Car Stackers: 5 Proven Tips to Master Two Posts & Four Posts Car Lifts
If you’re researching car stackers, two posts car lifts, or four posts car lifts, chances are you’ve looked at load capacity, ceiling height, and stacking capability.
That’s exactly what most buyers do.
But after years working with garages, developers, and private collectors, I can tell you this:
Most car lift mistakes aren’t about weight limits or motors—they happen because buyers ignore one critical measurement: chassis height.
Here are 5 proven tips to help you understand chassis height, avoid mistakes, and confidently choose the right lift.
Tip 1: Understand What Chassis Height Really Means
Chassis height, also called ground clearance, is the distance from the ground to the lowest fixed part of your car’s underbody.
Why it matters:
Lifts don’t lift cars directly—they lift them on steel structures
Those steel components have thickness and must pass under your car
Every system, whether a simple four posts lifts or a multi-level car stacker system, includes runways, pallets, locking mechanisms, and sliding plates
Ignoring this number can lead to scratches, underbody damage, or unsafe conditions.
Tip 2: Know the Minimum Chassis Height for Two Posts Lifts
Two posts lifts are popular for stacking two vehicles vertically.
Minimum chassis height: 120 mm
This ensures:
Safe engagement of lifting arms or pallets
Suspension compression during entry is accounted for
Long-term reliability
Tip 3: Check Clearance for Stacking Plates and Telescopic Systems
Two posts car lifts with stacking plates (TTS-3) require different clearance depending on the level:
| Parking Level | Minimum Chassis Height |
|---|---|
| Lower level | 100 mm |
| Upper level | 160 mm |
Telescopic car stackers like FP-630 systems for three cars require:
| Parking Level | Minimum Chassis Height |
|---|---|
| First level | 130 mm |
| Second level | 150 mm |
Nested columns and higher load paths explain the higher requirement. More steel below means more space above.
Tip 4: Don’t Forget Four Posts Lifts
Four posts lifts allow easier entry but still require clearance.
Minimum chassis height: 120 mm
Heavy-duty four-post lifts (4-ton) require:
| Configuration | Minimum Chassis Height |
|---|---|
| Standard upper level | 150 mm |
| Extended runway | 120 mm |
| Engineering limit | 100 mm |
Tip 5: Plan for Future Vehicles and Low-Chassis Cars
Vehicles below 100 mm ground clearance (sports cars, EVs) need custom solutions:
Recessed platforms
Ultra-low pallets
Extended ramps
Vehicle-specific positioning
Quick calculation example:
Lift platform: 80 mm
Suspension compression: 20 mm
Safety margin: 20 mm
Minimum chassis height = 120 mm
This explains why 120 mm is the standard across systems.
Final Thoughts
Choosing between car stackers, two post lifts, or four post lifts isn’t about buying the heaviest system or the one with the fastest cycle time. Those numbers look impressive on a spec sheet, but they rarely determine whether a parking system will actually work—safely, efficiently, and without daily compromises.
The real decision starts with geometry, not tonnage.
Every parking lift is ultimately a steel structure interacting with a vehicle’s chassis, suspension travel, wheelbase, approach angle, and departure angle. If those relationships aren’t understood from the beginning, even the most “overbuilt” system can become unusable the moment a lower car enters the picture.
The most critical parameter is chassis height—specifically the lowest static and dynamic ground clearance among all vehicles that will use the system. This includes not only today’s vehicles, but the ones you’re likely to own next. Sports cars, EVs with battery trays, performance sedans, and even newer SUVs often sit far lower than people expect once suspension compression and ramp transitions are factored in.
Start by identifying the lowest chassis height in your fleet. Then decide which vehicle belongs on which level—upper or lower—based on approach geometry, ramp angle, and platform thickness. From there, evaluate how the lift’s steel members, cross-beams, locking points, and pallets interact with that lowest point under real-world conditions, not ideal ones. Remember: a car doesn’t enter a lift in a perfectly static state. It pitches, rolls slightly, and compresses as it moves across ramps and platforms.
Future-proofing is just as important. A system that works perfectly for your current vehicle lineup may fail the moment you switch to a lower EV, a performance model, or a car with a longer wheelbase and tighter approach angle. Designing only for “what you have today” is one of the most common and expensive mistakes in parking lift selection.
Once these fundamentals are correct—chassis height, approach angles, platform geometry, and vehicle allocation—everything else naturally falls into place. Load capacity becomes a confirmation rather than a guess. Automation speed becomes a convenience rather than a risk. Even maintenance costs tend to drop, because the system isn’t being forced to operate at the edge of its tolerances.
Follow these five proven principles, and you’re not just buying a parking system—you’re investing in a piece of infrastructure that integrates cleanly with your vehicles, your building, and your future needs.
And if your vehicle’s chassis height is lower than standard, that’s exactly where SolidParking differentiates itself.
SolidParking doesn’t rely on one-size-fits-all platforms. Through recessed decks, ultra-low pallets, extended entry ramps, optimized beam profiles, and vehicle-specific configurations, SolidParking engineers parking systems around real vehicle geometry—not assumptions. The result is a lift that accommodates low-chassis vehicles without sacrificing structural safety, lock integrity, or long-term reliability.
👉 Talk to SolidParking before you commit. A short, technical chassis-height and vehicle-geometry review today can prevent costly redesigns, vehicle damage, and operational limitations tomorrow—ensuring your parking system works not just now, but for the next generation of vehicles as well.