Our Guide to Buying 2-post Vehicle Lifts

As you’ll know, garage and MOT bay mechanics today have an array of car lifting solutions to access the wheels, side and underside of a vehicle with ease. The 2-post car lift is one of the most popular types of car lifts due to its affordability and space-saving aspects.

When it comes to vehicle lifts, there are so many configurations and brands to choose from, it can be a minefield to get straight answers about lifting capacities and requirements.

If you’re considering the purchase of a new 2-post vehicle lift as a new workshop addition, or a replacement bit of kit, it’s crucial to be clear about what you need it to be able to do. Vehicle lifts are specialised pieces of equipment, often designed for specific tasks, and should fit a variety of bespoke requirements in order to suit your needs.

At ISN Garage Assist, you’ll find exactly what you need for your business, with the help and support of our specialist garage equipment technicians. Our 2-post lift ranges are about meeting the needs of our customers and the various types of vehicles they work on day-to-day.

2-post Vehicle Lift Requirements

Some of the things you should consider before you put money down on a 2-post lift are the services you want to offer, the workshop space you have available, the types of vehicle you’ll be working on and the lifting capacity you need for those vehicles.

Here are the key considerations to keep in mind when it comes to buying a new 2-post car lift:

Automotive Services You Want to Offer

MOT Testing: You'll need a specially designed vehicle lift for MOTs, depending on whether you're offering Class 4 or Class 7 testing. Typically, these are larger lifts, though, so bear that in mind if you’re shopping the 2-post lifts with the intention of conducting MOT tests.

Wheel Alignment/Geometry Service: The type of technology used in your wheel alignment equipment is crucial. CCD technology gives you the flexibility of using a 2-post lift, which saves space. 3D technology, however, requires a specifically designed wheel alignment lift, like a full-height scissor lift.

Tyres or Brakes: For tyre and brake services, a ‘wheel-free’ car lift is ideal. This type of lift picks the vehicle up by the chassis, leaving the wheels free for easy access to the corners of the car. A 2-post or mid-height wheel-free scissor lift is what we’d recommend.

Electric Vehicles: To access the battery on an EV, which often covers most of the vehicle's underside, a clear-floor, or baseless 2-post lift with EV adaptors will be necessary. These adaptors lift the car by the wheels rather than the chassis.

Workshop Space and Height

If you have a light commercial vehicle (LCV), like a large van, on a 2-post vehicle lift, you’ll need a higher ceiling height than you will for a small car, regardless of what lift it’s on. A baseless 2-post lift, with the services going overhead, will require even more height.

You should also consider how high you want to lift a vehicle, alongside the types of vehicles you’ll be servicing. You want to lift vehicles high enough that you can walk and stand under them without whacking your head, ideally. Some lifts are capable of lifting vehicles higher than others, which is perfect for a taller person.

Safety

When working on the underside of a vehicle, 2-post car lifts provide an unparalleled amount of versatility by taking up less space. Operated correctly and with due care, our high-quality 2-post car lifts are just as safe as 4-post lifts as long as they’re used properly. You can rest assured that, combined with the right safety precautions, a 2-post lift is as safe as any other lift.

Lifting Capacity

Be aware that the stated maximum lifting capacity of a 2-post lift might only apply when the lifting arms are in the optimal position. This means it may not always safely lift a vehicle of the max. weight if the arms are not in the optimum position. However, this is not a concern with Cascos and Luxus 2- post lifts, which are available in the UK exclusively from ISN Garage Assist. These superior lifts are engineered to be able to lift the maximum weight stated with the lifting arms in any configuration.

2-post car lifts are available in a variety of weight capacities.  Once you determine the largest and heaviest vehicles you intend to lift — you can choose the right capacity and lift configuration that meets your service needs.

Cost

If you're on a budget, a 2-post car lift may be the better choice because they generally cost less. However, the price should be considered in conjunction with the type of service you want to offer customers, the manufacturer’s offering and the quality of construction.

Access

A 4-post lift has parallel platforms, which you drive onto, so it doesn't offer as much open space underneath the vehicle. You get full access to the underside of the vehicle from a 2-post lift, though.

Based or Baseless

‘Based’ 2-post vehicle lifts feature a raised baseplate between the 2-posts, which contains the electrical, mechanical or hydraulic components. In some instances, the stability of a based 2-post lift can be enhanced with the addition of an ‘H’-Frame, which spreads the load over a wider area. ‘Baseless’ car lifts remove the baseplate obstruction, providing a completely clear floor area and avoiding this potential trip-hazard.

2-post Car Lift Design

We offer two very distinct types of design, which we term European-style vehicle lifts (electro-mechanical) and US-style lifts (electro hydraulic). Our European-style lifts are made by Spanish-manufacturer Cascos who have been making lifts since 1965. Meanwhile, our US-style lifts include our Luxus models, our flagship hydraulic lifts.

We call our Cascos models European-style because they use an electro-mechanical or 'screw' design, which is the more traditional method of lifting in Europe, a design that goes back to the very introduction of vehicle lifts from European vehicle manufacturers. These machines are more expensive to produce, but they are cheaper and simpler to install, and generally last a long time. It’s not uncommon to find a Cascos lift which has been in service for 30 to 40 years

The US-style lifts, on the other hand, adopt the electro-hydraulic design — which has become increasingly popular in Europe in recent years. Hydraulic lifts have long been the most common lifting method in the US, undoubtedly the largest market for lifts. They’re cheaper to produce, but a little more complex and time-consuming to install.

They also perhaps represent the 'throwaway' culture we have all come to live with in recent decades, as they are unlikely to remain serviceable for as long as an electromechanical lift.

With that said, all of our US-style lifts are built to an extremely high standard, particularly the LUXUS models. Therefore, whilst it may not be fair to expect the same life expectancy of a 'screw' lift, they are undoubtedly considered to be amongst the most durable and reliable electro-hydraulic lifts on the market.

How Do I Choose the Right 2-post Vehicle Lift?

Choosing the right lift can be complex, so it's wise to seek expert advice. At ISN Garage Assist, we offer a complete range of lifting equipment for cars, vans, LCVs, motorcycles and EV batteries. Our team’s expertise can help you find the perfect solution for almost any lifting challenge, ensuring your garage operates efficiently and keeps your customers happy.

The bottom line is that you’re going to need expert advice when choosing a vehicle lift for your garage. That’s where we come in. Get in touch with us today for unbeatable technical expertise, quality vehicle lifts and seamless aftersales support.

Is a 4-post lift Better Than a 2-post Lift?

For some garages and workshops — the services you offer, your available space and lifting capacity may mean that a 2-post lift won’t be the right fit for you or your business. For larger garages with more space that want to offer particular services, like Class 4 and Class 7 MOT testing, a 4-post, or full-height scissor lift will be a necessary investment for your needs. MOT testing requires the use of a specifically designed 4-post or scissor lift.

A 4-post lift raises a vehicle on its wheels, as opposed to a 2-post lift, which raises vehicles by positioning arms under the chassis lifting points. If you’re working on wheels, brakes or suspension components, then a 2-post lift is probably the better option, but a 4-post lift can offer greater stability, and there’s always the option of introducing jacking beams to facilitate ‘wheel-free’ work.

If you’re not quite sure what’s best for you, don’t worry! That’s where we come in. We consider ourselves lift experts and offer an unrivalled range, covering all budgets and applications. Whichever vehicle lift is right for you, we’ll always offer honest advice and great support before and after the sale.

Do you offer support packages for 2-post vehicle lifts?

At ISN Garage Assist, we offer a range of vehicle lift aftersales options and would always recommend an annual service and maintenance schedule. In the unlikely event of a breakdown, we’ll do all we can to get you up and running as quickly as possible.

What is the difference between a baseless 2-post lift and one with a base?

With a baseless lift, the 2-posts are independently attached to the workshop floor, with electrical/hydraulic services passing overhead. Meanwhile, lifts with a base feature a baseplate connecting the 2-posts and carrying necessary services. If you require a completely clear floor area under a vehicle, then the baseless car lift option is for you. 

What kind of vehicle lift do I need to service electric vehicle batteries? 

For servicing electric vehicle (EV) batteries — on vehicles like the Tesla Model 3, Polestar 2 and Volkswagen e-Golf — you’re going to need a car lift that provides uninterrupted access to the underside of the EV to remove the battery. In this case, we’d suggest you invest in a baseless 2-post lift, preferably incorporating EV adaptors.

A vehicle lift for electric cars will need a reasonably high lifting capacity, as EVs are heavier than those with an internal combustion engine. The best option is to have EV adaptors on the lifting arms, so you can lift the vehicle on its wheels, rather than from jacking points on the chassis. If you’re planning on removing the battery, you’ll need a second, specialist EV battery lift to support and manoeuvre the battery.