Multi-level vehicle lift

A vehicle lift comprising:

• a support structure including four substantially vertical columns for guiding substantially linear vertical movement;
• a first platform mounted between the vertical columns for substantially linear vertical movement between a lowered position and a raised position;
• a second platform mounted between the vertical columns below the first platform and coupled to the first platform by a short collapsible lift member such that upward movement of the first platform above a first raised position causes substantially linear upward movement of the second platform, wherein the first platform is adjacent to the second platform when the first platform is in the lowered position, and wherein the first platform is spaced from the second platform when the first platform is in the raised position;
• and
• a pit positioned below the first and second platforms, wherein the second platform is at least partially in the pit when the first platform is in the lowered position,
• wherein during a portion of the first platform's travel from the lowered position toward the first raised position, the first platform causes substantially no movement of the second platform.

A vehicle lift comprising:

• a first platform mounted for movement between a lowered position and a raised position;
• a second platform below the first platform and coupled to the first platform by a rigid short lift rod, wherein the first platform engages the short lift rod such that upward movement of the first platform above a first raised position causes upward movement of the second platform;
• and
• a third platform below the second platform and coupled to the first platform by a long lift rod, wherein the first platform engages the second lift rod such that upward movement of the first platform above a second raised position causes upward movement of the third platform, wherein the long lift rod is longer than the short lift rod, and wherein during a portion of the first platform's travel from the lowered position toward the first raised position, the first platform causes substantially no movement of the second platform;
• a support structure including four substantially vertical columns for guiding substantially linear vertical movement of the first, second and third platforms.