 times a week, I think your better off with a 2 post.

For me the deciding factor for 2 versus 4 would be if I planned on doing frequent tranny or rear end work (swapping rear ends). If I was doing lots of either, I would go with a 2 post. I have a 4 post and agree with all of the positives and negatives listed so far. I have a rolling jack for it so brake and suspension work isn't an issue. A tranny can be pulled on a 4 post but definitely a little more of a pain. Exhaust work can also be a little more challenging when doing headers, but not insurmountable. I use mine to store my trailer indoors when its not in use so I like the extra height walking underneath without having to worry about hitting my head on hanging suspension. I have a Direct lift and moved the safety stops as high as I could so even a 6'+ person can still walk under without ducking.

Another vote for 2 post. I agree with most of what's been said so far - 2 post takes less room and allows more access under the car. IMO, a 4 post isn't good for much except storage. A 2 post can be used for short term storage too. If you have the height, 2 post is best.

As for what was mentioned about having doors open while in the air - I'm not sure that's terribly relevant because in general, you wouldn't have the doors open while the car is up in the air. Besides, you can open them depending on how the car is set up. If the doors are open, it's probably best that the car is on the ground anyway.

Someone mentioned that a 2 post lift can be tougher to get a car on which isn't really a fair comparison. Backing a car off a 4 post lift can be tricky sometimes if you have limited sight lines or obstacles around the lift. Sliding the lift arm underneath the car is not hard unless you have mobility issues or the car is really low. Even if it's low, you just use little blocks to raise the car up a bit before sliding the lift arm under. Once you do it a few times, it will become second nature. You could even put some sort of mark on the floor or wall so the car is in the same spot every time.

2 post is also good for attaching an air hose reel so you will have easy access to it.

But whatever you do, don't buy a cheap off-shore one!

2 post for sure... have used both and I'd never consider buying a 4 post for anything but storage.

I have a two post, never wanted a four post.

What's your ceiling height? Will you be able to open the garage door with a car on the lift?

I bought a used two post lift in '95....a 70's vintage 9k unit. Very heavily built...still working great after all these years.