I also have a Tufflift 2 post, clear floor lift - I preferred the thought of this for dragging my toolbox around / gearbox work etc. Smoother to even drag the oil drainer around if there isn't a lump in the middle of it. I designed the shed around having a hoist and as such I have 400mm thick concrete below mine. I think it was good bang for the buck. The only real things it is missing in my opinion is the single sided lock release (has a release on each arm) and teflon runners inside the columns. Both of which I decided that being a home hoist, probably wouldn't matter that much, I could've paid for a more expensive model but it isn't that annoying to have to walk to the other post to undo a mechanical lock.

No matter which way you go, check to see what certifications it has - or check out what mechanics run around near you. There are plenty of cheap hoists around but if they aren't run in a professional workshop that has to pay for insurance and get their lifts inspected - I'd think twice before purchasing one.

2 post clear floor all day long for me (I like low cars - if you have a tall roof van you won't be able to lift it very high). As for which type of 2 post you have, it depends on your head room and concrete thickness / reo. Plus mine came with the option of single or three phase motors for the same cost. Also check the minimum lift height - mine is 98mm which I found is lower than many others at 110mm / 125mm and also maximum height range. Mine is 1.9m lift height and that is really too tall for comfortable work unless you are doing something right on the bottom of the car (I'm 6' 1/2"). I usually run it 1 or maybe 2 mechanical stops down from the top to be comfortable.

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"In two years time your car will be like a lady's clothes, out of date, my car will still be in fashion when I am dead" - Sir Alec speaking to Pininfarina

Plenty of votes so far for the 2 post, so anyone got views on 4 posters with rolling jack beams? Are they something you wouldn't consider at all or have used and they are a pain in the ar$e?

At the moment I don't have an issue on space, height, concrete thickness for whichever model I choose, obviously $$ will end up being a limiting factor. Never had the option of using a hoist so I am relying on the feedback of others. One thing for sure I am am looking forward to not having to work on the floor

Working as a mechanic for over 25 years at various workshops with both 2 and 4 posters I found the 4 posters were almost always available but the 2 posters had a waiting list.

4 posters are ok for dropping oils/ coolant or replacing an exhaust or tailshaft. Quick checks for leaks or rust. Thats about it.

4 posters are a pain to use the sliding platforms for bottle jacks. They get in the way and sometimes you cant put the bottle jack in the spot you want. You will still have clearance issues as your mini underbody and driveline is still only 10cm off the deck height. The deck gets in the way and its just like having the car on the ground anyway.

Most 4 posters are very wide as well and you may have trouble finding a skinny one to fit a mini. If you can find a skinny one then there would be little room between the deck. Then using it on a larger car would be limited.

I would only ever buy a 2 poster for home use. They can do it all. Just make sure your floor is rated and the 2 poster has a servicable mechanical locking system.

I get that using bottle jacks would be a pain but what about rolling hydraulic jacks? Kind of like these (http://www.interequip.com.au/lifts/bull ... _jacks-852) obviously not this exact model it's overkill but you get the idea.

I get what you mean about the width, most seem to be about 950-1000mm between the decks which means you don't have a lot of room for a mini.

I've been into my local mini workshop before when he had a mini up on a four poster trying to get the speedo cable out of the gearbox. Exactly where he wanted to stand the ramp was in the way and he couldn't really position himself in the way he wanted to get it out. That's stuck with me from years ago before I even thought I'd end up with a hoist at home.

Minimal mucking around putting arms in the correct spot under the car like on a two post - you can pretty much get out and raise the car without thinking - good for those 20+ oil changes / dropping fluids you'll do a day Too many negatives for me as I like to work on cars. If your primary reason for getting one is storage then go a four post. My primary reason for getting a hoist was so I could work on my cars standing up - hence two post. Plus a four post takes up a heap of space when not in use.

I spent heaps of time on the garage journal forums before deciding on which type to go as well as plenty of time in AutoCAD to design where everything would fit.

If you get a two post you then have to decide if you want symmetric or a-symmetric arms / and or posts So many choices. Just make sure you do enough reading before hand because they are a lot of effort to move and install.

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"In two years time your car will be like a lady's clothes, out of date, my car will still be in fashion when I am dead" - Sir Alec speaking to Pininfarina

I spent a bit more and bought the hoist with the single side lock release, hint from a mechanic mate

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1970 Mk2 Cooper S

It honestly hasn't worried me. I work on cars for pleasure. The bit of extra time it takes doesn't worry me. I knew about the single sided release before I paid my money but I found the lower minimum height more important than a single sided lock release (I didn't want to have to jack up a car just to put it on the hoist - out of the models I was looking at).

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"In two years time your car will be like a lady's clothes, out of date, my car will still be in fashion when I am dead" - Sir Alec speaking to Pininfarina

Its hard to explain the clearance issues until your actually under a car on the 4 poster. They are great for getting access to the things in the centre of the car. Anything out towards the edge like sills, brakes, shockies and cv's the deck gets in the way. Pulling off the wheels is a bit of a drama. You need to have a good solid jacking system.

Most jacking systems takes up valuable realestate under the car. I would only use them for a short amount if time just to pull the wheels off and check brakes. If there was a major issue that required a few days work then the car would be relocated to the workshop floor and jacked up the old way.

If using a dedicated jacking system incorporated into the 4 poster there will still be issues with the deck getting in the way or the jacking blocks not fitting where you want them to fit.

I have used dedicated jacking systems(hydraulic rams) in pits and they work well if the vehicke has simple jacking points. The rear of the mini would be fine. Just go off the flat part of the subframe. The front may need one of those custom jacking blocks fitted first.

I live on a sloping block instead of building up fill for my shed, I split the level by a metre. Installed adjustable ramps over a 900 mm pit. In the pit all my tools are at a convenient height. Outside the pit working on suspension and brakes is at just the right height. I can still store a car on the ramps.

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Mk 1 Cooper S 1965
If you could erase all your mistakes of the past
You would also erase the wisdom of your present
Remember the lesson not the disappointment.