Introduction to auto lifts
Whether you own an auto body shop, quick lube station, car dealership, or rental car business, using auto lifts will make all kinds of car and truck repairs easier and more efficient. Vehicle repair businesses that use auto lifts are able get more revenue per hour out of each service station.
But what kind of lift is right for you? We can help. This BuyerZone Auto Lift Buyer's Guide will walk you through the purchasing process. We’ll show you the differences between 2-post and 4-post lifts, the importance of ALI/ETL certification, typical auto lift pricing, and more about how to choose the right auto lift for your business.
Before you start the process, make sure you've done some basic research and have considered which options are best for your business. Auto lift dealers will want to know some general details about your business, such as the types of vehicles you work on most often, how many bays you operate, and how many lifts you have.
You'll also need to provide a few measurements. The size of your bay – both width and height – can be a limiting factor, so measure carefully. You'll also need to know the thickness of your concrete floor, along with the pounds per square inch (PSI) rating it can support. If you don't know, the dealer should be able to help.
Armed with this basic information, you're ready to talk to an auto lift dealer. Read on to find out more about how to buy an auto lift – or submit a free request for auto lift price quotes to get started right away.
<< Back to top
Types of auto lifts: 2 or 4-post auto lifts and more
There are several basic types of auto lifts on the market: 2-post, 4-post, in-ground, parallelogram, scissor lift, and more. If most of your business involves passenger cars and light trucks, you'll probably choose between the 2- and 4- post models.
2-post auto lifts
The most common type of car lift is the 2-post lift. Using two vertical columns and adjustable stabilizing arms, 2-post lifts can handle many sizes of cars and trucks, while taking up a minimum amount of valuable shop space.
2-post lifts are available in both symmetrical and asymmetrical designs. In symmetrical designs, the two posts face directly towards each other, with their arms extending equally forward and back. This puts the vehicle’s center of gravity directly between the two posts (50%-50%). In asymmetrical designs, the posts are rotated, moving the center of gravity forward (30%-70%).
The main reason to choose one or the other is for access to the interior of the vehicle you're working on. By moving the center of gravity, asymmetrical lifts usually make it easier to access the front doors of passenger cars and reduce the potential for door damage. On the other hand, symmetrical lifts are better for working on trucks with significant weight in the rear, and usually provide sufficient access to truck or van doors. Using some asymmetrical lifts to lift vans or trucks might void the warranty of the lift. Please check the details of your specific warranty.
Both types of 2-post lifts work with most light vehicles, so there's no absolute right or wrong answer. Pick the lift that matches the majority of the vehicles you service, and consider getting both types if you're buying more than one.
4-post auto lifts
4-post lifts usually offer higher capacities than similar 2-post lifts, thanks to twice as many supporting columns. They're also "drive on" lifts: instead of parking the vehicle then positioning the lifting arms, you simply drive the car onto the lift platform. In high-throughput operations – quick lube stations, for example – this can be a big timesaver.
4-post lifts are also a popular choice for buyers who want to store a car or truck on the lift. They feel more stable, and the steel platform provides additional storage space.
In-ground auto lifts
In-ground lifts are a popular choice for larger shops, especially for the service departments at car dealerships or rental agencies. When not in use, the entire lift is below ground, out of the way, providing clear floor space.
Not only do in-ground lifts provide more floor space for parking cars overnight, they also reduce nicks and dents and other side effects of overcrowding, and generally make the service area look less cluttered. The additional space will cost you, though: you can expect to pay around twice as much for an in-ground lift as you would for a similar capacity 2-post lift.
In the past, in-ground lifts got a bad rap for being environmentally unsound. Older models had a tendency to leak oil. Because they were below ground, the oil would contaminate the ground water, and leaks were difficult to detect and repair. Modern in-ground lifts solve that problem thanks to a capsule that encases the entire device. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) mandates a solid leak barrier around any lift installed underground.
Other types of auto lifts
Parallelogram and scissor auto lifts are the most popular ultra-high capacity lifts. These drive-on lifts take up much more floor space and are more expensive than either 2- or 4-post lifts – but they give you the capacity to work on box trucks, buses, and other heavy vehicles.
<< Back to top
Safety and certification
The safety implications of buying an auto lift are pretty obvious: lifting and holding a multi-ton vehicle over the heads of your staff is inherently risky. Make sure you keep safety considerations at the top of your decision-making checklist.
Look for certified lifts
By far, the most important step you can take to make sure you're buying a safe, reliable lift is to only purchase models that are ALI/ETL certified. The Automotive Lift Institute, a national organization for auto lift manufacturers, runs a certification program that sets safety standards and tests lifts for compliance.
Intertek ETL, an independent third party, does the testing for this program. They carefully inspect each new lift design to make sure it meets strict industry standards. They also require manufacturers to demonstrate consistent, high-quality manufacturing techniques, and re-inspect certified lift designs on a regular basis.
These efforts ensure that any lift that carries the ALI/ETL certification label – seen here – meets a minimum level of safety when installed properly, serviced regularly, and used according to specifications. Remember that any lift becomes dangerous when pushed beyond the manufacturer's rated capacity..
In some cases, ALI/ETL certification is more than important: it's mandatory. Most states require that vehicle lifts be inspected and certified – be sure to check with your local authorities to see if this applies to you.
Safety features
ALI/ETL certification doesn't tell you what types of safety features are built into an auto lift. Here are a few examples of features that can help ensure the safety of your technicians.
- Locking positions automatically engage as the lift is raised, preventing it from falling very far in case of a mechanical or hydraulic failure. Check when locking positions start engaging and how often they engage: locking positions every 2 or 3 inches provide more security than those that engage every 6 inches or more.
- Pinch point protection helps keep fingers and hoses out of dangerous spots. This is particularly important on 2-post lifts with multiple swing arms that are adjusted for each vehicle lifted.
- Multiple lift pads make lifting different types of vehicles easier and safer. Talk to your dealer about what types of pads are available and which types of vehicles they're used for.
<< Back to top
Choosing an auto lift dealer
Who you buy your lift from is almost as important as the technical specs of the lift itself. Choosing the right auto lift dealer ensures that you get the most for your money, while choosing an inferior dealer can cost you far more in the long run.
Experience is important, both from the manufacturer and the dealer you choose. Look into how long the manufacturer has been building lifts and how long the dealer has been selling them. It's worth talking to other repair shops or dealerships in your area to find out who they turned to for their auto lifts and how pleased they are with the results.
Service capabilities
One of the most important characteristics to look for in an auto lift dealer is how they handle service calls and maintenance. Regular maintenance of your auto lift is crucial. Every hour a lift is out of commission costs you money – make sure the dealer you work with understands the importance of a quick response to any problem you encounter.
If you're buying directly from a manufacturer, have them introduce you to the local technicians who will be responsible for installing and maintaining your lift before you complete the sale. The technicians should be factory-authorized, experienced, and close enough that they'll be able to respond fairly quickly if you ever need them on short notice.
How to run your evaluation
The right dealer will work with you to determine what type of lift is best for your situation. They'll ask about your capacity needs, available space, and other preferences, and then suggest the right lift for your shop. Watch out for dealers who aggressively push a lift with far more capacity than you need, or that have a one-size-fits-all approach to sales.
Often, having the dealer visit your shop can help speed the process along. Alternatively, you may want to visit their location, to get a sense of the scope of their operation. Whichever route you take is fine, but a face-to-face meeting is important for a purchase of this scale: buying a lift purely over the Internet or even through telephone conversations can be tricky.
Once you've got a few qualified dealers lined up, get written proposals from each. Make sure they all cover the same services – delivery, installation, warranties, maintenance – and then you're ready to compare pricing.
<< Back to top
Auto lift pricing
A high-quality auto lift is a fairly substantial investment, especially for a smaller repair shop. When you consider how much money your lift can bring in, it should be clear that it's an easy investment to recoup – but many buyers still focus heavily on the initial purchase price. Try to avoid that trap.
Keep in mind that saving a couple of hundred dollars at the expense of quality is not a good long-term tradeoff. The cheapest lifts usually use the cheapest materials: thinner steel in the support columns, smaller lift cylinders, flimsier electronics. Buying the cheapest lift not only puts your employees' safety at risk – it increases the chances that you'll suffer costly downtime.
Of course, this doesn't mean the most expensive lift is always the safest or most reliable – but buying based on price alone is likely to lead to unwanted results. See what other BuyerZone users paid for their auto lifts.
Typical auto lift prices
A standard 10,000 lb. capacity lift will typically sell for $1,500 to $3,000. 4-post models are generally more expensive than 2-post lifts with similar capacities. Upgrading to a 14,000 lb. capacity lift will push your costs up to $3,000 to $6,000, depending on the manufacturer and the extras you choose.
Installation for above-ground lifts is fairly inexpensive – expect to pay $300 to $500 for 2-post lifts and $750 to $1,000 for 4-post lifts. Make sure you know whether installation is included in every price quote you review.
Due to the installation requirements and the extra technology involved, in-ground lifts are far more expensive than above-ground models. 10,000 lb. capacity in-ground lifts can cost $6,000 to $10,000.
Extra-high capacity lifts – parallelogram or scissor lifts designed to hold large trucks or busses – can easily top $10,000. Make sure your workload justifies this expense before deciding on a heavy-duty model.
Warranties
Don't overlook warranties as part of your cost considerations. Reputable lifts will come with a parts warranty that can range from a few months to three years or more. Make sure you get at least three months on parts: most manufacturing defects will show up in that time frame. Expect longer warranties on the frame and construction.
Check the details of your warranty coverage: find out if labor is included and if there are any response time guarantees. Ask if there are any charges for parts, shipping, or travel – those costs can quickly add up to big repair bills, even if the repair is "under warranty."
<< Back to top
Auto lift buying tips
- Get a little extra capacity. One rule of thumb to consider is that your lift should have a capacity of about 25% higher than the actual maximum you're likely to lift. In practice, that means your 10,000 lb. lift should max out at about 8,000 lbs. – which is still enough for most cars, pickups, and SUVs.
- Think about overhead clearance. If you choose a lift that has an overhead connection between the posts, be sure it can accommodate the height of your tallest vehicles. Get the extended height option if needed.
- Be careful buying used. While it may be tempting to save some money buying a used lift, the safety issues make it risky. You can never be sure that the previous owner maintained and used the lift properly. For a potential savings of a few hundred dollars, it's not a risk we recommend taking.
- Check your floors. In addition to making sure your concrete floors meet the pressure and thickness requirements, you'll also have to make sure you avoid any seams or edges. Putting a lift post too close to the edge of a concrete slab can reduce your lift's safe capacity.
- Get some extras. When negotiating your lift purchase, push the dealer to throw in extras like rolling oil drain pans or adapter kits. Getting additional equipment is sometimes easier than reducing the base price.
<< Back to top
|
