I settled for a 2 post down under.

Had one of theses at the dealer way back when... Loved that lift. Never realized they were not that expensive.(about 2gs)
These are not my pics, just internet finds.

How high is your ceiling?

Thanks,
Bill

9-1/2 feet. About a foot or so of clearance above the car with this one. Yes, I could probably have found a 2 or 4 post but I also don't want to have to work around posts right now. Maybe some time down the road.

When I had my work shop / garage built, I contemplated adding a lift in the future, so I went with a 11'6" ceiling ( measured to the lights ). I also went with a roll-up door, so no door clearance issues - plus the door doesn't block any ceiling lights when it is up.

Being that I have the in concrete heating I made a map
of the tubing so I can put the hoist in and not hit any
of the tubing.... plus I went with 19' in the center
peak area.. the walls are 12'.. 10x10 roll up door that
I put a electric door opener on this year.. that mounts
on the side of the door up where the shaft is(with the
counter balance springs on it).. love that opener.. super
quiet and has a automatic lock

CINDER BLOCKS??

Get some helmlock or jack stands. LOL
Concrete blocks are not good to use.
Matt

You mean I just spent several $100 on turn tables when I could have used cinder blocks??? CRAP!!!!

It works fine for me.. I'm not under the car.. I just
have to get it high enough to see the gauge on the
rotor and the steering arm.. plus the arms are right
there... I had my 73 Ply fall on me years ago so I know
all to well about cars falling.. that TANK crushed both
of my shoulders... a week later a guy just a few streets
away did the same thing.. he wasnt lucky.. crushed his..
head... now day(since back then) I am deathly afraid to
get under a car without supports or a hoist

Knowing I wanted a lift in the future I also went with a higher ceiling (10') but utilized a scissor truss which yields an extra +/- 4' 6" interior height in the center without the additional wall and overall garage height.

I am in the market for a lift as well. My new building has 12' ceiling height.
I am leaning toward a 2 post.
Are there brands that should be avoided?
Thanks,
Mark

I have a 2 post Danmar,would hate to live without it, my knees being bad make the creeper not a good deal. A subsidiary of Dover Corp makes a bunch of the Chinese two post lift brands, from what Ive seen there are basically 3 different models of lifts built by the Chinese and many "brands". Friend of mine has a BenPak, only difference to the Danmar is the color.

I could have gone with a scissor truss but I figured I needed storage space more than I needed a hoist. I bought attic trusses instead and have a 5-1/2' high attic the length of my shop.

I only used the scissors at the door locations where the lift would be. The rest are flat bottom trusses and I will have some storage in those areas...
Edit: Scissor trusses are in light yellow...flat bottom trusses are in light red...

You can see the brown beam going around the building..
thats at 7'.. I am putting a 2' wide shelf most of the
way around the place for storage.. I already have storage
above the clean room/office... I didnt put it in front of
the hoist or where I have cabinets.. I bought a bunch of
Air Force steel wall lockers that are 8' tall so the shelf
didnt fit there
EDIT
let me get a smaller pic... looks like I dont have any
small pics... but there is a beam at 7'

Picked it up yesterday. About 2200 Lbs of "lift-in-a-box". Wife has her work cut out for her!!

11.5' ceiling. 8' roll-up door. Lift will go where that little red thing is sitting.

Is she done yet.. LOL... have her pick up the pace

I'm so envious of you guys with nice lifts. I would love to have a four post lift but my 36-28 shop has 8 foot ceilings. I bought one of these 5-6 years ago and it help my old bones but its not anything like a lift.


http://www.kwik-lift.com/uses.html

I'll be done if she reads this thread.