Auto shops and garages rely on high-quality lifting equipment to provide efficient and safe services to customers. The right garage car lift can mean the difference between a smooth, productive work environment and one where mechanics struggle to complete tasks safely and on time. Whether you’re opening a new repair shop or expanding your business, choosing the best lift for your needs is essential.

What Are Car Lifts Used For?

Garage car lifts are used to lift vehicles off the ground, so mechanics can access the underside of the vehicle and do repair jobs such as repairing the suspension, transmission, exhaust, and getting rid of rust. A lift also makes it easy for a shop to rotate and change tires. As an added benefit, lifts maximize space in your garage and can also be used to store vehicles after repair work is completed.

Assessing the Need for a Vehicle Lift: What to Know Before You Buy

While shopping for different garage lifting equipment, there are several things to know and consider prior to purchasing a lift. Below are three important aspects to examine before you choose which model to purchase.

Garage Lift Height Requirements

Before buying a lift for your garage, consider the height of your workspace. Does it have low ceilings? To ensure a safe lift installation, your garage’s ceiling height must measure at a minimum of 11 or 12 feet, with clearance for overhead hazards such as lights and fire alarms. The higher the ceiling is, the wider selection of auto lifts you can choose from.

Available Floor Space

Although ceiling height may not be a cause for concern in your garage, assess the remaining floor space available for the installation of a new auto lift. You may purchase the greatest lift for your garage only to find out it is physically impossible to feasibly install it in your cramped floor space.

Have you considered how much space an auto lift needs? It is imperative that you measure as many times as needed for you to guarantee that a lift will not only fit, but also provide the necessary room to adequately service vehicles. If you are unsure about the minimum space requirement for your new auto lift, consider contacting a local and reliable installer.

The Intended Purpose of Your Lift

Consider the most common vehicle types your garage services. Are they pickup trucks, motorcycles, or traditional, compact and SUV cars? Making a wise auto lift purchase depends on assessing and determining your typical load capacity, needed lift height, and desired lift speed.

In-Ground Vs. Above Ground Car Lifts

In-ground lifts, as the name implies, are installed in the ground; thus, they’re hidden under the floor when not in use. This category of lists includes single post lifts, side-by-side twin post lifts, and heavy-duty fore-and-aft lifts. In-ground lifts are affordable, safe, and very durable.

Above-ground lifts are commonplace, affordable, and easy to set up and use. Some of these lifts are portable, but most auto repair shops have above-ground lifts fixed to the floor. Two-post and four-post car lifts are common above-ground garage car lift types.

Car Lift Types & Their Applications

No lift type is inherently better than all others. However, some lifts are better than others for certain vehicles and repair jobs. Understanding the specs of each lift type can help you choose the one that’s the best fit for your shop.

2 Post Lifts

Two post lifts can hold up to 30,000 pounds. They have two posts, four adjustable arms, a hydraulic power unit, hydraulic cylinders, and cables. Lift options in this category include symmetrical and asymmetrical lifts. They are the most popular option thanks to the fact that they’re affordable and easy to use. Two-post lifts can be used for routine maintenance tasks and undercarriage work.

Four Post Lifts

Four post lifts can hold up to 40,000 pounds. These lifts have four posts, two lifting cross rails, two drive-on runways, and rolling jacks that allow you to remove vehicle wheels to rotate and replace tires or work on the brakes. Four-post lifts are stable and safe, making them ideal for work on large, heavy vehicles such as vans, trucks, and buses. You can use these lifts for routine maintenance work, undercarriage work, auto-tuning, vehicle inspection, and other tasks.

Scissor Lifts

Thanks to new technology, some scissor lifts can hold up to 100,000 pounds. These lifts have a single base that extends two platforms using retractable levers. Scissor lifts may be portable, or you can pick a model that can be fastened to the floor for added stability. Scissor lifts are affordable and work well for car repair shops with limited space. They’re easy to use and are ideal for making fast repairs on a vehicle.

Portable Car Lifts

Portable garage car lifts can hold up to 7,000 pounds. They are ideal for auto repair shops with space constraints as the lifts can be moved around the shop or even out of the shop as needed. Some models are extended-length to allow mechanics to work on long vehicles. Portable car lifts are typically low-rise or mid-rise, making them best suited for detailing and wheel-related work. However, some models come with spacers to allow for additional lifting height.

Alignment Lifts

Alignment lifts are specialized lifts that include turntables to allow mechanics to use an alignment system with the lift. There are four-post and scissor alignment lifts and these lifts can also be used for jobs other than alignment work.

Choosing the Right Lift For Your Needs

There are several factors to consider when picking a lift for your shop. You’ll want to think not just about your current needs but also future plans for your business. The cost of the lift will likely be a factor, as will the ease of finding and purchasing replacement parts. It’s also wise to put priority on efficiency and safety to prevent accidents and damage to your clients’ vehicles.

Car Types

Most non-commercial vehicles weigh under 10,000 lbs. If you don’t plan on working with commercial vehicles, then a lightweight two-post, four-post, scissor, or in-ground lift may be just what you need. However, commercial vehicles such as delivery vans, walk-in vans, buses, and construction trucks can weigh anywhere from 10,000 lbs. to over 33,000 lbs. For heavy-duty vehicles, it’s best to use a four-post lift to keep the vehicles safe and stable while repairs are underway.

Repair Types

If you specialize in routine maintenance and bodywork, you may be able to get away with a low-rise or mid-rise portable lift. However, any shop that does engine work will want a high-rise in-ground lift or an above-ground lift that’s been fastened to the shop floor.

Your Space

You need at least 11 feet of overhead clearance to install a high-rise lift. What’s more, you should have at least one foot of clearance around the vehicle for mechanics to get around while doing repair work.

Looking to Purchase a Car Lift?

Buying one or more garage car lifts doesn’t have to be difficult or time-consuming. SVI International sells affordable in-ground and above-ground lifts from well-known brands to meet the needs of any auto repair shop. We also provide a huge selection of lift parts to make it easy for you to keep your lifts running smoothly and efficiently. Our ready-ship warehouses in Chicago and Los Angeles offer same-day shipping on most parts, and we provide top-tier customer service to make it easy for you to find and order items, keep track of orders, and more. Get in touch with us to find out more or to start the process of purchasing high-quality machinery and replacement parts for your shop.