Atlas Mobile Column Lifts vs. Heavy Duty Four Post Lifts

The Atlas MC7000 and Atlas MC9000 offer a distinct advantage over heavy duty 4-post lifts. Heavy duty 4-post lifts normally come in sizes such as 18,000 lb. capacity, 27,000 lb. capacity, 35,000 lb. capacity and 40,000 lb. capacity. You might also find heavy duty four post lifts rated at 20,000 lb. capacity, 25,000 lb. capacity, or variations thereof. The Atlas MC7000 and Atlas MC9000 have ratings of 7,000 and 9,000 per column, respectively – for total capacities with 4 columns of 28,000 and 36,000 lbs. It is important to remember that the columns are rated PER COLUMN. One MC7000 column has a rating of 7,000 lb. capacity. You might have a 28,000lbs vehicle to lift, but the load could be 16,000lbs on the rear and only 12,000lbs on the front. In this case an Atlas MC7000 would not be sufficient, and you instead need to be looking at the MC9000.That being said, the MC7000 and MC9000 offer a significant advantage over the 4 post heavy duty lifts.

Some of the KEY Advantages of a Mobile Column lift over a Heavy Duty 4 post Lift include:

· Unlimited Wheel Base – some of the heavy duty four post lifts are offered in extended length versions for extra money. There is no need to spend extra money for an extended length version Mobile Column lifts – the mobile column lifts are Mobile and therefor the wheel base is essentially ‘limitless’.

· Portability – heavy duty 4 post truck lifts are VERY cumbersome and take up lots of valuable shop space. An Atlas mobile column lift is portable. Enough said.

· Price – Atlas mobile column lifts are priced at the same price or lower than most heavy duty 4 post lifts with comparable capacities. For example, a 35,000 lb. capacity heavy duty extended length four post lift can run anywhere from $19,000 to $25,000, while an Atlas MC9000 (36,000 lb. total capacity),is priced at just $14,995.

For more information on Atlas mobile column lifts, please contact Greg Smith Equipment Sales, Inc. at 800-768-4104.

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Which Lift Should I Buy: 2-Post or 4-Post? Let Greg Smith Equipment Help

Greg Smith Equipment hears this questions dozens of times each week. There is no correct answer to this question! However, by looking at the advantages and disadvantages of both styles of lifts we can help provide information to help you make the decision.

Most professional shops know what type of lift will work best for their business. Most professional shops have both two post and four post above ground lifts in their service bays. Unlike these commercial shops many of our customers will only buy one lift for their home garage. Greg Smith Equipment wants you to make the best buying decision based upon your needs.

WHY ARE YOU BUYING A LIFT?

“I just want to store my car and do a little cleaning and polishing once in a while. I am not a “big car guy," and really only want a lift to store a car that I will not be driving much.”

If this sounds like you, and if “storing a car” is the primary reason for owning a lift, the team at Greg Smith Equipment would recommend a four post lift. The four post lift supports entire car “wheels” much better than a two post lift. Imagine yourself suspended six feet in the air. Would you rather have your entire body supported (as if lying in a bed) or would you rather have just your torso supported (lying in a string hammock) with your arms and legs dangling?

A four post lift acts much like the bed, supporting the entire vehicle. The two post lift acts like the hammock, supporting only the torso, and allowing the four wheel assemblies to “dangle”.

“I want to do all types of repairs on my vehicles, and I am on a limited budget.”

Then you want a two post lift for sure! The two post lift is the most inexpensive way to raise the most amount of weight. The two post lift allows the operator to easily access all parts of the vehicle, including the wheel assemblies, whereas the four post lift requires an auxiliary lift (at an extra cost) that will raise the car off the runways (to allow wheel service).

OTHER FACTORS

A four post lift can be portable (most come with a free caster kit). The four post lift may also be permanently anchored. A two post lift MUST be anchored to the ground.

A four post lift generally features a 110 volt motor which does not require special wiring to install. A two post lift will come with a 220 volt single phase motor.

A four post lift takes up much more room than a two post lift.

A two post lift will raise a car “higher” in a low ceiling garage. This is because the four wheel assemblies hang below the four lifting arms (the vehicle is lifted by the frame). For instance, a vehicle that is 72 inches tall (from the bottom of the tires to the luggage rack) will remain 72 inches tall when lifted on a four post lift. However, this same vehicle may only be 55 inches tall when lifted on a two post lift, because 17 inches may be “hanging” below the arms. If you have a 10 foot ceiling, the two post lift will raise most vehicles to about 6 feet off the ground.

A four post lift makes it much easier to load and position the vehicle. The runways of the four post lift make it easy for the operator to just drive onto the lift. There is no need (as on a two post lift) to get out of the car, kneel down, and correctly position the arms to ensure that the vehicle will be lifted evenly.

Extremely low ground clearance vehicles are much easier to load on a four post lift.

So which lift is right for you? Only you can make that decision. We just hope that your new lift will be one of the many lifts that are stocked at any of our Greg Smith Equipment locations!

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