Choosing Your Lift: Home Garage vs. Professional Garage

When deciding on an automotive lift, one of the most influential factors is the context in which the lift will be used. A good lift dealer has the variety required to suit both residential and professional applications, and we’d like to walk you through the differences between the two!

Residential Solutions

Residential garage space tends to be quite limited, even for two vehicles. Things get even more complicated when you have to use it for storage of other household objects or appliances, as almost everyone does. So how are certain lifts designed with this specific purpose in mind? Our PK6000 should offer some insight. It only utilizes one post and is therefore compact enough to fit into even a single-car garage. Not only this, but it can be easily moved in and out of place rather than being surface-mounted. This kind of mobility and space-economy is what sets residential lifts apart from other types.

Professional Options

Maintenance garage lifts are not quite the same as those that you would find in a home garage, and the distinction is important to know when considering your purchase. When a lift is designed with repair shop usage in mind, there tends to be more of a focus on high storage capacity and the ability to work on the car that’s being lifted. You’ll need one that engages the vehicle at the frame or wheel in such a way that you can access all the parts that require maintenance. A sturdy surface-mounted unit is also a common solution, especially if the lift needs to be your “workhorse” for most of the repair work at the shop. Our Pro King 10/2 is a perfect example.

Common Ground

It may seem as though these are two distinct categories, but this isn’t always the case. There is sometimes overlap, and this is important to bear in mind if you’re a hobbyist who needs compact storage but also likes to work on the cars being stored. If you fall into this category, you’ll want to avoid a single post lift that covers the underside of the vehicle and instead go for one that engages at the frame. Meanwhile, not all professional garage lifts need to be mounted to the floor beneath them. You may be in need of a more dynamic and compact model that you can move around the shop. Our Portable 2 Post is great for this!

Are you a car lover in need of a lift to store your prized vehicles, or are you a professional mechanic who wants to keep your clients happy? Either way, Lift King strives to provide only the highest-quality lifts available. Call us at (403) 283-1020 today and find out what we have to offer!