-Why install a 2 post lift in your garage?
-What to consider before installing a 2 post lift.
-Step by step: How to install a 2 post lift.
-Mistakes when installing a 2-post lift.
-Which lift to buy for your garage.
-Adjustments and how to take advantage of the space.

Photo by : Alan Berry 

If you bought a two post lift and you are looking for how to install it in your workshop, your terrace or garage, here we give you a guide and a step by step of how is the installation of a 2 post lift, in JMC, a certified store with more than 10 years of experience, we tell you how is the installation of a Car Lift.

The most important thing is to understand the installation diagram, with what space you have, and this is key to ensure safety, comfort and performance, we also advise you which lift to buy for your garage, what adjustments should be made and how to take advantage of the space.

Why install a 2 post lift in your garage?

When thinking about installing an elevator, you have to take into account several aspects, when buying and installing an elevator, it is a benefit for your business and your home, where you can enjoy safety, space, and greater efficiency for repair work, this is a step by step on why you need an elevator in your garage or workshop.

1. More space.

When you raise your vehicle you allow for more space, because with your vehicle up, the space underneath can be used for tools, additional storage or even another vehicle. This is perfect for garages with limited space.

2. Easy and safe maintenance

With a lift, you can allow you to raise a vehicle from approximately 76 CM to 178 CM in height and access it from below for easy oil changes or brake checks.

Photo by :Kyle Ritchie

3.Increased efficiency

The vehicle lift time is only seconds, it can be between 20 and 30 seconds, however, it can change depending on the model, power, hydraulic system, and weight of the vehicle, which can vary between 40 to 50 seconds, which makes it ideal for long jobs in tasks that are much faster and easier to handle.

4. Increased home value

A professionally equipped garage, such as a two-post lift, tool boxes, garage jack, and other tools can increase in value as interested buyers may look for a home with a well-appointed and functional space.

What should be considered before installing a 2-post lift?

1. Ceiling

   For installation in a garage or workshop, a clear height of 3 to 3.6 meters is required. This is because the elevators require an extra margin of space when raising the vehicle.

2.  Floor

   For the base of the elevator, it is essential to have a concrete floor, which is firm at the time of installation, which has a thick layer of concrete of 10 cm and a thickness of 3,000 psi of resistance, this is the ideal in concrete.

Photo by :Garry Long

3. Electrical Installation

For electric elevators, the most advisable is to have a 220V current, since the elevator is quite powerful and needs good strength at the moment of elevating a vehicle. Remember that the elevator has an electric motor that helps to drive the force of the elevator.

For hydraulic elevators, it is important to highlight that it is used by means of a hydraulic oil, which moves its circuit, by means of a pump, which is generally driven by an electric motor.

4. Weight

When installing the lift, it is important to know how much your car weighs, if it is more than 3000 Lb or less than 10000 Lb, this point is important, as this is the main guide on which lift to buy or improve, add supports if your vehicle has a higher weight than the lift.

5. Free Area

What we recommend the most in JMC, to our customers who want to buy an elevator, or simply who want to hire the installation service is to have a free and comfortable area to perform the installation in the elevator, I suggest you leave 60 cm free on both sides at the time of installation.

Step-by-step: How to install a two-post elevator

It is important to have several aspects when installing an elevator, here at JMC we provide the service of installing your elevator, we go to your home, or workshop and help you install it, however we recommend always consult the manual that we deliver at the time of purchase, remember that it is provided by the manufacturer. However, we always recommend to consult the manual that we deliver at the time of purchase, remember that it is provided by the manufacturer, it is important to note that a bad installation can cause serious problems.

1.Prepare the work area

1.Before starting everything, it is important to clean up and remove clutter from the work area.

2.Measure the holes in the elevator floor, exactly where you want them, marking them for drilling.

3.First of all check the height and the lighting, add lamps if necessary, to have a better visibility.

2. Position and fix the columns

1.Before drilling, align the two vertical columns in such a way that they are even on both sides, so that both are in the same place.

2.Check several times that they are level.

3. With the anchor drill, drill the floor with anchor screws, and then add the expansion bolts, make sure that the columns are firm and strong, this may take several minutes, as it is the most important part of the installation.

Photo by :Alejandro Hernandez

3.Support and cables

1.Mount the support arms that will make the lift load the vehicle, this is done by means of bolts that come with the lift, you also have to prepare and set aside to continue with the power cables.

2. Check that the arms cross or turn each other in several directions.

4. Connect the electrical wiring

1. Each elevator needs to be powered by a starter motor, to give it power, in this case it is important to install the motor in the column, where indicated on the handle, and then connect the motor that has a power of 220V.

       2.After installing and mounting the motor on the elevator column, it is important to listen to               the motor and the controls.

        3.Check well the sounds or movements that do not seem to be normal, be sure to check each    element of the elevator.

5. Control test

1. Before you put your vehicle on the lift to store it, it is important to do a control test “without vehicle” first, raise it, see how it sounds, and then lower it, check that there are no strange sounds and make sure the lifting times and at the moment of lowering it.

      2.Then it is important to check the adapters and automatic springs of the elevator, check that  each one is in order, they are adjusted and in place.

Mistakes when installing a 2-post elevator

     1.Not checking the floor before drilling, it is important to check the concrete and make sure it meets the proper depth.
     2. Centering and aligning columns incorrectly, make sure that the two columns are aligned and  centered correctly.
     3.Make sure the power motor and power cable are properly connected and in place.
     4.Check the calibration controls, adapters and arms.
     5.Check the safety systems of the outriggers, electrical systems and lifting posts.

Remember that in our shop equipment automotive vehicle, you can also carry the accessories you want for your equipment, write us or call us and we will help you with whatever you need.