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If you’re a car enthusiast and probably love doing your own car maintenance, repair, or restoration, you’ll understand the essentiality of investing in the right portable car lift. Most people find solace in their car, while others use it as a source of conveyance. Regardless, when the time comes to take a peek at what’s underneath, you can’t afford equipment malfunctions or unnecessary accidents.
Like with the best garage bike racks, portable car lifts are way too stable and secure than old jacks. Besides, they provide more storage room in your garage while giving you a better vantage point when working on your car.
While investing in portable car lifts for home garage sounds like a big investment, they’re not entirely as expensive as people think. So, what must you aim for when investing in the right portable car lift for the home garage?
We’ve done our research based on customer satisfaction, expert opinions and concluded that the below choices are way too reliable and of the best quality.
Let’s grind in!
Also Read:
Portable Car Lift for Home Garage Reviews 2022
1.Powerbuilt 620422E Heavy Duty 4000 lb Triple Lift Jack
One lovable thing about this piece is that it slashes the hassle and expense of maintaining, storing, and purchasing multiple jacks. It quickly lifts almost everything with wheels and works perfectly on vehicle transmissions and differentials. Besides, its patented design lets you lift trucks, ATVs, motorcycles, and cars with great ease. 
Moreover, it enlists both removable lift saddle and padded lift rails to adapt to multiple types of vehicle frames. It also boasts a locking safety bar that holds the jack in place once the vehicle is raised, eliminating the hassle of supporting a lifted vehicle with jack stands. With a lifting capacity of up to 4,000 pounds, this piece features built-in tie-down loops making it easy to secure motorcycles in place for added stability. This is a high-quality unit with special features!
Pros
- Well-constructed
- Portable
- Highly durable
- Includes a unique saddle design
- Excellent height
- Works perfectly
- Very versatile
- Super affordable
Cons
- It has a short warranty period
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2.Pro-Lift F-767 Grey Low Profile Floor Jack – 2 Ton Capacity
This is yet another innovative portable car lift that will cater to many do-it-yourself projects. It comes fully loaded with floor jacks, bottle jacks, lawn mower lifts, dirt bike lifts, and more for maximum flexibility. Besides, ProLift is popularly known for creating innovative products that offer dependable and reliable performance. 
Additionally, it’s equipped with a patented bypass device that protects against over-pumping, making it safe for operations. It also boasts a heavy-duty steel construction that provides long-term durability. Further, it enlists a built-in safety valve that is rust-resistant and provides overload protection. It’s strongly recommended!
Pros
- Incorporates an extra low profile
- Simple to use
- Affordable
- Well-built
- Recommended for lower cars
- Compact and portable
Cons
- Quite tricky to use in tight spots
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3.Pro-LifT F-2315PE Grey Hydraulic Trolley Jack Car Lift
The Pro-LifT F-2315PE Grey Hydraulic Trolley Jack Car Lift is a budget-friendly piece that offers optimal performance. With 3,000 lbs. capacity, this innovative unit can lift cars from 5.25″ to 12″. Besides, it’s built with all-welded steel frame construction and rust-resistant for long-term durability. 
Moreover, its large steel and swivel casters provide easy maneuverability. It also incorporates a sturdy carrying handle for stability and a blow mold case for easy and convenient storage. Besides, it comes from a well-trusted brand and is built with the highest quality. It’s also designed after professional-grade equipment standards and provides a quick and unique twist to your garage maintenance needs!
Pros
- Simple to use
- Works perfectly
- Durable construction
- Portable
- Relatively affordable
- Perfect for small cars
Cons
- It slightly feels unsafe for some users
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4.Powerbuilt 620471 Unijack – 6000 lb. Capacity
With up to 6000 lb. Capacity, this unique piece is specifically designed to lift regular cars and trucks safely. It eliminates the hassle of a floor jack, costs less, and more effortless to move or store. Besides, it offers a lift range from 11 to 21 inches, making it an ideal choice for vans, trucks, and SUVs. 
Additionally, its patented design allows it to lift and hold cars by combining a bottle jack with a jack stand in one unit. Its stylish design meets or exceeds ASME and PALD standards, and it’s super safe for lifting body-on-frame vehicles. It’s also equipped with a wide flat base that adds stability while reducing sinking on softer surfaces. Powerbuilt never disappoints!
Pros
- Well-constructed
- Highly affordable
- Works great
- Simple to operate
- Perfect for roadside emergencies
- Small and portable
Cons
- Not entirely the safest
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5.TRIUMPH NSS-8 8000Lbs 4 Post Storage Service Car Auto Lift
This is the real beast when looking for a portable car lift for the home garage. It’s specifically designed for service and storage use. It comes fully loaded with a jack tray, caster kit, and three drip trays to keep any fluid from the top vehicle from dripping on the bottom one. On the other hand, the jack tray allows the comfortable use of a floor or bottle jack to lift one end of the vehicle. 
Moreover, the caster kit plays a significant role in allowing you to move the auto lift around the garage. It also features an automatic locking that engages ten different positions as you raise the vehicle. Besides, it’s super sturdy, easy to install, and more importantly, portable. It’s super reliable!
Pros
- Sturdy
- Portable
- Simple to install
- Relative durable
- Affordable
- Well-built
- Effortless to assemble
Cons
- It’s a bit heavy for some users
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6.APlusLift HW-10KOH 10,000LB Two Post Overhead Auto Hoist Clear Floor Car Lift
With up to 10,000LB capacity, this piece is powerful enough to meet your car lift needs. In fact, this piece is one of the most inexpensive units with a heavy-duty and robust double “S” column design. It’s made of a robot-welded structure and durable powder-coated steel for added durability. It enlists a hydraulic system and asymmetrical arm assembly with screw pads for maximum flexibility.
What’s more, for safety mechanisms, this unique piece is fully equipped with automatic arm restraints, door guard protection rubber, double point safety lock release, and a relief valve built-in power pump to prevent overloading. Besides, it’s a CE-certified hydraulic system and lift structure. To minimize possible freight damages, APlusLift highly recommends shoppers to ship from the nearest warehouses. It’s highly recommended!
Pros
- Superior quality
- Well-built
- Relatively affordable
- Excellent customer support
- Powerful
- Simple to use
- Works as advertised
Cons
- The instructions aren’t too straightforward.
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7.TRIUMPH NT9FP 9,000 lb Two Post Auto Lift Floor Plate Car Hoist Truck Jack Garage
This highly versatile piece is manufactured and engineered to the highest quality standards to provide users durability and years of trouble-free service. It CE certified for safety and should be installed on a concrete floor with a minimum rated 4000 PSI strength. Besides, it’s highly affordable and an excellent option for anyone looking for a powerful two-post lift. 
Additionally, it measures 132 inches in width with a minimum height of 109 inches and perfectly fits tight spaces. Assembling this unit is effortless and doesn’t require any specialties to be installed. It incorporates a set of triple telescoping arms on one side and double telescoping arms on the other side for maximum flexibility. It also enlists several locking mechanisms to minimize accidents and risks.
Pros
- Excellent features
- Powerful
- Pocket friendly
- Simple to assemble and operate
- Incorporates several safety features
- Works as intended
- Excellent lifting power
- Well-built
- Portable
Cons
- No setbacks yet
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8.BendPak QuickJack BL-5000SLX Portable Lift – 110 Volt, 2 1/2-Ton Capacity
This amazingly looking piece is the perfect solution for vehicle maintenance. Most shoppers find it highly efficient as it can be easily stored on most cars’ back seats when not in use. Besides, you can drop it on the garage floor to perform routine maintenance in seconds at the comfort of your home. It incorporates a quick flip of the lock bar that disengages the safeties for a smooth hands-free descent. 
It enlists a welded-steel reinforced upper box frame with cantilevered rubber block trays for increased rubber block reach. These extended trays also allow better functionality while allowing contact blocks on the lifting frames’ trailing side to be positioned closer to the wheels during setup. It’s also equipped with dual-position automatic safety locks that engage automatically as the lift rises.
Pros
- Portable
- Excellent features
- Works perfectly
- Effortless to setup
- Affordable
- Well-constructed
- Easy to store
Cons
- It doesn’t include hydraulic fluid
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9. Auto Lift Car-Park-8 4 Post Parking Storage Car Lift 8,000 lb
When it comes to getting a residential garage car lift that is simple to operate, affordable, and portable, nothing can beat Auto Lift Car-Park-8 4 Post Parking Storage Car Lift. It comes fully loaded with brilliant features that make vehicle maintenance highly convenient and efficient. It’s equipped with a redundant ladder lock safety with an “auto engage” locking bar in the event of cable failure.
Additionally, it enlists extra-large slider blocks for added stability. Its smooth operation and stylish looks make a great impression when shopping for this piece. Besides, it’s super easy to install with casters that automatically lift the columns allowing mobility with or without a vehicle. With 8,000 lb capacity, this piece is powerful enough to lift cars, trucks, or motorcycles with great ease.
Pros
- Works great
- Nice features
- Portable
- Powerful
- Looks great
- Affordable
- Simple to operate
Cons
- The instructions aren’t too straightforward
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Portable car lifts for the home garage buying guide 2022
In this buying guide, our primary focus is to take you through the relevant factors that will keep you in the loop when shopping for portable car lifts for home garage. We also aim to give you additional tips you can use to pick the right choice as well as answer a few frequently asked questions. By the end of this guide, we are intently convinced that you’ll make the right buying decision.
What to Consider when buying portable car lifts for home garage
Weight capacity
Weight capacity is a crucial step when picking the right car lift. It’s highly recommended that users pick a car lift that weighs more than the car. So when shopping for a car lift, consider one with a little extra capacity.
Portability
Depending on your car use, portable car lifts are way too efficient as you can confidently carry them around for emergency issues. Conversely, if you like your car lift to stay in one place, you may opt for permanent installation car lifts.
Size
Size is seemingly the most significant considerations when it comes to shopping for a car lift. So depending on your garage size, you may want to either invest in a portable piece or a 4-post car lift that will definitely need a whole heck of space.
Purpose
When shopping for a car lift, ensure you understand the purpose behind buying a car lift. If you need it as an additional storage unit or perhaps want easier access to your car’s chassis, then knowing the purpose will ultimately affect what kind of lift you need.
Right type
Again, the right type of car lift will point you in a specific direction. However, the cost and lifting capacity still plays a critical role in helping you decide on the right type of portable car lifts for home garage model you want to buy.
Space and power
Before buying a car lift, always ensure that your garage floor consists of solid inches of about 3,000 PSI concrete to support your lift of choice. If it’s less than that, it’s highly recommended that you have new concrete poured.
Operating instructions
Always ensure to familiarize yourself with every single detail to minimize the risk of injury or uncalled-for accidents.
Different types of car lifts
If you’ve probably noticed, our list combines multiple, unique types of car lifts. Each of these units has lots of positive reviews going for them. However, here are a few more clarifications about these car lifts.
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2-post car lift
A 2-post car lift represents a middle ground between a post-style car lift and a scissor. Well, 2-post car lifts have a higher weight capacity than scissor lifts. Besides, they don’t take much space and are an ideal choice for homes with limited space.
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Scissor car lift
This is actually the most unadorned style of car lift currently on the market. It’s simple to install and use. Conversely, it’s a little underpowered as compared to either a 2–post or 4-post design. Needless to say, they are still a good option when you need to raise your car over now and then. They are also the least expensive devices you can always count on when you have a tight budget.
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4-Post car lift
These are actually the largest and most powerful car lifts you can always count on. They’re super heavy and are often bolted on the floor. They represent the best option when you quickly and efficiently want to keep your car up into the air.
Safety ways to use a car lift
Depending on the style and design of the car lift you pick, it’s crucial to get the car loaded onto the lift safely. When using a 2-post or scissor car lift, always ensure that the car frame rests on the support. For the strongest and safest parts of the frame to attach to the supports, check your vehicle handbook.
A 4-post car lift, on the other hand, uses floor plates that are much simpler to operate. Simply get the car onto the lift and apply the handbrake to secure it. Similarly, always ensure you place the car lift in a robust, solid area while carefully following the installation instructions. This way, the car lift will operate without any danger. More importantly, never ever use a car lift that weighs more than the upper weight limit.
Top reasons for investing in a car lift for home garage
From improved car maintenance to gaining additional car storage, car lifts have a lot to offer. First up, car lifts enhance safety as they come fully equipped with stable steel construction and anchors that relatively keep the lift firmly on the ground, preventing it from collapsing.
Similarly, car lifts allow you to work from home, especially for those who hate spending a lot of money hiring people to work on their cars. With a car lift, you tend to reduce these unnecessary additional costs. The cost is even reduced further when you invest on the top portable car lifts for home garage models.
Frequently asked questions
How do they work?
A very simple and straightforward answer is that car lifts work by lifting cars into the air using hydraulics. While they come in several shapes and designs, most of them use an electric motor to power hydraulics to lift and hold cars.
What’s the cost of installing a car lift?
Well, they’re not too costly. Conversely, if you’re very handy, you may as well install them by yourself. Simply follow the instructions for a secure installation.
How thick should a concrete slab be?
A standard 2-Post and 4-Post Lifts require a minimum of 4 inches of a reinforced concrete slab to be safely installed.
Between a 2-Post and 4-Post Lift, which is better?
While these two serve their intended purpose, there’re no major differences. A 2-post lift raises a car much higher in a low ceiling garage, while a 4-Post Lift makes it easier to load and position your car. So, basically, it entirely depends on your specific needs.
Are portable car lifts safe?
Yes. Portable car lifts are relatively safe and convenient when used suitably.
How do I differentiate between asymmetric and symmetric car lifts?
Symmetric lifts mainly position the vehicle in the center, while asymmetric lifts position the vehicle further back, allowing you to open the doors easily.
Top pick
Although every review has been tested to be highly rated, our top pick is the TRIUMPH NSS-8 8000Lbs 4 Post Storage Service Car Auto Lift Truck Hoist. It’s equipped with multiple useful features needed in a car lift, including a lifting capacity of 8000 lbs. It’s simple to use, install, and, more importantly, affordable. However, you can still select your favorite piece depending on your needs.
Final thoughts
While it’s critical to invest in the right portable car lifts for home garage, it’s still upon you to ensure it’s certified and used as per the manufacturer’s instructions. With our detailed guide above, you can now confidently pick the right portable car lift for your home garage.
Don’t forget to share with us which brand is your favorite on the description box below!
