Automotive Lift Buyer's Guide

Automotive Lift Buyer's Guide

Professional auto shops like quick lubes, car dealerships and independent garages require high-quality lift equipment to perform service, repair and maintenance work.automotive lift Having the right automotive lift in place helps boost productivity and maximize profits while providing customers with a safe, reliable vehicle lifting experience. When shopping for the best auto lifts for their garages or shops, it's important that shop owners do their research. In addition to accurate measurements of bay or garage space and vehicle dimensions, they should also consider the specific type of lifting mechanism used in each prospective lift model.

There are three major types of car lifts on the market: four-post, two-post and scissor lifts.automotive lift Each has its own advantages and disadvantages depending on the type of work to be done in a shop or garage.

Four-post lifts feature a pair of runways that a vehicle drives onto to be lifted.automotive lift This allows the underside of a car to be exposed, making them popular for wheel alignments and tire replacements. Two-post lifts are a cost-effective alternative to four-post models and leave a smaller footprint in the garage. They are available in either symmetrical or asymmetrical designs, with asymmetrical lifts being designed with one post that's rotated slightly off-center for better access to longer vehicles like trucks.

Another important consideration when choosing a car lift is its load capacity and lifting height. Load capacity refers to the maximum amount of weight a lift can safely support, while lifting height refers to the distance from the ground that the car can be elevated. Ideally, a lift should be able to hold at least 7,000 lbs.

Lastly, when shopping for the best auto lifts, it's important to make sure that any prospective model is certified by the Automotive Lift Institute. This certification carries a great deal of weight in the industry, as ALI sets extremely strict UL, ETL and ANSI manufacturing safety standards. Those who don't follow ALI guidelines are subject to heavy fines or even shutdown of their business.

While conducting your automotive lift consumer research, shop owners should always keep in mind that it is essential to buy from a company with a good reputation and plenty of customer support. Many shady lift manufacturers operate in the U.S. marketplace, pumping out low-quality products from offshore factories without the proper ALI manufacturing certifications. Shops should also be wary of any lift that only sells its equipment through a limited number of dealers, as this is an indication that the manufacturer has little interest in promoting and supporting its own product. Instead, look for a lift with solid, verifiable information pertaining to its actual manufacturer or at least an impressively detailed online catalogue. You should also be able to identify the lift's brand by seeing whether it features a prominently displayed name on the lift or not.

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