Thinking about getting a two post lift

Dean E

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Mar 30, 2022
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There is no way that 7000 lb 2 post lift will safely lift your truck. If you have other vehicles that are the primary use for the lift, great, but don't buy it expecting to use it for your truck.
I completely agree now! Dean
 

Dean E

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Mar 30, 2022
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Blair, NE

JoshH

Daggum farm truck
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I understand you have to work with the space you have, but I would advise you to figure out if there is a way you can get more overhead room for the location of your lift. 11' will not allow you to lift a truck high enough to comfortably work under it unless you're less than 5' tall. You will be working on a rolling stool all the time or constantly bent over and banging your head.
 
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LBZ

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We put a new 12k Atlas 2 post in my buddy’s shop last year. Another friend of mine has a 10k Bendpak that’s 14 years old. Both will lift crew long dually but you need to put a jack under the front and rear of the 10k to stabilize. I’d recommend nothing less than that to lift a full-size truck.
 

Bdsankey

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Actually from the MaxJax that I was looking at and the AplusLift (10K two post) is about a couple grand less! Dean

Personally I tend to stick to Atlas, BendPak, Mohawk and Rotary. They're all solid lifts and worth their price.

How often do you plan to use the lift?
 
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Dean E

Active member
Mar 30, 2022
141
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Blair, NE
Personally I tend to stick to Atlas, BendPak, Mohawk and Rotary. They're all solid lifts and worth their price.

How often do you plan to use the lift?
Honestly not that often. Most times will be just for a tire rotation or an oil change. I'm not that worried about the height underneath. If it is high enough for me to work under it with a work stool will be plenty. The big help will be with project cars and lifting the body off of the frame for restoration work. I just wanted something that was big enough to accomplish everything which included my Duramax. Dean
 

PureHybrid

Isuzu Shakes IT
Feb 15, 2012
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Idk, the height thing can be a catch 22. Yes it's nice to be able to walk under it, but then you're reaching above your head to wrench on certain parts, and some you can't reach at that point. Also if you're pulling a transmission you'd need a pretty tall jack, my two stage trans jack won't reach with a truck all the way at the top
 

036.6turbo

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Idk, the height thing can be a catch 22. Yes it's nice to be able to walk under it, but then you're reaching above your head to wrench on certain parts, and some you can't reach at that point. Also if you're pulling a transmission you'd need a pretty tall jack, my two stage trans jack won't reach with a truck all the way at the top
But at that point you have the option to lower the lift. My last shop had 10' ceilings, my drive on wouldn't even make to the first set of locks, with my CCSB on it. I would put jack stands under all (4) corners of the lift. New shop has 16' ceilings, lift can stop at any set of the locks that make the job the easiest.1733224987372.jpeg
 

Bdsankey

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Idk, the height thing can be a catch 22. Yes it's nice to be able to walk under it, but then you're reaching above your head to wrench on certain parts, and some you can't reach at that point. Also if you're pulling a transmission you'd need a pretty tall jack, my two stage trans jack won't reach with a truck all the way at the top

But at that point you have the option to lower the lift. My last shop had 10' ceilings, my drive on wouldn't even make to the first set of locks, with my CCSB on it. I would put jack stands under all (4) corners of the lift. New shop has 16' ceilings, lift can stop at any set of the locks that make the job the easiest.
Bingo! That's what multiple settings are for on a lift.

I don't know how many times I've had someone lower the lift around me when doing something up in the trans tunnel, or just barely out of reach and it needs to be that 4-8" lower, or crawl/roll under it then stand up. I did my up-pipe blankets with the trans out but up-pipes installed, the lift was a game changer for that.
 
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JoshH

Daggum farm truck
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I can tell you from experience it sucks working under a truck in a half stooped posture. I'd rather lay on the ground than walk around all hunched over. At least laying down is comfortable, but to each their own. FWIW, my transmission jack has never had a problem getting a transmission out of a truck with the lift picked all the way as high as it would go which is high enough for me to comfortably work under it at over 6' tall.
 
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Dean E

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Mar 30, 2022
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Blair, NE
I can tell you from experience it sucks working under a truck in a half stooped posture. I'd rather lay on the ground than walk around all hunched over. At least laying down is comfortable, but to each their own. FWIW, my transmission jack has never had a problem getting a transmission out of a truck with the lift picked all the way as high as it would go which is high enough for me to comfortably work under it at over 6' tall.
For me, I tore up my right shoulder lifting weights back in the day. For what I plan to use the lift for sitting on a butt card working in front of me is all I plan to do. Long periods with my right arm above me just does not work for me anymore. Dean
 

Dean E

Active member
Mar 30, 2022
141
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Blair, NE
But at that point you have the option to lower the lift. My last shop had 10' ceilings, my drive on wouldn't even make to the first set of locks, with my CCSB on it. I would put jack stands under all (4) corners of the lift. New shop has 16' ceilings, lift can stop at any set of the locks that make the job the easiest.View attachment 127501
Which lift did you have that let you put it in a 10 ft ceiling? I really don't want to do the post lift with the cables and hoses running on the floor. For me working on my Dmax will mostly be for tire rotations and oil changes. The big pull for me is car restoration projects and the rest of the family vehicles. Not running a business out of this. Dean
 

036.6turbo

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Jan 17, 2014
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Which lift did you have that let you put it in a 10 ft ceiling?

My drive on, scissor lift. Not great for tire rotations. Oil changes, brake jobs? Great little lift. It's the red one in the picture I posted. Wheeltroincs (snap on branded 9K) I didn't buy the two post Bendpak, until we built this shop.
 
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shakenfake

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Sep 15, 2022
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For me, I tore up my right shoulder lifting weights back in the day. For what I plan to use the lift for sitting on a butt card working in front of me is all I plan to do. Long periods with my right arm above me just does not work for me anymore. Dean
I know this feeling. Both shoulders had torn labrums and could voluntarily dislocate them by the time I was 16 (I had been dislocating them for a LOT longer). When I was 17 I had surgery on both and being a dumbass 17 year old I didn't follow the PT guidelines. Now I am stuck with a lack of mobility, pain and tiredness. Go me!
 
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PureHybrid

Isuzu Shakes IT
Feb 15, 2012
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Bingo! That's what multiple settings are for on a lift.

I don't know how many times I've had someone lower the lift around me when doing something up in the trans tunnel, or just barely out of reach and it needs to be that 4-8" lower, or crawl/roll under it then stand up. I did my up-pipe blankets with the trans out but up-pipes installed, the lift was a game changer for that.

I'm usually not in the mood to piss around with the lift while I'm wrenching. Set it and forget it

I can tell you from experience it sucks working under a truck in a half stooped posture. I'd rather lay on the ground than walk around all hunched over. At least laying down is comfortable, but to each their own. FWIW, my transmission jack has never had a problem getting a transmission out of a truck with the lift picked all the way as high as it would go which is high enough for me to comfortably work under it at over 6' tall.
Which jack? Mine goes up to 72". I've ran into this before on a smaller truck, not a 2500 / 3500
 

Dean E

Active member
Mar 30, 2022
141
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28
Blair, NE
Well I am now leaning back to the 7000 lb MaxJax. It will work for everything else I have and is easily movable between the garage and workshop. I just can's use it on my truck. I suppose if I wanted to get creative for tire rotations on the Dmax I could put both arms up front to get the front off of the ground and use a jack on the rear diff for tire changes but that won't be the safest way of doing it. About the heaviest thing that it will be lifting is a 64 Olds Dynamic 88 convertible project that is in the shop. Most of that is just lifting the body off of the frame for the restoration and modifications. Thanks to everyone for their input on this. It is very much apricated. Dean