Choosing the Right 2 Post Car Lift: Understanding Dimensions

News 12/12/2024

Alright, let’s talk about them 2 post car lifts, you know, the things that lift up your car so you can mess with it underneath. I ain’t no engineer or nothin’, but I know a thing or two about needing space and getting things done, so listen up.

First off, how big of a space you need for this contraption? Well, they say you gotta have somethin’ like 12 feet tall, 12 feet wide, and 24 feet deep. That’s a big ol’ space, like a good-sized barn, you know? Now, if your roof ain’t that high, like if you got one of them low ceilings, you gonna need a different kind of lift, one that sits on the floor, not up high.

Them posts, the things that hold up the car, they’re pretty tall themselves. We’re talkin’ near 12 feet tall, almost as tall as my old corn crib! And the whole thing, how wide it is on the floor, that’s ’bout 11 feet and a bit. So yeah, you need a good chunk of space. And don’t forget, you gotta have enough room for your car too! A regular car, that’s gonna be ’bout 16 feet long, give or take.

Now, how high your roof gotta be? Well, for these 2 post lifts, you want it 11 or 12 feet high, just to be safe. If your ceiling isn’t high enough, you may consider a scissor lift which only requires 8 to 10 feet. You don’t wanna be bangin’ your head or scratchin’ up your car, right? So measure that space good before you go buyin’ anything.

  • Ceiling Height: 11 to 12 feet for 2 post lifts, 8 to 10 feet for scissor lifts.
  • Garage Bay Size: 12 feet wide, 12 feet tall, 24 feet deep (recommended).
  • Lift Column Height: Almost 12 feet.
  • Floor Width: A little over 11 feet.
  • Car Length: Around 16 feet.

Now, let’s talk about how much weight these things can hold. Some can hold a whole heck of a lot, like 8,000 pounds, even 10,000 pounds! That’s like liftin’ a whole herd of cows, ain’t it? But you gotta make sure the floor under it is strong enough, too. They say you need a good thick floor, like 4 or 4 and a half inches thick, especially for the real heavy loads.

Pickin’ out one of these lifts ain’t just about size, though. You gotta think about what you’re gonna be doin’ with it. If you’re just fixin’ up your own car, you might not need the biggest, strongest one. But if you’re workin’ on trucks or heavy stuff, you gotta get somethin’ that can handle it. Don’t go overloadin’ it, or you’ll be in a heap of trouble. Those arms that hold up the car, they can bend or break if you put too much weight on ’em, and then you’re really stuck.

2 post lifts are good for most things, you know, changin’ the oil, fixin’ the brakes, that kinda stuff. They got two arms that go under the car and lift it up from the sides. Seems sturdy enough to me.

So, before you go spendin’ your hard-earned money on one of these car lifts, do your homework. Measure your space, think about what you’ll be liftin’, and make sure you get somethin’ that’s strong enough and fits where you need it to. It’s like buyin’ a good pair of work boots – you want somethin’ that’ll last and get the job done right.

And one more thing, don’t be afraid to ask for help. If you ain’t sure about somethin’, find someone who knows what they’re talkin’ about. Better safe than sorry, I always say. This ain’t like plantin’ potatoes, this thing can hurt ya if you ain’t careful.

Tags: [2 post lift, car lift dimensions, garage lift, garage space, ceiling height, lift capacity, car maintenance, shop equipment, vehicle lift]