WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A 2- POST HOIST AND A 4-POST HOIST?

A 2 post hoist has (you guessed it) 2 posts. Two arms come of each post which is used to lift a car from the underside.

Typically you use suspension supports wherever practical, or the jacking points. A 4 post hoist has (amazingly) 4 posts and you lift the car by the 4 wheels.

If you need to take off the wheels, they have additional jacks that you fit under the car’s body or suspension points.

More seriously, a 2 post hoist is cheap to buy and ideal for basic service work. You can do most things on a 2 post hoist,

But they are less suited to major jobs where more stability may be required. A four-post hoist is a lot more expensive but is better Suited to major works like engine removal as the car is better supported.

If you look into a typical car service department you might find they have several 2 post hoists and only one 4 post hoist.