FAQs

There is an old saying: "The right tool for the job is always the best choice." This saying applies to lifts as well. The right lift will always depend on your specific vehicle and application. To help you choose the right lift, here is a brief guide to some of our top products:

Two-Post Lifts

     • Uses the least floor space, but might require a 12′ ceiling height.

     • Raises a vehicle approximately 72" with wheel free capability for under car servicing (tires, brakes, oil change, muffler, etc.).Not the most stable choice for lifting trucks and large vans.

     • One of the lowest cost alternatives.

Four-Post Lifts

     • Uses more floor space than a two-post lift, but raises to a similar height.

     • A more stable choice for lifting trucks and large vans.

     • Faster vehicle positioning with drive-on / drive-off capability.

     • Good for alignment, but requires rolling air jacks and turnplates.

     • A mid-range cost alternative.

Scissor Lift

     • Uses less floor space than a four-post lift but raises to a similar height.

     • Good stability and easier all-round vehicle access with no posts.

     • Faster vehicle positioning with drive-on / drive off capability.

     • Good for alignment, but requires rolling air jacks and turnplates.

     • Slightly higher in cost but has no cables and pulleys to maintain.

Other lifts to consider may be low rise and mid rise lifts for tire and brake work. Heavy-duty two-post lifts, four-post lifts, and moveable column lifts are also alternatives. Contact us if you need help in choosing the right lift for your home or business.

Most of North America’s major lift manufacturers build some, if not all, of their passenger car lifts in China. You would be surprised at the number of major brands that had been claiming to be made in the USA, when, in fact, they were built in China. At The Lift Superstore, our lifts include components made in China, Canada, and the United States. We have found that this approach provides the best balance between value and quality for our customers. We do not compete with importers selling offshore-manufactured products with a non-CSA/UL approved power unit. However, we can offer you a more dependable and longer-lasting lift that is assembled in North America.

The qualities that make a good car lift do not transfer to many of the larger extended cab-style pickups. The ideal car lift has a lowered arm pad height lower than 4”. Although the overall capacity of the lift may be well within the unloaded weight of your truck, the arm reach required and weight distribution will require a heavier lift. There are lifts available in the 11,000 lb category that have been designed to accommodate both cars and trucks effectively. If you’re unsure of what lift you need, please contact us and we will walk you through it.

At The Lift SuperStore, we have a network of over 200 professional lift installers that understand our products and are both insured and licensed to install them. In many cases, we can arrange to ship the lift directly to the installation company for them to deliver and install the lift at your convenience. If you currently work with a local contractor, we would be happy to assist them with technical support. For those who are mechanically inclined, our operations manuals are easy to follow and you can call us anytime with questions. Our team has been in business since 2005 and we have experienced a variety of situations over the years. If you have any issues with installation, please contact us and let us assist you.

Yes, we even provide the anchor bolts and shim material with every lift. Unfortunately we cannot ship hydraulic oil for environmental reasons. However, this is easily available at major retail stores through Canada and the United States. You should have no problem finding hydraulic oil near where you live.

At The Lift SuperStore, we have many different models to choose from. Chances are that we have a lift that will fit in your space. Contact us with your garage dimensions for a free consultation and we can work through which lift suits your needs and fits your space best.

Yes, there is something you can do. Most garage door companies are familiar with 4-post storage lifts and can extend or modify the tracks the door moves in to extend right to the ceiling. They can also change your garage door opener to a style that sits on the front wall beside your door and operates from there. Some garage door companies will call this a high lift kit. Call your local garage door contractor and they will be able to provide you with a quote.

We highly recommend that all two and four-post lifts be anchored to a specified depth and strength of concrete. Although caster wheels are provided with all 4-post parking lifts, it is still our professional opinion that the level of safety required demands proper anchoring. We strongly disagree with lift suppliers who tell customers that the lift does not have to be bolted, and we advise against this course of action.

All cars and light trucks have approved lifting points that are specified by the vehicle manufacturer. These can be requested from your dealer or by ordering a generic lifting manual, offered by industry sources such as the Automotive Lift Institute (ALI). It is critical that your vehicle is positioned properly relative to the centre line of the lift and centred between the columns. Most newer model cars are front wheel drive and can be lifted asymmetrically. This allows the car to be positioned further back from the centre line of the lift. Often, a good rule of thumb is to start with the steering wheel lined up under the centre of the lift. When this is done, check the position of the four arms when they are extended to the recommended lifting points. The front lifting arm is manufactured on an angle and is considerably shorter than the rear arm, which will accommodate the asymmetric loading of your vehicle.

Yes, all of our electrical power units are purchased from a North American manufacturer (Bucher Hydraulic) and are CSA-certified and UL-listed for use in Canada and the United States. These same power units have been tested by a Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory and are the same design that we use on our industrial grade lifts.

Motors purchased in a 110v-1HP configuration typically found on the Hemi Road Runner or our 4-post parking storage lifts will typically pull 13 Amps under load. These units can be plugged into a household wall plug on a dedicated circuit. Our 220v configuration is found on our two-post lifts or as an option on the Hemi Road Runner or RestoMod models, which will pull approximately 11.7 Amps under load. In most areas it is recommended that a qualified electrician hook up lifts with a 220v motor. It is important that all wiring meets local building codes. Not all motors are the same. The suggestions above are for US-made Butcher Hydraulic power units. Offshore units typically have a different load specification and pull upwards of 30AMPS.

We can provide shipping to a business, residence, or local terminal. The cost may vary depending on your location and accessibility. We can have the trucking company provide offloading at an additional charge. Most people prefer to contract a local tow truck with a roll-back or tilt-and-load style flat bed. This is usually quicker and less costly. Trucking companies charge for wait times when offloading takes longer than the allotted time. You should make preparations beforehand to help avoid such charges.

After you have received your lift, we recommend that you unpack all of the parts and carefully compare what you have received with what is shown in your operations manual. We provide you with 48 hours from the time of receipt to report missing parts. The majority of our manuals can be downloaded from our website on the relevant product page. If you are unable to find a manual for the lift you have ordered, please contact us and we will be able to assist you.

We suggest that you re-torque the floor wedge anchors at least four times per year. If the anchor bolts pull up out of the concrete, the lift should be moved to another location or the floor should be repaired. Another alternative to wedge-style anchors is chemical anchoring, which can be purchased at most building supply companies. It is recommended that wire rope lifting cables should be lubricated once every 30 days with a non-stick penetrating oil that does not attract dust. The steel pulleys should also be sprayed at the same time. It is also recommended that every pivot point on the lift should be lubricated with light machine oil every 30 days. Lift arm pivot pins, lifting chains, and pulleys and lock release systems are examples of these components that should be re-lubricated. We recommend using a 30 or 32-grade hydraulic oil in your lift. Depending on the environment, the hydraulic oil should be replaced at least every 24 months of operation.

Your first option for service should be to contact the individual or business who sold or installed the lift for you. This individual will have access to parts and service information for your lift. If you are unable to reach the first option, then your second option is to contact us directly. We would be happy to assist you.

Most of our lifts have the following warranty from date of purchase:

     • A two-year warranty on all mechanical components, including the CSA/UL-listed pump and motor assembly, cables, pulleys, and hoses.

     • A five-year warranty on all structural components.

     • A lifetime parts warranty on the cylinder assembly.

It is important to note that the warranties offered may vary by product. Please check your manual or with your local sales representative for the warranty specific to the product that you purchased.