2-Post Lifts

How to choose a 2-post car lift

A 2-post lift is the workhorse of almost every professional shop and serious home garage — it lifts a vehicle by the frame or pinch welds, leaving all four wheels free for brake, suspension, tire, and exhaust work. Picking the right one comes down to four things: capacity, ceiling height, arm configuration, and symmetric vs. asymmetric design.

Capacity

Match the lift to the heaviest vehicle you'll service, with margin to spare. For cars, light trucks, and most SUVs, a 10,000 lb 2-post lift is the shop standard. Fleet vans, dually pickups, and shuttle buses call for 12,000–15,000 lb models like the Challenger CL12A or E15, while box trucks and RVs need 16,000–20,000 lb truck lifts such as the Rotary SPO16-AV.

Ceiling height & clearance

Standard overhead 2-post lifts need roughly 11–12 ft of ceiling for the shutoff bar. Low-ceiling garages aren't out of luck — a low-ceiling floorplate lift routes the equalizer cables along the floor and fits under about 9–10 ft. Always confirm your full rise plus the tallest vehicle clears both your door opening and ceiling.

Symmetric vs. asymmetric

Symmetric lifts set the columns straight across and split the load 50/50 — ideal for trucks and even-weight loads. Asymmetric lifts rotate the columns and pair a shorter front arm with a longer rear arm so the cab clears the post and doors open freely — ideal for cars. Many modern lifts, like the Challenger VLE10, are versymmetric and do both.

Safety & certification

Look for ALI/ETL certification — independent proof the lift meets ANSI safety standards. Every 2-post lift we sell comes from an ALI-certified manufacturer, and our crew installs to spec, including the concrete thickness and anchor requirements that keep your warranty valid.

Brands we carry

We stock Rotary (SPO/SPOA series), Challenger (CL, E, and LE series), and Forward (F, I, and DP series) — three of the most respected names in automotive lifting. Not sure which model fits your bay? Talk to our installers or use the recommendation form below and we'll narrow it to one.