Difference Between a Portable Car Hoist and a Stationary Car Hoist

At a glance, you might think this article is a one-and-done thing. “Well, Joel, I’d imagine the difference between a portable car hoist and a regular car hoist is you can move one around.” 

But if you searched for this article, you likely have an inkling that it isn’t as simple as that. In this article, we will be discussing the difference between portable and “normal” (i.e. non-portable) models of car hoists by examining their pros and cons such as their weight capacities, height limits, storage, and, yes, their portability.

For this example, we’ll be comparing two of Joel’s Garage gear products, our 3-ton portable scissor hoist and our 4-ton stationary base plate two post lift in order to outline the broad advantages and set backs for both kinds of products.

Portability

Let’s get the most obvious one out of the way. The portability of a portable car hoist is its biggest benefit and selling point. While a standard car hoist needs to be secured to a stationary location with a suitably large space, a portable car hoist can be moved from place to place with ease. Being able to bring a car hoist anywhere with you is a nifty way to be able to work on cars for the DIYer with limited space, or bringing it to the garages of friends and family to work on their cars. It should be noted, when it comes to electrical models like our portable scissor hoist, you still need it to be connected to a powersource, so don’t expect to do any roadside assists any time soon.

Storage

The other main benefit that portable car hoists have over their stationary counterparts are their ease of storage. If you have a stationary car hoist, you have to dedicate a place in your garage exclusively for that hoist that will remain there indefinitely. Meanwhile, a portable car hoist can be moved around different areas of the garage or be stored as needed. 

Choosing between a portable car lift and a stationary car lift comes down to how much you value versatility in your garage. If the garage is an auto shop or is a large space completely dedicated to your car hobby, a stationary hoist would be appropriate. However, if the garage is a smaller or multipurpose shared space with other people, a portable car hoist that can be brought out and put away would be a better fit.

Height

The height capacity of a car hoist is extremely important for determining whether it suits your needs. As a rule of thumb, most portable car hoists can’t lift a car as high as a stationary car hoist due to their build and also safety. To use our own products as an example, our portable scissor hoist has a lifting height of 1 metre. Meanwhile, our 2 post car hoist has a lifting height of 1.9 metres, which isn’t including our adjustable screw pads and raising adapters.

If you just want to do tyre changes or car detailing, a portable car hoist will be a great fit. However, if you’re doing more undercarriage work on a car, especially if you’re planning on providing auto shop services, a car hoist that lifts higher will be much more suitable. It isn’t efficient autoshop practice or good for your body to be doing undercarriage work while crouched down or on your back, which is why we recommend stationary car hoists for those kinds of jobs.

Weight

Finally, weight capacity. Getting a car hoist that has an appropriate weight capacity for the vehicles you’re servicing is vital both for the viability of the hoist’s use and the safety of yourself and the vehicle. The general guideline to remember is that portable car hoists have less of a carrying capacity than stationary hoists. The steel posts in a stationary car hoist are more stable and can lift much heavier vehicles. For example, our 2 post hoists  and 4 post hoists can lift 4.5 tons, while our portable scissor lift can only lift 3 tons.

Granted, there are mobile car hoists that do have a massive carrying capacity called column lifts. These lifts have an extremely strong lifting weight for heavy vehicles, being able to carry buses and trucks. Due to their size and price, they’re not very viable for a home user, but are a product to consider for auto shops that wish to specialise in servicing heavy vehicles. 

For that reason, if you’re looking to service large vehicles, a normal car hoist is more appropriate than a portable car hoist.

Conclusion

As you can see, while there are various benefits and drawbacks between portable and stationary car hoists, there isn’t one that is inherently better than the other. It all comes down to the needs of your garage, the kind of cars you’re servicing, and whether you’re a full time automobile repairer or a part-time enthusiast.

If you want to learn more about different car hoists and what’s the best one for your business, don’t hesitate to contact us. Our friendly team is more than happy to offer recommendations from our extensive line of car hoists and garage kit that you can use for your garage.