A lift system 100 may comprise two sets of two pistons with each set of pistons attached to an upper cross bar 210 and a lower cross bar 275, with the lower cross bar having distal ends comprising distal insertion areas 276 with the distal insertion areas passing through a first void 241 defined within a wheelie bar 240 and the distal insertion areas 276 reaching further to move a wedge bar 270. To lift a patient from a lowered position, a piston moves a lower cross bar 275 which in turn moves a wedge bar 270 into a wedge 280, causing the lower cross bar to break out of plane with a top bar 205. The use of two wheelie gears 220 ensures that the lift remains horizontal even if piston forces are not uniform.