How to Choose the Best Car Lift for Your Needs

A lift is a long-term piece of equipment. Buying from a reputable manufacturer that has an established parts, service and support available should be a top priority for long-term return on investment.  Buy the right one and it works hard for decades, buy on price alone and you pay for it later in downtime, service calls, lack of parts availability and support.

We have been selling and servicing this equipment since 1984, so we will give you the straight scoop. The decision comes down to three things: the vehicles you put on the lift, the building you put it in, and who stands behind it after the sale. 

What This Guide Covers

• Compare Every Weaver® Car Lift
• 2-Post vs. 4-Post
• What to Work Out Before You Buy
• Why Buy Your Lift From Weaver®
• Common Mistakes to Avoid
• Questions to Ask Before You Buy

Compare Every Weaver® Car Lift

Here is the whole lineup at a glance. Capacities run from 8,000 lb up to 20,000 lb, in both 2-post and 4-post designs. Every model marked certified wears the ALI Gold Label, which means it was tested to the USA standard by a third party and not just claimed to meet it.

Scroll sideways to see the full table →

Specifications can change, so confirm the details on the product page or call us at 817-560-9510 before you order.

2-Post vs. 4-Post

Two-Post Lifts

A two-post lift picks the vehicle up by the frame so all four wheels hang free. That gives you full access to the underside for brakes, exhaust, suspension and tire work, and it does it in a small footprint. Two-post lifts are the preferred choice for the majority of vehicle service.

Four-Post Lifts

A four-post lift uses drive-on runways instead of arms under the frame. You drive on, and the runways carry the vehicle by the tires. That makes loading easy, it is forgiving of how the weight sits, and it doubles as vehicle storage when you want to park one car over another. If storage, limited ceiling height, or alignment work is your priority, this should be your choice.  Four-post lifts are preferred for quick oil changes.  Bridge jacks can be added for wheels free service.

There are other designs out in the world, low and mid-rise lifts built for quick brake and tire jobs, and heavy-duty truck lifts for the really big stuff, but for most shops and garages the choice comes down to two-post versus four-post. For a deeper look, read our guide to the types of car lifts, and our direct 2-post vs. 4-post comparison.

What to Work Out Before You Buy

How Much Lift Do You Actually Need?

Start with the curb weight of the heaviest vehicle you will ever put on it, and the length it will take up in the bay. Most cars and half-ton trucks come in well under 10,000 lb, so a 10,000 lb two-post handles most passenger vehicles and light trucks on the road today. If you are lifting a 3/4-ton or one-ton truck, a dually, or a van you load up before it goes on the lift, many 10,000 lb. lifts will accommodate.  Check the vehicle curb weight and size to be sure to get the correct capacity.  Step up to a 15,000 lb model like the Forward® DP15 for vehicles weighing over 10,000 lbs. or if you need more lifting height.

Commercial shops seeing everything from a sedan to a box truck should look at the 20,000 lb SPO20, which picks up Class 1 through Class 5.

Ceiling Height and Overhead Clearance

A two-post needs more overhead space than most four-post lifts. A baseplate lift like the Weaver® W-9KFP does not have the overhead beam, allowing it to be installed under lower ceiling heights. Our full ceiling height guide walks through the numbers.

Your Concrete

A two-post is only as safe as the slab it is bolted to. The floor has to be a minimum of 3,000 PSI concrete, and thickness scales with capacity: 4-¼ in. minimum under 8,000 to 10,000 lb two-post models, and 6 in. under 12,000 and 15,000 lb models. The details, including anchor embedment, are in our concrete requirements guide.  Always follow the manufacturer’s recommended installation instructions for the specific model you have.

Symmetric or Asymmetric Arms

On a two-post, arm configuration decides how the vehicle sits and how easily you get the doors open. Symmetric arms are equal length and center the vehicle between the posts, which is what you want for heavier trucks and vans. Asymmetric lifts use a shorter front arm and longer rear arm so the vehicle sits back, clearing the doors for easy entry, which suits cars and daily service work. A few lifts split the difference: the SPOA10-AV all-vehicle arms and the SPO20 Trio arms handle both. If you are weighing the two, our symmetric vs. asymmetric lift guide lays it out. Lifts like the Weaver® W-Pro10, have super-symmetric arms that are able to adjust for symmetric or asymmetric lifting.

Power and Electrical

Plan the circuit before the lift lands. All of our two-post lifts run on 220V single phase, and we always recommend following local electrical code. The Pro-Park series four-post lifts are the easy ones here, they run on standard 110V and plug into a normal outlet. 

Certification and the ALI Gold Label

The ANSI/ALI standards are the only recognized lift standards in the USA, and a lift earns the ALI Gold Label only after a third-party lab (ETL) tests it to that standard. We carry both certified and non-certified models, to meet your needs and budget. You can verify certified models at the Automotive Lift Institute.

Why Buy Your Car Lift From Derek Weaver Co., Inc.

Our Direct-Lift®, Forward®, Rotary® and certified Weaver® lifts are built by Vehicle Service Group, a wholly owned operating company of the Dover Corporation - a Fortune 500 company based in the USA. VSG owns its plants, runs ISO-certified facilities, and holds better than 80% of the car-dealer lift market in this country. Why do they hold that share? Because they take care of business before, during and after the sale.

At Derek Weaver Company, we only work with the top brands and manufacturers. So, whether you need a 2-post or 4-post lift, you can feel confident that you're getting the best lift possible. You can even check out our Google Reviews and customer testimonials to see how we put our commitment to excellence to the test with each sale. Contact us and order the best car lift today!

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Buying on price alone. The cheapest lift is rarely the best lift.
2.  Capacity. Rate the lift above your heaviest vehicle, and if you run a shop, account for the biggest truck a customer could roll in.
3. Ceiling Height. Check your ceiling height and your concrete thickness and strength before you order.
4. Certification Requirements. If your jurisdiction has adopted certification requirements, an uncertified lift will not receive approval by the jurisdiction.
5. Customer Support. A great lift becomes a massive paperweight when you cannot get a part or reach a human for support.
6. Choosing the right type of Lift. A two-post is for active service, a four-post is for storage, heavier loads and alignment. Make sure to get the lift that meets your needs.

Questions to Ask Before You Buy

These are the questions we walk through with customers on the phone. Run down the list before you finalize.

• What is the heaviest vehicle you will ever put on it?

• What is the longest and widest vehicle you would lift?

• Are you planning to store vehicles on the lift? 

• How tall is your ceiling?

• Do you have the proper electrical and concrete requirements?

When you are ready, browse the full vehicle lift lineup, read the car lift FAQs, or call us at 817-560-9510 and we will help you find the best lift to meet your needs.