im in the market. I’ve only ever used two kinds. Rotary and challenger. I’m thinking about a challenger le-10. Challenger is the cheaper of the two but I actually liked using the one at the shop better than the others. Thoughts, feelings, insults?
Been saving my wife’s money for about 3 years now! I like working on cars. I don’t like laying underneath them. Not yet. I think like the two post though. I like wheels to hang free. Plus I’m dealing with a limited space. On another forum someone suggested a Mohawk lift. Never heard of it but that doesn’t mean anything.
Mohawk and Rotary are close in design. The two-post gives you many advantages over a 4-poster, so I'd go with it, but the question needs to be asked: what capacity? Because the concrete pad needs to have the thickness and strength to handle it, and generally, 9K capacity will lift all cars and most light trucks. And no matter what anyone says, the rubber-covered pads on jackscrews are the safest mounts to put a car on. Also, invest in the arm locks, which prevent the arms from walking out from under a vehicle if its frame is tweaked. I watched an early '50s Ford pickup walk itself off of a lift because the arms had no locks. Fortunately, it was my boss who did that one....
I have had 2 posts and now have a 4 post both have changed oil on my expeditions and wagons anything bigger and it wont fit my garage . I found as I got older and more of my lift time was spent with one car stored above the other the 4 poster is way easier . no longer was in and out of the car to set the arms and I didn't have to worry about opening the door into the post. now doing brakes is a little harder on the 4 post. also a lot of the 4 post lifts do not need to be bolted down offering mobility
I only came for the insults. Sadly I can't think of any right now! Good luck on getting your lift. When I was younger I'd go to a strip club and have a few beers .
I’ve never had a car “walk off”. That sounds terrifying. That’s pretty much the worst case scenario. I have had cars “settle” while on the lift. Nothing ever serious but enough to scare the bejeezus out of me. I contacted the Mohawk people and a 10,000 capacity it 2x as much as the challenger. He said the 7000 capAcity was only $100 cheaper which seems odd. Also a bummer because that Indian logo would look good hoisting up my chieftain
Where I last worked, it still had an operating Rotary in-floor lift, and my boss had not correctly racked a late-model Cavalier, IIRC. We were standing next to it when it slid a half a foot backward, then stopped! Talk about having your heart stop! Then there was the time I drove a mid-'60s F250 4X4 onto the roll-on rack (which was a modded 2-post), then because the park brake didn't work, as I got out to chock it, it decided it wanted to roll off while I was aligning it on the rack for an even lift! My co-worker and I managed to stop it in the parking lot! So I drove it back on, he told me when to stop then chocked it. Boy did he stare daggers at me....
I have a two post Challenger and very pleased with it. I still do a fair amount of work on my stuff so it works best for me. I may buy a 4 post later on to add to my shop.
If I had my choice I would definitely go with a two post. Way over half of hobby car work is tires, brakes, oil, tranny, etc. Nice to have all that exposed without looking around ramps and beams. My hoist was patented in 1934. I got it from a GM garage that went under. It works best as storage for two cars.
if your looking to make a living out of it definitely a two post if your storing cars a 4 post you can thank me later . i've done everything on my lifts from pulling the body of the frame on my 59 to I just did 4 wheel brakes,front driveshaft, flushed brake system and power steering system and installed a new power steering pump on my jeep. I also installed the 9" ford rear into my 59 on the 4 post which was a little tougher then if it was a 2 poster