Positioning A Truck On A 2 Post Car Lift
Positioning a truck on a 2 post lift can seem daunting, but with a little practice, it can be easy. It does take some finesse and patience, but it can be done by one person if necessary.
Two post car lifts are perfect for parking spaces that don't have much room and can be used in many different ways, from washing vehicles to lifting them off the ground so you can inspect or carry out repairs, among other reasons. However, to avoid accidents, certain common principles of safe usage apply to the operation of any two-post lifts:
•Engage the correct lifting points of the vehicle
•Use appropriate lift adapters when lifting trucks and SUVs
•Always balance the vehicle's center of gravity.
In this article,we will go over the basics and step-by-step instructions of how to safely lift your truck position a truck on a 2 post lift.
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Must-Know Basics For Car Lifts
Before you can even start using your car lift, you should make sure the space requirements for the left are met, check the weight capacity and make sure you do not try to lift a truck that the lift can't handle, and make sure to read through all instructions on the lift placard on lift operation.
Designated lifting points
Make sure you know exactly where you should position your vehicle because it can only be lifted at designated lifting points. To elaborate more, a two-post lift will have four arms that have either a symmetric or asymmetric design. These lift arms are strategically positioned under the vehicle according to the weight distribution to stabilize it at specific points.
Why are designated lifting points important?
Designated lifting points are important because if you try to lift a car at an incorrect point, it can damage the vehicle or the lift. Incorrect positioning could also cause instability and potential accidents.
To avoid any incidences, the truck must be well positioned according to its true center of gravity. This helps to distribute the total weight among the four lift arms evenly. Your car manufacturer usually provides the exact locations of the specific vehicle's lift points.
NOTE: The center of gravity of a truck is not always the "true center." Using the correct truck lifting points is crucial during every lift.
Lift arms maximum capacity
It is also crucial to be aware of each lift arm's maximum capacity and not to exceed it.
Two-post car lifts are designed to withstand a specific amount of weight in order to lift your vehicle in the safest and most efficient manner. This weight limit is indicated on a placard above each lift's control panel, on the operations/user manual, or by an indicator light that will turn off when the lift has reached its maximum capacity.
If the maximum weight limit is exceeded on any of the four arms, mechanical failure or damage will follow. In most cases, the max weight capacity is about 25 percent of the lift's total reported weight specifications
In instances where the truck has disproportionate weight to its front or rear axles, such as with a forklift or loaded truck, then the lift operator must recalculate or use common sense to re-establish the center of gravity to account for the uneven weight so that each arm will still receive 25 percent of the total load.
