Two post car lifts are among the most often used lifts worldwide. When used appropriately, they’re safe and dependable, and they can raise a lot of weight.

Two-post lifts align the car in the bay from front to back. The lift provides additional drive-through clearance since the columns are straight across from each other, facing each other. The vehicle’s and lift’s centers of gravity are aligned, distributing the load evenly across the columns, carriage, and bearings.

In addition, the two-post lift allows the operator to quickly reach all sections of the vehicle, including the wheel assemblies.

How Much Space is Required for a 2-Post Lift?

Auto lifts are frequently placed to align with either the entry door or the servicing bay in most garage spaces. When you have more area to work with, you can install the lift in a corner or at an angle, depending on how much floor space and clearance height you need.

It’s recommended to leave at least two feet of space between your posts, lifted cars, and the side walls. Otherwise, you will struggle while trying to maneuver around the vehicle while placed on the lift. Furthermore, you will not have enough room to readily remove wheels, axles, or tight nuts with a long pry bar.

Provide at least 12 feet between the lift posts and the back wall when installing symmetrical lifts. Allow at least 9 feet between the lift posts and the nearest wall if you plan to buy an asymmetrical lift.

A 2-post lift is great for trucks, vans, and commercial vehicles because of these advantages. Although popular and relatively easy to use, it takes a little skill. Below is a step-by-step guide for how to position your truck on a 2-post lift.

How to Position Your Truck on a 2 Post Lift

Double-check Safety and Capacity

Before using your car lift, check the weight capacity to ensure that you are not attempting to move a truck that the lift cannot handle. Also, make sure your car lift is ANSI/ALI ALCTV-2011 or ANSI/UL 201 certified.

Clear the Space

To begin, remove any obstacles from the area. The space necessary for a 2-post lift includes a larger area with open entry ports. The surface should also be flat, with no bumps or slopes, as this can cause an accident.

Position the Vehicle

Place your truck between the lift columns in the proper location. Refer to the guide for positioning the automobile relative to the spotting dish. Confirm that the vehicle is properly positioned in the middle of the lifting podium. On both sides, the lifting posts should be symmetrical.

Put your car in park and use the emergency brake if you have an automatic transmission for additional safety. For manual transmission, put the car in first gear and apply wheel chocks on the back wheels.

Choose Correct Adapters

Examine the adapters to ensure they are tall enough to establish simultaneous contact with the lift points. Some trucks may require special height adapters to provide more room between the lift arm and the rocker panel.

Some height adapters have stacking pegs that connect to one another, giving the lift pad extra height and allowing it to stay on top of the rocker panel or frame.

In certain circumstances, a special truck adapter or frame cradle pads might be needed.

Position the Arms

Place the lift pads under the correct lift points. Then, raise the reclining swing arms to the manufacturer’s recommended lifting point under the vehicle. When you stretch the swing arms on most new model cars, an arrow directs you to the spot where the adapters should be placed. This spot is the starting location for the lift. You can reach the lifting points with extensions, which provide additional grip while also leveling the automobile during elevation.

Before starting to rise, confirm that the lift pads are correctly seated and locked.

Test the Lift

Examine the area for any obstacles before pressing the power button to elevate the vehicle. Next, activate the lifting unit and allow it to raise the car slightly above the ground. Once the wheels are roughly six inches off the ground, check to verify if they are level. Then try swaying the vehicle from the front or back to determine if it’s stable. If the truck bounces on the pads or feels otherwise unsteady, lower it to the ground quickly and reposition the pads as needed.

Make any necessary modifications after double-checking to ensure that lift contact is even and accurate.

When lifting, make sure the safety locks engage click after click, and remember to disengage them when the truck comes down.

Raise the Truck Fully

You can then lift the automobile to the desired height once you’ve ensured that it sits securely on the pads and isn’t swaying. Again, consult your owner’s handbook for the maximum allowed height that a truck can be raised on a two-post lift.

When lifting, make sure the safety locks engage click after click, and keep in mind that they’ll have to be disengaged as the truck is delivered. Before going beneath the vehicle, lower the lift to the locked position once you’ve reached the desired height.

Lowering the Vehicle

Before you lower the truck back to the ground, be sure there is no one or anything underneath it.

Release the lift’s safety locks and lower the vehicle gradually.

Finding the Right 2-Post Lift

Finding a dependable lift supplier with high-quality items doesn’t have to be complicated.

SVI International is committed to excellence. We provide 40,000 repair parts from 50 product lines as industry leaders in automotive and industrial equipment repair parts. Our products are distributed across three warehouses across the country, allowing for quick and reliable delivery.

We encourage you to contact us today if you seek specialty lifts. Call (800) 321-8173 or use our online form to contact us right now. We look forward to helping you with your auto lifts!