www.truckandtrack.com Autumn 2025 Truck and Track 25 WORKSHOP EQUIPMENT 2. Underside access Two post lifts: ■ Attach at the middle of the chassis ■ Give 100% access to the wheels ■ Limit access to some of the chassis Four post lifts: ■ Attach at each wheel ■ Restrict access to the wheels ■ Give 100% access to the chassis For most workshops, this is the biggest difference in practical terms. Because a four post lift uses drive-on platforms to lift from the wheels, those wheels are taking the weight of the vehicle - so you won’t be able to work on them. But that also means the chassis is completely unobstructed, giving your teams full access to the underside components and systems. While that sounds like a problem, there’s a solution that gives you wheel access with a four post lift: with a jacking beam as an add-on attached to your lift, you can raise the vehicle a second time from its raised position on the lift. The jacking beam takes the weight of the vehicle, and the wheels become free and accessible - so your teams can service the wheels without the time and hassle of lowering the lift and repositioning the vehicle. With a two post lift, things are a little different: most two post lifts attach near the centre of the vehicle (at the manufacturer’s recommended lifting points). That means the wheels are completely free and accessible, so your teams can work on the wheel systems without lowering the vehicle. But it also means that some parts of the chassis won’t be accessible while the vehicle’s raised. Any underside components and systems that are close to the lifting points will be at least partly obstructed by the lifting arms - which means some jobs could be impossible while the vehicle’s raised. 3. Setup and positioning Two Post Lifts: ■ Use lifting arms ■ Need precise vehicle positioning ■ Can take longer to setup Four Post Lifts: ■ Use drive-on ramps ■ Need simple positioning ■ Can be quicker to setup Speed and efficiency are important with any vehicle servicing. But as well as the time spent on the job itself, the preparation and setup can be just as important. With a four post lift, you’re lifting from the wheels on platforms. That usually means a drive-on loading system using ramps. Your staff can simply drive the vehicle onto the lift, and it’s already in position and ready to go. That can be a huge timesaver for busy teams, and the simplicity of it could help to reduce the chances of mistakes or poor positioning. With a two post lift, things are a little more complex. Once the vehicle’s in position, you need to attach the lifting arms to specific parts of the vehicle chassis. That can make positioning the vehicle more tricky, and it can mean extra time getting the arms in the right place and checking they’re securely attached. For the busiest workshops with high demand and throughput - where every second counts towards efficiency - a four post lift could be the fastest and simplest choice. So which is it? There’s no simple answer when you’re comparing two post vs four post lifts. They’ve each got their features that work for different needs - from space-saving and wheel access to the speed of setup and loading. So if you’re looking for a new lift and you’re still not sure, we’re here to help. Visit us at the Road Transport Expo Scotland 2025! We’re set to make our debut at the show, on Stand F25, with plans to feature vehicle lifts, brake testers, wheel alignment systems, tyre changers and more. There will be a range of heavy-duty and light commercial workshop equipment from our extensive portfolio to see and discuss at the event, which takes place at SEC, Glasgow from 19-20 November 2025. www.totalkare.co.uk
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