APlusLift HW-10KOH-A 10000LB Two Post Overhead Clear Floor Car Lift/Industry Leading 3 Year Warranty

Why I chose this two-post and what stood out first

Committing floor space and ceiling height to a two-post lift is a milestone for any shop. I installed the APlusLift 10K two-post in my home workspace to cover everything from maintenance on daily drivers to storage during winter. After months of setup, use, and a few heavy repair jobs, I have a clear picture of where this lift shines and where it asks for a little patience.

Setup and installation: plan your slab, power, and handling

Delivery arrives as a long, heavy crate that really wants a forklift or a capable tractor/loader to move safely. Unpacking is straightforward, and the hardware is separated well enough that you won’t be guessing much once you lay everything out.

This overhead, clear-floor design puts the equalization and safety limit bar up top, so measure ceiling height and door track clearances before you buy. APlusLift calls for a robust concrete pad; the spec is more conservative than some competitors, and I took that seriously. If your existing floor isn’t a known 6-inch slab with proper PSI and reinforcement, verify it before you drill. It’s not the place to compromise.

Anchoring is typical wedge-anchor fare: a hammer drill, patience, dust control, and correct bit sizing. Bring a 3/4-inch carbide or diamond-tipped bit and a spare. I torque-checked anchors after the first week and again a month later; they took a little more snugging the first time as the anchors set, then stayed put.

Electrically, budget a dedicated 220V single-phase circuit. The power unit doesn’t draw anywhere near the 30A breaker spec under normal operation, but I prefer following the manufacturer’s requirement for headroom and safety. Filling the reservoir with the right hydraulic oil and bleeding the system is routine.

One note on the manual: it covers the basics but glosses over a few details. The overhead safety bar/limit switch wiring and a couple of accessory placements (toe guards/tool trays) took a beat to sort out. Nothing insurmountable, but you’ll move faster if you read end-to-end before starting.

Build quality and design details

The structure is better than the price suggests. The posts and carriages are cleanly welded, and the powder coating has held up well against the dings and scrapes of setup. The double “S” column profile gives the uprights a stiffer feel than flat-channel competitors. The carriage assembly uses Q355 steel (a higher-strength grade than the Q235 you often see in budget lifts), which pays off in reduced galling and play over time.

Hydraulics and hoses are tidy and well-mannered—no weeping, good fittings, and predictable behavior. The equalization setup is straightforward, and once tensioned properly the lock pawls engage in sync with crisp, audible clicks. CE certification on the structure and hydraulics plus the published dynamic/static test margins add some confidence to the engineering.

The finish and hardware aren’t jewelry-grade, but they’re honest. Bolt holes lined up without slotting, threads were clean, and nothing felt subpar, which isn’t always a given in this price class.

Arms, adapters, and lift height

The combo arm configuration (symmetrical and asymmetrical) is the right call for a mixed-use shop. I can set up asymmetrical for door clearance on cars and swap to a more symmetrical stance for trucks without fighting the geometry.

The screw pads have enough adjustment to find clean pinch points on compact cars, and the included 4-inch truck adapters are mandatory for higher frames. Max height with the truck adapters lands in a practical sweet spot: I can walk under most vehicles comfortably without having to thread a maze of floor obstructions. Clear-floor designs really pay off in how easy it is to roll a transmission jack or work table anywhere under the chassis.

Real-world capacity and behavior under load

For everyday duty—sedans, crossovers, and mid-size SUVs—the lift is a non-event. Raise, set the locks, and it just fades into the background while you work. The motor noise is reasonable, and lift time is brisk enough that I don’t think about it.

With heavier, long-wheelbase trucks in the 6,000–7,500 lb range, the story gets more nuanced. It will pick them up, but you’ll see a bit of column twist and some perceptible movement if you “shake test” a tall chassis. That’s normal physics with long frames and high CGs on mid-class two-posts, not a failure of the lift, but it’s something to account for. When I’m doing axle or driveline work on a long truck, I put support stands at the ends to damp the oscillation and take some flex out of the picture before crawling under and leaning on big breaker bars.

Would I sling 10,000 lbs every day on this platform? No. It’s rated for it, but if your workload routinely lives in the 9–10k range, I’d look at a heavier-duty design class. For the mixed fleet in a home or light-duty commercial setting—where most lifts are 4,000–7,000 lbs—it’s right in its comfort zone.

Ergonomics and day-to-day use

The locks are not single-point release, so plan on walking to both columns to drop it from the safety positions. It’s a minor concession at this price and not a functional problem, just a small daily tax on convenience compared with premium lifts. The overhead limit switch does its job; I tested with tall rooflines, and it cut out before anything kissed the crossbar.

Arm sweep is generous, and pad placement is intuitive. On trucks with running boards or unusual lift points, the included adapters get you close, but I still keep hardwood blocks on hand to protect steps and reach ideal contact points. A quick visual routine—pad placement, arm locks engaged, and a staged lift to the first click before full rise—keeps the process consistent and safe.

Safety, stability, and best practices

• Verify concrete thickness and condition; don’t guess.
• Use a dedicated 220V circuit sized to spec.
• Level the posts carefully before anchoring; small shims are normal.
• Tension equalization cables evenly; confirm lock engagement sounds even side-to-side.
• Re-torque anchor bolts after the first week of use.
• For long, heavy trucks, add tall stands at the ends before heavy wrenching.
• Respect the overhead limit switch and mind roof racks/antennae.

Follow those basics and the lift behaves predictably.

Maintenance and support

Maintenance is simple: keep the carriages and arm pins lubricated, inspect cables and sheaves, check hydraulic fittings, and occasionally verify anchor torque. The powder coat has been durable, and the pads aren’t chewing themselves up.

The parts replacement warranty (three years) is generous in this category. On the one occasion I needed clarification on the safety bar hardware, support responded quickly and sent updated photos that matched the current revision. That kind of clarity goes a long way when the manual lags behind iterative design tweaks.

Value and the trade-offs you accept

The value proposition isn’t mysterious: you get a CE-certified structure, respectable steel, clean welding, and dependable hydraulics at a price that’s well below the flagship brands. What you give up is mostly in refinements—no single-point lock release, a manual that could be clearer, and a structure that’s appropriately strong for 10K rating but not overbuilt to shrug off daily max-capacity lifts. In practice, the compromises don’t reduce the usefulness for a mixed-use shop; they just define the duty cycle where the lift performs best.

Who it’s for

• DIYers and serious hobbyists who want a real two-post without premium pricing.
• Small shops that primarily service cars and mid-size SUVs with occasional half-ton trucks.
• Anyone who values a clear-floor design for transmission, exhaust, and suspension work.

Who should look elsewhere: shops that routinely lift heavy HD trucks at or near 10,000 lbs, or users who consider a single-point lock release non-negotiable for workflow speed.

Recommendation

I recommend the APlusLift 10K two-post for home shops and light commercial bays that spend most days under 7,000 lbs and need an honest, clear-floor lift with solid bones. It installs cleanly if your slab and power are up to spec, the arms and adapters cover a wide range of vehicles, and the structure inspires confidence when used within its practical sweet spot. If your workload regularly presses the full 10,000-lb rating—or you demand the convenience of single-point lock release—step up a class. Otherwise, this lift delivers strong value and dependable performance without straining your budget.