The home car lift. An important tool for almost any repair these days. From changing the oil to replacing a brake caliper, a car lift is essential to work in hard to reach places.
When it comes to car lifts for repairs, the three main types are:
⦁ Jacks and Jack Stands
⦁ Scissor Lifts
⦁ 2-Post Lifts
Or, perhaps you need space to store a second car. A 4-post lift will allow you to store vehicles above one another safely and effectively. Some will even hold multiple cars at once!
Car Lifts For Repairs:
Jacks are the simplest of the car lifts. Generally small and lightweight, Jacks are used for temporary repairs and maintenance. Scissor jacks use a hand crank to lift it and the vehicle. Typically, these are used for emergencies in case of a flat tire. Hydraulic jacks are portable and either has wheels to push it around or are considered “bottle jacks” and are even smaller and easy to carry. Hydraulic jacks can also lift more weight than a scissor jack, and are usually rated at 2+ tons.
Scissor lifts are similar to a jack but are larger and fit in between the wheels on both sides of the vehicle. There are also some that are one unit and sit underneath the car and lift the whole thing at once. Typically, scissor lifts are electric and hydraulic instead of needing to be cranked up like a jack. Also, scissor lifts have different weight capacities depending on the model and brand.
Unlike a jack or scissor lifts, 2-post lifts are considered permanent, they have to be installed and attached to the floor before they can be used. They consist of two columns that you drive a vehicle between until two lift arms are under the car’s frame. Then, using electricity and hydraulics, the car is lifted into the air. 2-post lifts will raise a car even higher than either a jack or scissor lifts can and they allow you to work while standing up, making it easier to get around. Like the other two types of car lifts, 2-post lifts have a weight limit based on its model and the needs of the customers.
Car Lifts for Storage:
Another use for car lifts is to store a car above another one. 4-post lifts allow for just that. Similar to a 2-post lift, these instead have four columns and a car is driven in between them onto two metal risers. Then the car is lifted up using an electronic and hydraulic system. Finally, a second car can be parked underneath, doubling your storage space.
There are also 4-post lifts that are similar but can lift and hold multiple cars at once, sometimes tripling your storage space. Like all other car lifts, 4-post lifts have weight limits depending on its model.
No matter what your situation, there’s a car lift for your needs. Ensure that you check your vehicle’s specifications before buying and you’ll have a dependable tool that you can
