Time for a 2-post lift!

JetmechF16 · Feb 24, 2020

UPDATE ON POST #37
Cliffs: I went with an Atlas Platinum PVL-9BP

I'm leaving for a 40 day TDY (temporary duty assignment) and straight up told the wife (i.e. begged with zero dignity) to let me use the per diem to finally get a shop lift. I need some help deciding what brand/size/configuration from those of you that have one. These are the requirements:

- budget - $3500
- 2 post
- top support
- capacity needs to cover trucks as heavy as my '17 Denali HD
- arms need to be low enough for lowered sports cars
- asymmetric/symmetric arms

I've looked at Bendpak and Atlas, what other brands should I check out?

Post your setup and opinions! Thanks!

VRYALT3R3D · Feb 24, 2020

Challenger(USA made)
Mohawk (USA made)
Twin Busch (Chinese)

biminiLX · Feb 24, 2020

I bought both my lifts (2 post and 4post) from Greg Smith equipment.
Honestly, the bare basic China made lifts are fine, I’ve got less than $3500 in both and never an issue.
We use them as hobbyists, not industrial use.
Save your money for go fast parts.
-J

offroadkarter · Feb 24, 2020

VRYALT3R3D said:
Challenger(USA made)
Mohawk (USA made)

+1 on Challenger, a friend of mine has a LE10 and its been a good lift. The LE10 is the one two post that isn't USA made though. It is ALI certified.

A Mohawk is not going to be in a 3500 dollar budget unless you're buying very used.

I shied away from bendpak due to a lot of recent complaints on garagejournal, as well as questionable support as those lifts age. I'd read after about 10 years, if something breaks on your lift, bendpak's answer is "buy a new one".

At a minimum, look for something that is ALI certified, if you're lifting trucks over your head, you don't want an un-certified chinesium lift. Also make sure your floor can support a lift, you might have to do some concrete work.

Blkkbgt · Feb 24, 2020

First off the vast majority of the ALI certified lifts out there are made in China.

This brings me to Challenger as not all of their lifts are made in the USA these days and haven't been for a while. Their lower end stuff while still a good choice looks the same as many other lifts out there which takes us back to my first point, all made in China.

From what I have gathered over the last year or so of researching lifts there are only a few Chinese companies making lifts these days. To some this may sound bad but the reality of situation is that just about all lifts out there have actually gotten better. When you really start looking you realize that a lift that does not have and ALI certification shares a lot of design similarities with a certified unit. Now will the non certified lift be as strong as the non certified? Possibly but at that point it comes down to weld quality and materials used. Would I buy a non certified lift? Maybe but I can say that I wouldn't be as nervous about it now as I would 5-10 years ago.

Now if I were you OP I would get the best lift you can afford. I would just pay attention to what you are buying because you can literally buy the same lift from two companies, get the exact same lift but pay substantially more for one of them. If I were in your shoes I would give the Atlas platinum lifts a good look and work from there.

GodStang · Feb 24, 2020

We have a Bendpak and love it.

lilcoop03 · Feb 24, 2020

Subbed as I plan to look into one maybe this year..

What is the standard concrete thickness required for a lift that OP describes?

How high do most 2 post lifts go? Around 6' to the arms?

apex svt · Feb 24, 2020

Are rotary and ammco out of the question? Two real nice lifts I’ve used before. Guess I’ll have to check on the price point.

JetmechF16 · Feb 24, 2020

Great info so far, thanks guys.

Blkkbgt said:
First off the vast majority of the ALI certified lifts out there are made in China.

This brings me to Challenger as not all of their lifts are made in the USA these days and haven't been for a while. Their lower end stuff while still a good choice looks the same as many other lifts out there which takes us back to my first point, all made in China.

From what I have gathered over the last year or so of researching lifts there are only a few Chinese companies making lifts these days. To some this may sound bad but the reality of situation is that just about all lifts out there have actually gotten better. When you really start looking you realize that a lift that does not have and ALI certification shares a lot of design similarities with a certified unit. Now will the non certified lift be as strong as the non certified? Possibly but at that point it comes down to weld quality and materials used. Would I buy a non certified lift? Maybe but I can say that I wouldn't be as nervous about it now as I would 5-10 years ago.

Now if I were you OP I would get the best lift you can afford. I would just pay attention to what you are buying because you can literally buy the same lift from two companies, get the exact same lift but pay substantially more for one of them. If I were in your shoes I would give the Atlas platinum lifts a good look and work from there.

I was looking at the Atlas Platinum PVL-10, seems like it has all of the features I want.

Atlas Platinum PVL10 ALI Cert, 10,000 lb Adjustable 2 Post Overhead Car Lift

JetmechF16 · Feb 24, 2020

lilcoop03 said:
Subbed as I plan to look into one maybe this year..

What is the standard concrete thickness required for a lift that OP describes?

How high do most 2 post lifts go? Around 6' to the arms?

For a 2-post, what I see thrown around a lot is 6" 3000psi mins. My rear shop where the lift is going has 6" floors according to previous owner that built it.

buffalosoldier · Feb 24, 2020

Before I took someones word for how thick he thinks the floor is, I would a least drill some holes and measure it to make sure it meets the mfgs minimum requirements. Your safety is the number one priority.

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sleek98 · Feb 24, 2020

I would spend a little more on a great installer and not worry as much about the brand name.

I ended up finding a used ALMI lift 9k for 1500, paid 600 to have it installed and its been working great for the last 2 years.

I would second drilling a hole in the concrete to find out. Most guys will say they did 6" concrete, but the contractors are known for using 2x6 forms, which is really 5 1/4- 5 1/2" thick. Which will leave you cutting out a large section to pour deeper.

7998 · Feb 24, 2020

Core your floor to verify thickness & condition. A lot times a garage area can be back filled allowing the dirt to settle. I've seen it many times where we remove a slab that is hollow underneath.

As for lifts I bought a Eagle 2 post asymmetrical rated at 9,000 lbs which I am sure is Chinese. I'm a hobbyist so I am only lifting my Mustang and other cars. Once in a while I put my F-150 on it. If I had it to do all over again I would buy a 4 post.

Junior00 · Feb 24, 2020

Before I’d trust the original floor, or even a cored sample for that matter, I’d just have the section cut out and dowel into the existing slab and repour. Cheap insurance if you’re taking about 9k+ being perched over your head.

Lambeau · Feb 24, 2020

Lifts need to be added to your homeowners insurance?

offroadkarter · Feb 25, 2020

apex svt said:
Are rotary and ammco out of the question? Two real nice lifts I’ve used before. Guess I’ll have to check on the price point.

Can't speak to ammco but Rotary is twice the price of OP's budget.

if you want one lift to last you the rest of your life and your kids life, that'd be the way to go, the guys installing ours said the rotary will last a lifetime and then some.

7998 said:
If I had it to do all over again I would buy a 4 post.

Curious as to your thoughts on this. I love the 4 post for stacking but haven't yet performed any jobs on it. Most people say they prefer a 2 post for working

Blkkbgt · Feb 25, 2020

JetmechF16 said:
Great info so far, thanks guys. I was looking at the Atlas Platinum PVL-10, seems like it has all of the features I want.

Atlas Platinum PVL10 ALI Cert, 10,000 lb Adjustable 2 Post Overhead Car Lift

From what I have read everyone who has bought an Atlas Platinum lift loves it. I wouldn't hesitate to buy one myself if I had the room/shop for it. If you go that route and have to pour footings I would pour one continuous footing instead of two.

7998 · Feb 25, 2020

offroadkarter said:
Curious as to your thoughts on this. I love the 4 post for stacking but haven't yet performed any jobs on it. Most people say they prefer a 2 post for working

95% of what I do with the lift can be done with a 4 post. The 4 post is a lot easier to get the car in the air. When you have old worn out knees and fading eye sight it is a bitch some times to put the car in the air with the 2 post. Eventually I'll pick up a 4 post so I can fit an extra car on the one side.

sleek98 · Feb 25, 2020

offroadkarter said:
Curious as to your thoughts on this. I love the 4 post for stacking but haven't yet performed any jobs on it. Most people say they prefer a 2 post for working

I have both. The 2 post is somewhat of a pain in the ass to lift our cars. The shelby is too low, the Tundra is too long, the Pilot is too wide to use the jack points and not quite wide enough to use the frame rails, so one side is jack points the other side is frame rails. However once its on the lift there is not much you cant do.

The 4 post is awesome to do oil changes, exhaust work, driveshaft work. etc. It however sucks to change tires and suspension work unless you have a rolling jack tray. But then you still cant drop a motor or trans through the bottom.

earico · Feb 25, 2020

I've had an Atlas BP8000 from Greg Smith for over 4 years. Installed it myself. It's not hard to do if you are mechanically inclined. It's been a great lift and have had zero issues.

Time for a 2-post lift!

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