It’s an age-old debate: lifts or pits?
But when you’re setting up shop to service vehicles, there usually isn’t a quick and easy answer.
They’re all safe and effective. They’re all wise investments. They’re all robust and reliable pieces of kit, equipped with the latest innovations in modern technology.
But they all have their own specific uses. And the right choice for your business depends on exactly how and where you want to use them – and what you need to use them for.
So to help you get a better understanding of your options, we’ve put together a direct comparison of the three most popular solutions: Mobile Column Lifts, Fixed Lifts, and Vehicle Inspection Pits.
Here’s what you need to know about each one:
Mobile Column Lifts
You’ve guessed it already – but one of the biggest benefits of a Mobile Column Lift is that it’s mobile!
And that mobility comes with a whole range of advantages. When you use a Mobile Column Lift (like our own Totalkare T8AC or T8DC), you’ll be able to:
- Easily change the layout of your workshop on a day-to-day basis
- Free up extra space by putting your lifts in storage when you don’t need them
- Work on your vehicles in outdoor areas – or any other space that’s normally under-utilised
- And quickly set up additional lifting stations – to match the changing demands of your business.
But it’s not just about the freedom and flexibility of being mobile. Just like our Fixed Post Lifts, a set of Mobile Column Lifts gives you all the same benefits of a standard above-ground lifting set-up:
You won’t have to worry about any groundworks, structural changes to the flooring, or any planning permission – and in some cases, you can get a new lifting station installed and ready to go in less than a day. No civil works also provides the benefit of flexibility. If at any time your business moves premises, the lifts can come with you.
You’ll be able to make full use of the natural light in your workshop, as well as the space you have surrounding your lifts. You can wheel up a trolley full of the tools you need for the job at hand, and even have space to bring multiple people up to the vehicle to help you with a difficult task.
And of course, you’ll also have the option to get a fully galvanised lift that’s ready for wet work and protected from water ingress – our own Totalkare G8AC is the only wash bay-ready column lift in the UK!
Fixed Lifts
When you’re looking to lift, you won’t always need the flexibility of a mobile set-up. And in those cases, a fixed lift like the Heavy Duty Four Post Lift or the Heavy Duty Y-Mech Lift could be the best choice for your workshop.
Just like with a Mobile Column Lift, you won’t need any groundworks for the installation, meaning the lifts can come with you, should you move premises in the future. You’ll also benefit from the same access to your workshop’s natural light and surrounding floorspace.
You’ll have a dedicated, fixed installation that’s always there and ready to go – which means you’ll never need to spend any time setting up a new lifting station, or moving it around to different parts of your premises.
You’ll also have the option of a drive-on and drive-off ramp for your lifts – and in a busy, high-volume workshop, that could mean an even higher throughput of vehicles being serviced and jobs being completed.
Like the G8AC Mobile Column Lift, you can get both the Four Post Lift and the Y-Mech Lift as a fully galvanised option – which means your fixed lifts can come ready for wet work and suitable for wash bay use.
Vehicle Inspection Pits
While a Mobile Column Lift and a Fixed Lift are above-ground solutions, a Vehicle Inspection Pit is a below-ground set-up – and that means it comes with its own specific benefits.
When you use an Inspection Pit to work on your vehicles, you’ll be able to:
- Get under-vehicle access in buildings with a low ceiling
- Work on the top and bottom of a vehicle at the same time – for higher productivity
- Get the exact directional lighting you need with a consistent set-up
- Have every tool you need close at hand with an underground workshop
- And use an In-ground Brake Tester without relocating the vehicle.
Just like with a Fixed Lift, you’ll have all of the reliability and consistency of a dedicated, permanent installation – a set-up that’s always there and ready to go.
And with a pit that lets you drive your vehicles directly into position, you can get the same high throughput that can boost your workshop’s efficiency.
A pit is not necessarily just a pit. With the option to integrate brake rollers, shaker plates, and radius plates, it can seamlessly become a one stop solution for your vehicle maintenance.
But it’s not just about efficiency and consistency. An Inspection Pit can also give you some huge cost-savings as well:
After the costs of the initial set-up, a Vehicle Inspection Pit has one of the lowest maintenance and running costs of any vehicle-servicing station.
Once it’s built, it can last forever – and in the long run, that could make it one of the most cost-effective investments your business makes!
So Which Set-up Is Right for You?
Choosing the best method to work on your vehicles isn’t easy – they all have their own unique advantages, and each one fits a particular purpose.
So if you’re still undecided, we’re here to help:
We’ve been in the vehicle workshop game for over 40 years – supplying and installing every kind of vehicle lift and inspection pit there is.
And that means we’ve got the long-standing expertise (and the full range of hardware!) to help you find the right fit for your business.
Check out our new online shop to see the latest innovations in Mobile Column Lifts, Fixed Lifts, and Inspection Pits – or drop a message to one of our specialists to get the help and advice you need.
This article was originally published by Totalkare.
