A four post car lift is an item of material handling equipment designed to safely raise a vehicle to any height to assist an automotive technician in working on the vehicle at the best ergonomic position. The best 4 post car lifts are custom-built for the auto industry and come with many customizable options.
Four post car lifts have many advantages, including its ability to withstand high duty cycles, making it ideal for use in auto assembly plants and repair shops and for applications in other industries that require the day-to-day maintenance of vehicle fleets. Have you ever wondered what is the procedure to lift a vehicle on a four-post lift?
How to select the easiest post lift model for loading
It's easy to be confused about the type of car lift to select for vehicle repair and maintenance activities.
There are two primary types of car lifts; the 2 post car lift and the 4 post lifter.
Two Post Car Lift
The two post car lift is designed to lift vehicles for easy access to the wheels and the motor vehicle's underside. The two posts are made from heavy-duty material consisting of 2 upright pillars with four adjustable supporting arms to evenly support the car when lifted.
The two columns are mounted on a solid surface, and the arms are raised and lowered using a screw mechanism, hydraulic cylinders, chains, or by cable and pulleys.
Due to its small size, the two post car lift is suitable for small commercial garages or personal use. It's also ideal for operation in smaller spaces and are available as portable models.
There are two types of 2-post car lifts, namely;
1. Symmetrical two post car lift
The two columns are parallel to each other, the arm is equal in size, extending out at a similar angle. Symmetrical two post car lifts are easy to identify as their columns directly face each other.
2. Asymmetrical two post car lift
The two pillars assume varied angles; one can be at 45 degrees while the other can be 90 degrees.
A potential downside of a two post car lift is that a vehicle can topple on either side and cause injuries or damage to the vehicle if not positioned correctly.
The four post car lift is designed to lift heavier loads for heavy-duty work cycles, such as larger trucks and heavy machinery. The 4 post car lift can handle more oversized loads compared to the two post car lift due to the additional support. A four post car lift can handle a load capacity ranging from 9,000 lbs to 40 000 lbs and more.
There are two categories of 4 post car lifts:
1. Four Post-commercial-Grade Lifts
The commercial standard four post car lift dimensions can be designed with a custom lifting capacity and is suitable for large-scale automotive activities. Due to its capacity to handle duty work cycles, the commercial lift is fitted with numerous safety measures to protect the operator, such as air release safety locks, cable-breaking ability, and self-locking mechanical capabilities.
2. Four Post Hobby Car Lifts
This category targets customers who want to use a four post car lift in their home garages and use the lift for storage to save on valuable floor space thanks to the adjustable ladder leveling system. The equipment comes with a caster kit, jack tray, and drip pans and can handle a capacity of 9,000 lbs.
Advantages of a Four Post Car Lift - Four Post Car Lift
The four post lift boasts numerous advantages over the two post car lift. They are:
•It can handle higher load capacity due to its greater stability, allowing for safer operations and fewer injuries to the operator.
•The four-post car lift can be used with vehicles and machinery across various industries, not just the automotive sector. For example, the airline industry uses the four-post lift to hoist aero engines. The power generation sector uses the lift to support a rotating assembly elevated by the four-post lift.
•The four-post lift can also include a technician's lift to elevate an individual to the desired height to work on the machinery comfortably.
•It can be customized for all customer types, from customers working in their home garages to large-scale companies across various industries.