The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Tool Chest comments/concerns requested regarding a four-post lift

I am thinking about getting this Dannmar 4-post lift for my garage.

I have a good/thick cement floor and the roof is many feet above the height of a fully raised lift (with my Suburban on the lift). The floor was spec'd for a heavy-duty floor lift (that was removed just before I moved in).

The bottom of the fully-lifted platform is 89" (I have shrunk to under 72").

I will never be using it with a heavier/taller/longer vehicle than my less than 4,000 lb Suburban.
I will also get the dual jack platform.

It uses 110v. What would be the "liability" of this (over getting a more expensive 220v lift)?
I am not concerned about how long it takes to raise and lower.

Thanks in advance for any comments, concerns, warnings, and/or advice.

Tim, that’s the exact lift I have. I have been pleased with mine. There is a company out of Dallas that makes all the major car shows that is the distributor for this brand. They will bring one to the closest show and will then come to your building and install it. Cheaper than Northern Tool last time I checked. Mine is the 110 volt version and it does raise slower. Like you, I really don’t mind.🛠

Thank you very much, Martin
Your experience makes me even more comfortable in buying the unit.

Did you have problems figuring out how to put it together?
Several buyers said they found it hard to follow the instructions (and a few steps were missing).
Did you have help, or, were you able to do-it-yourself?

I think there might be a YouTube video for that unit.

Is your lift attached to the floor, or, is it just sitting on the floor (with its 2-ton weight and gravity being all that is needed)?

How did you get it off the delivery truck?

Well Tim, I cheated. I bought the lift used (very lightly) and loaded it assembled onto my car hauler trailer using the winch. It rolled right up the ramps with a bit of jockeying around. Ratchet strapped it down both ways and hauled it 40 miles home. Here at the house I used the same straps and the front end loader on my tractor to set it off on the concrete parking pad. After getting it exactly where I wanted it I took the wheels off. It is not anchored to the driveway, just gravity. The sliding jack plates are a real helpful addition. Not much help for you there but it’s what I did.

Did you get/use two sliding jack plates?

Just one but a second one could come in handy.🛠
Also bought a air/hydraulic jack from HF last November. That has come in handy a time or two.

I’ll add two cents. I hired a professional to install my 2 post lift. $600 well spent.
1. My wife was nervous that I might not install something properly making it unsafe. A valid point. Having a pro do it took away the worry.
2. My hired man took delivery at his home. He had a forklift to remove it from the flatbed. I had no way to remove the lift if it was shipped to my home.
3. He delivered the lift to my shop on the scheduled day of installation.
4. He had all the proper tools. Long drill bits and hammer drill and used his forklift to assist with the installation.
5. Second visit to make final adjustments was included.

LIFT INSTALLATION VIDEO

It would have taken me more than a weekend to do what he did and I would have needed a friend or two to assist me. A 4 post lift might be easier. Just food for thought.

Thanks very much Lugnutz.

The four-post lift is inherently stable - after the four legs are held together with the side rails.

I/we will be extremely careful.
I will have one helper at all times.
At the final lift, I will have 3 helpers.

One neighbor is an EMT/fireman.
All four of us have done construction/roofing.
No beer will be imbibed until the lift is bolted together.

Yes....4 and 2 post lifts are completely different. I too would have a 2 post installed by a professional. The 4 post is a piece of cake for anyone willing to work on vintage trucks. I picked mine up at a shipping warehouse with an 18' flatbed trailer, and it was sticking out the back 2 feet. It weighs almost 3000 pounds. I unloaded mine and assembled it with a tractor with FEL and an engine hoist. You could definitely do it with just an engine hoist (1 ton capacity) Fortunately my manufacturer had several very good videos on the entire process, so I watched them all a couple times before it arrived. I put it together by myself in a couple 1/2 days.....working very slowly, cause I did not want to do it twice. Have to say again how much I love it. BTW, unless you plan to leave them on all the time, which I did before I had one, make sure you get the aluminum ramps. They were part of my standard package, and I planned to leave them on, but I find they get in the way. Good luck and enjoy !

I bought a bendpack 4 post about 8-9 years ago. I think it is a 10,000lb. I like working on it, not so much for ducking. I like to take the ramps off so I don't bump into them when I'm looking up and reposition. I believe you will learn that they always are there. LOL
Mine stands on its own without bolting to the floor. I got dollies with it. I have moved it 3 or 4 times for placement. You can move it with a car on it to, down at the bottom that is.
When it is empty, it is always something to go around or jump over. I got a 220v, electric/hydraulic.
I think a two post would certainly be easier as far as space. My concern is bolting it down to the floor is, I have coolant heated floors. I did place a spot for it in the cement, but as I got everything arranged over the years, I'm glad I didn't bolt down.
I still don't want to be without it. When working on my vehicle, my tools, parts, etc. are just placed on the ramp and they are near you. The lift is a great place for project vehicles. But another project needs to get on, then everything has to come off the lift first before the vehicle. I have worked under it on small projects, but had to add lighting under it.

Thanks for the info and advice, Allen

I already have wood ramps and aluminum ramps, if I need to use them.

The heavy steel ramps that come with it will hurt your shin if you drop one. Don’t ask me how I know.🚑

I can imagine Martin. I'm really glad mine came with reinforced removable aluminum approach ramps. I take them off and store them between the runways out of the way. Mine is also 110 volt. For now, I did not wire direct, but purchased a 12 Ga extension cord as recommended. I too am not fussed by speed, so as little as I go up and down, the 110 volt is fine. I understand the 220 may be a little easier on the motor, but is more a concern for multiple up/down cycles in a Commercial application.

You match my check list, Allen:
- reinforced removable aluminum approach ramps. I take them off and store them between the runways out of the way. - 110 volt
- not wired direct, but will use/purchase a 12 Ga extension cord
- not fussed by speed, so as little as I go up and down, the 110 volt is fine
. I also understand the 220 may be a little easier on the motor, but is more a concern for multiple up/down cycles in a Commercial application.

I looked at the one you are looking at, another from Greg smith, also the backyard buddy. I did like how the backyard buddy was designed. However, I ended up going with an advantage 9000 lift

https://www.advantagelifts.com/products/advantage-dx-9000

I have not built it yet but they have videos on you tube.

Mike,

Thank you - and, I am sure other readers/members thank you.
That lift looks to be very nice.

I am lucky - I could put a triple-high lift in my garage.
The previous owner worked on hot rods and muscle cars.
He left me an incredible 32' x 40' 3 large bays garage. (I do not deserve this luck).

This Dannmar 20'x10' 4-post list will fit nicely in my garage.
The first floor ceiling is at least 10' tall. The middle to peak is at least 24' up.

My garage had a very heavy-duty two-post car lift - the previous owner removed it (due to miscommunication from a shyster lawyer (his real name was "Sharkey Shark"). I am now glad that the two-post was removed - it would not have allowed me to store my 2-ton COE in that bay.

Mike, I also got the advantage. I'll give you a hint when you put it together. When you place the cable holders in the top of the post, make sure the cable end is lined up with the shackle in the end rails. I managed to get two of them crossed and had to back up a bit. I got the XLT so maybe not an issue with yours (and Tony didn't cover in his video) but the runways had two sets of holes to bolt into the end rails. Notice where the latch release mechanism runs under the runway front to back for correct placement. I really liked that Advantage doesn't use a C Channel in their vertical post. It's a solid piece of equipment.

If you do the math there is probably more weight on your floor per square inch when your vehicle is parked than when it's on the lift. I have a 2 post 12,000 lb lift with standard 4" 4000 psi concrete floor. I have picked up my 12000 lb E350 xl ambulance many times for long periods of time with no issues. When I bought mine they wanted $300 to deliver it to my house 110 miles away but would ship it to my jobsite 480 miles away for free. I had it delivered to the job site and brought it home. I have equipment at home for unloading. You might check and maybe you could have it delivered to a local business.

Excellent idea regarding looking for a business with a loading dock - thanks mick53
However I am in a rural area (for at least a 60 mile diameter). I'll ask some of my neighbors about a local loading dock.

Most big-delivery items are carried down here in large trucks from Chesapeake/Norfolk. They know there are not many loading docks here (even for the big stores). Those companies often carry a large lift and have a large tailgate that lowers to the ground. My hope is that I can work something out with the drop-off carrier (they always call before making that 60-70 mile delivery run).

Maybe a farmer with forks on his tractor. Mine came on a flatbed. I would consider a farm commercial.

Thanks, mick53

You'd think your suggestion would be a good possibility.

However, the farms around me are either small family farms for spring-fall tourists; or, they are larger farms/fields that are tended-to by hired companies that come in with big equipment and leave with big equipment. They come and go from 40-50 miles away.