2-Post Lifts

Choosing a two-post lift

Two-post lifts are the default for general mechanical work, and for good reason: the wheels hang free, the underbody is completely open, and the footprint is compact for the access you get. If a workshop is buying one lift, this is usually it.

Baseplate or clearfloor

The one decision that changes everything else. A baseplate lift runs its hoses through a bar across the floor and needs from around 2,800mm of height. A clearfloor lift routes them through an overhead crossbar, leaving the bay completely open underfoot, but needs from around 3,500mm.

Measure your clear height to the lowest obstruction before anything else — it frequently makes the decision for you. Where you have the height, most workshops prefer clearfloor for the unobstructed floor. Where you work on high-roof vans, baseplate removes the overhead restriction entirely. Our guide to baseplate vs clearfloor lifts compares them properly.

Arms and pick-up points

Two lifts with the same capacity can behave very differently. Asymmetric arms set the vehicle back so car doors open clear of the columns; symmetric arms centre the load and suit vans and longer vehicles. Three-stage arms reach both the low pick-up points on small cars and the chassis rails on commercials.

Pad and adaptor arrangement matters more than people expect, particularly on electric vehicles where the battery pack dictates where a pad can sit. See our guide to lift arms, pads and adaptors.

Capacity and floor

For most general garages, 4.5 to 5.0 tonnes gives sensible margin across cars, SUVs and light commercials. Specify against the heaviest vehicle you expect, not the average — our guide to lifting capacity explains why margin is worth paying for.

Two-post lifts place the highest demand on your floor of any type, because all load and the overturning forces pass into anchors at each column base. We specify at least 180mm of sound, cured C20/25 concrete — see concrete requirements. If you are not certain what your slab is, a free site survey will confirm it before you order.