I saw a couple of 4 post lifts yesterday. They were extreamly well built, I found the internet site http://www.backyardbuddy.com/ Has anyone ever heard of or use this lift? I was originally going to buy a 2 post lift, but after looking at this 4 post I am now undecided. I see advatages of both. One thing which is a must is, I want to be able to store one of the cars on the lift in the winter. Thoughts and opinions are appreciated. thanks Al

 

I just had the use of a two post asemtrical "Rotary " brand lift. Very nice lift..you can open the doors while the car is on the lift..no doubt it would be the lift I would buy

 

I have a 2 post lift and it has some advantages and some disadvantages.

2 post lifts are typically taller , mine is almost 13' tall , 4 post can go in garage with lower celling

2 post picks up at 4 contact points on frame and allows easy assess to working near the frame.

4 post sine it has the bridge ramps to drive on causes the bridge ramps to be in the way of working on outer edges of undeside.

For storage, the suspension would hang for weeks or months on a 2 post , making a 4 post better for storage.

Hopefully others will add some input

Hope this helped

David

 

If you plan to store a car on the hoist like you say then buy a 4 post.

 

When I was looking for mine, I found that most 2 post lifts require 6 inches of concrete. I don't think very many home garages have a floor that thick.

There are some suspension bolts that need to be torqued with the weight of the car on the wheels. That can't be done on a 2 post lift.

A four post lift can be moved and doesn't need to be bolted down (although mine is).

You will also want/need to purchase a bridge jack for a four post lift if you want to work on wheels, brakes, suspension.

Even with a bridge jack, I can not jack up my Jeep wrangler using the frame. The frame is narrower than the bridge jack.

 

I have a 4 post one and love it , it takes a little getting used to from a two post , but yes a bridge jack is a must, Ron

 

I actually own TWO 4 post lifts...PLUS a low level sissors lift that will raise all 4 wheels 4 foot off the ground which I use for brake and wheel work tire rotations etc..... .

20 or so years ago I did own a two post lift... which I sold when I purchased my 1st 4 post lift (Backyard Buddy btw) because I had an urgent need to fit another car in the garage (we all have done that I guess)

Anyway Today I have the BackYard Buddy and a Gemini 4 post lift
both work fine for storage, cleaning, polishing, and doing most under the car service work ..oil changes transmission Mufflers and shocks etc...BUT just plain suck for doing brake or rotating tires...

So I also have that low level lift in another garage just for that kind of work...

That said...I made a mistake when buying the Gemini ... although it works and has never given me any problems what so ever I just do not trust it nearly as much as I do the BYB.... I do not hesitate to walk under the car and work on it BUT I just do not like the design of the individual posts...

The backyard Buddy posts are 4 sided and the sliding mechanism in outside of the posts ..almost, if not impossible to run a lawn tractor into and knockl the car off the lift... The Gemeni like a lort of these 4 post lifts use a 3 sided post and the sliding mechanism slides inside the post which means that If I ran my lawn tractor into the lift at the right angle I do have a very small chance of knocking that one leg over and have the entire car fall ...Never happened BUT it could

I would never ever buy another 4 poster that did not use the same design as the BYB posts... just much easier on my nerves...

Don't laugh but besides storage I bet I use my 2 4 posters more for polishng the wheels and lower bodywork then I do for actal mechanical repairs ..I'm 67, my knees are shot and my back is weak , and its nice to clean wax or polish wax sitting down on a chair with a cold beer sitting on the ramp of the lift within easy reach ...

Bob G

 

The legs and the slide mechanism is what caught my eye. The Back Yard Buddy lift is the best looking and strongest lift in the 7,000 lb class I have seen. The concrete thickness is not a problem in my shop as I have a 8" fiberreinforced floor, Industrial shop building. I like the ability to store either the Cobra or the Vette up in the air. Anyone else have a Back Yard Buddy lift? Al

 

Another Back Yard Buddy 4 Post owner here. Love the lift . Good luck !!!

 

This is the correct answer...

 

I own both types, if I had to own only 1 type it would be a 2 post because it's the best one for fixing my old C3 Vettes.

 

I just bought a bendpak. Here is an article Bendpak vs Backyard Buddy. Worth the read. It even includes a previous post from Corvetteforum.

http://www.bestbuyautoequipment.com/...FYHb4AodZ0K1ng

 

Interesting article... BUT I still do not like the 3 sided posts... (I am kind of **** about stability issues even though it would really take a very hard hit from my garden tractor to even come close to knocking a leg out...

The "plastic" guides that BYB uses between the post and the ramp sections knowledge are Not plastic High Density whatever you call that stuff.... In any case as I said my BYD is at least 20 years old and those guides are as good as new... as I go over my lifts very closely every spring ...

The locking mechanism will not work on un-level floors....say what !!! they sure do ....

when all is said and done BYD would still be my choice BUT the Bendpak Honestly is right up there I just wished they used 4 sided posts...

Bob G.

 

Got a friend who has his own insurance company. He is also a car nut, and he told me of the horror stories of who had cars fall off 2 post lifts. One was a Gen1 Camaro just about finished which was put onto the 2 post without the engine and trans, and it toppled backwards onto the floor below. Ruined. He has on average 20 claims per year from 2 post hoist damage, and 2 or 3 from 4 post.
4 post gives you the function of working on the car at ride height, able to check ride height related clearances etc and if you have a jacking beam, you can lift the suspension off the hoist as well. So its 4 post for me.
I also know of a 56 TriFive where you can't open its doors when lifted on a 2 post on the frame, admitted the body mounts must be u/s but the problem is not apparent on the 4 post.

 

And Corey has the correct avatar !

 

I have a four-poster in a 10'x21' bay in my garage and it is great for the Vette. I am jealous of the guys who have the bridge jacks, but I can use my small trolley jack to raise the side frame pretty much anywhere between the wheels, and get a jackstand under there. I have the front end in the air right now, doing the front suspension...you can just see the plywood pads the jack stands are sitting on. Also I hinged the ramps so they fold up--a useful mod for me since those ramps weigh right around a ton each!

 

A 4-post lift with a hydraulic bridge jack is the "best of all worlds", IMO. You don't even have to bolt it down. In fact, the CompleteHydraulics lift I have can be easily moved around with the 4 large wheel attachments that come with it. One person can move it around pretty easily on a flat garage surface. You can't do that with a 2-post lift.

Advantages: No overhanging weight issue; stands on its own 4 posts. Good access to everything under the car; can change complete exhaust system at one time. Bridge jack and oil drain pans can be moved back-and-forth, or removed, as you need them {I don't think you can get drain pans or a bridge jack on a 2-post lift}. Lift locks in place at 10 different height settings for assured safety when working under it. Other cars can easily fit under it if you have 11' or higher ceiling.

 

and who knew she's "always right"...

 

A 2 poster if you are going to work on the car a 4 post if it is for storage. I do a tremendous amount of under car and suspension work on cars and the 2 poster is the way to go. For storage I would definitly have a 4 poster. You also have to look at your garage foot print. A 4 poster would consume so much of my small 2 car garage there would be no room to work around it. I have also stored my car on my lift for a few months with no problems either. I don't get what the big deal is about letting the suspension hang. It is not going to hurt it by hanging.
As for loading it so it wont fall, use some common sense. 90 % of most accidents could be prevented if people thought about what they were doing before doing it. Yes the 2 poster is not as stable but I have never had any issues and I have had many a car on the lift with no motor or trans.

 

The bay the lift will be installed in is 18.5' X 50' with 25' cielings. I was going to install the lift near the back wall probably centered. I have been looking at a used Rotary 2 post but I really like the idea and stability of the 4 post. Either way, by spring I will have a lift hopefully. Al