Car Lifts

There are several types of car lifts, each suited to different purposes:

• Two-Post Lifts: Feature two upright posts and adjustable arms that lift the vehicle by the frame. Space-efficient and typically used for vehicles up to about 18,000 lbs.
• Four-Post Lifts: Have four columns and runways that you drive onto. They are very stable and often have higher capacity. Great for storing vehicles, since you can park one car under another, and for general maintenance.
• Scissor Lifts: Use an accordion-like mechanism to raise the vehicle. They're popular where space is tight because many can collapse flat to the floor when not in use.
• Portable Lifts: This category includes any easily movable lift. Many scissor lifts are portable and are excellent for home garage use or mobile mechanics.
• Parking Lifts (Car Stackers): These lifts are intended primarily for vehicle storage rather than service. A parking lift lets you park one vehicle on a platform and another beneath it to maximize vertical space in a garage. Parking lifts are common in both home garages and commercial parking facilities.
• Mobile Column Lifts: These are heavy-duty lifts consisting of independent columns that can be positioned at each wheel of a large vehicle, such as a bus, truck, or commercial vehicle. Each column has its own hydraulic jack, and the columns operate in sync to lift the entire vehicle.

High-capacity car lifts for lifting heavy trucks, commercial vehicles, or multiple cars at once are available through specialized equipment dealers and manufacturers. Wrenchers carries an assortment of heavy-duty lifts and can special-order models that go beyond our standard catalog. It's wise to consult our product specialists when shopping for a high-capacity lift, since installation requirements like concrete footing, electrical supply, and bay space become more critical with these larger units.

Yes, many car lifts are absolutely suitable for home garages, as long as you have the space and proper setup. Simple tasks like oil changes and brake jobs become much easier when you can stand under the car.

A residential garage with a ceiling around 10 feet high can accommodate a typical two-post or four-post lift in most cases. If your ceiling is a bit lower, around 8 to 9 feet, you still have options like mid-rise scissor lifts, low-clearance two-post lifts, or portable two-post lifts designed for lower ceilings.

For example, portable QuickJack lifts are great for home garages with low ceilings. They come in several sizes and frame lengths, with capacities ranging from 1,000 to 8,000 lbs. and lifting heights between 20 and 24 inches. MaxJax, another brand of portable two-post car lifts, can carry up to 7,000 lbs. and has a lifting height of 46 inches, so you can get full-sized lift advantages in your home garage.

Your garage floor must also be able to support the lift. Typically, a properly reinforced concrete slab at least 4 inches thick is the minimum for safely anchoring a lift. Many modern home garage floors meet this requirement, but older or thinner slabs might need to be reinforced.

Check your lift's power requirements as well. Be prepared to have an electrician install an appropriate outlet if needed. Some four-post lifts use hydraulic power units that plug into a 110V outlet but draw a significant amount of current, so make sure the electrical circuit can handle the load.

Even at home, all safety protocols must be followed. Never overload the lift, always engage the safety locks, and make sure everyone who uses the lift is trained in proper operation.

Car lifts come in a range of weight capacities. Most standard automotive lifts are rated between about 6,000 and 40,000 lbs. Here's a general breakdown:

• Portable and Entry-Level Scissor Lifts: Often have a capacity of 5,000 to 7,000 lbs. These are sufficient for compact cars, sedans, and many SUVs but might be marginal for heavy pickup trucks.
• Two-Post Lifts: Typically have a capacity of 7,000 to 10,000 lbs. A 9,000- or 10,000-lb. two-post lift is a popular size because it can lift most cars, SUVs, and half-ton trucks. Some two-post lifts have capacities of 15,000 lbs. or more.
• Four-Post Lifts: Usually have capacities between 9,000 and 40,000 lbs. A 9,000-lb. four-post lift is common for home use, while 40,000-lb. models may be used for heavier trucks, commercial vans, or additional capacity.
• Mobile Column Lifts: Each column may support 16,000 to 18,000 lbs. By using four or six columns together, these systems can lift vehicles weighing more than 60,000 lbs., such as transit buses and fire trucks.

The lift's rated capacity must exceed the total weight of the vehicle you intend to lift, including any cargo inside it. Always follow the manufacturer's posted capacity and never overload a lift. All lifts sold on Wrenchers clearly list their weight capacities, and many are ALI certified, meaning they have been tested to handle 1.5 times their rated load as a safety factor.

A good car lift changes how you work, making jobs safer, faster, and easier on your body. Here's what you gain:

• Better Access: Comfortable undercarriage access for oil changes, brake service, exhaust repairs, and engine work.
• Increased Safety: Mechanical locks and high safety factors reduce risk compared with relying on floor jacks.
• Space Saving: Vertical vehicle storage can double parking capacity in home and commercial garages.
• Efficiency: Adjustable working heights and simple raise-and-lower controls help you complete jobs faster.
• Professional Results at Home: A lift makes advanced DIY projects easier and brings your home garage closer to professional shop capability.

Size varies significantly by lift type, so it helps to know the approximate footprint before planning your space. Here's what to expect:

• Two-Post Lift Dimensions: A common two-post lift has columns roughly 9 to 12 feet tall, depending on whether it is a low-clearance model or a taller clear-floor model. The space between the posts is often around 8 to 10 feet, with an overall floor width requirement of about 10 feet or more.
• Four-Post Lift Dimensions: Four-post lifts generally require more floor space. A typical home-garage model designed for vehicles up to 18 feet long might measure approximately 14 to 18 feet long and 8 to 9 feet wide. The columns are often about 7 to 8 feet tall.
• Scissor Lift Dimensions: When fully lowered, scissor lifts are very compact. Some use platforms approximately 4 to 7 feet long and 3 to 4 feet wide. Depending on the model, the lifting height may range from around 20 to 80 inches.

The required concrete thickness for a car lift depends on the lift type and capacity, but most two-post and four-post lifts generally require a concrete slab at least 4 inches thick. The slab should consist of sound, reinforced concrete with a compressive strength of at least 3,000 PSI. The maximum allowable slope of existing concrete is generally three degrees.

Existing concrete floors should be test-drilled to verify the minimum floor thickness and confirm the accuracy of the building drawings. A core sample should also be obtained and tested to verify the concrete's compressive strength. When investigating floor properties, consult the building drawings to verify that the floor has proper reinforcement.

Other concrete requirements to consider before installing a car lift include:

• Do not install a car lift on expansion seams or on cracked, damaged, or defective concrete.
• All 3/4-inch-diameter anchors must be installed at least 6 inches away from expansion seams, control joints, or other inconsistencies in the concrete.
• Refer to the anchor manufacturer's specifications for exact edge-distance and anchor-to-anchor spacing requirements.
• Do not install a lift on hand-mixed concrete.
• Do not install a lift on a secondary floor or on a ground floor with a basement beneath it without written authorization from the building architect and prior consultation and approval from the lift vendor.