Garage lift?

[doodguy]

Were looking to move. In searching trying to find somewhere we can install a lift. I have a quick jack now but would be so much more convenient to jist have a lift. The problem is im not finding garages in Florida high enough for a lift, and in the tampa area hard to find affordable land to build a workshop on.

Can you share ideas for what you have done?

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[terryj]

I'm fortunate to have a full size lift in one of my garages.



My neighbor who has 8' ceiling in his garage use this.





You can do about the same things on both but there are some things a full size lift can handle better like trans R&R.

 

[Norm Peterson]

Know that there are minimum specifications for the concrete that the lift's posts are anchor-bolted into. Minimum strength and minimum thickness, which you'll need to be able to verify. You also shouldn't have the holes located near any seams or cracks. Near meaning not closer than the anchor bolt length, and I'd rather see not less than the concrete thickness. Obviously, the concrete had better be thicker than the anchor bolts are long.

If you can't satisfy all of the above, you'll need to cut out large enough sections of the existing floor and replace them with freshly placed concrete that does. I won't try to estimate how large these sections would need to be, other than they'd need to be considerably larger than the footprints of the baseplates to the posts.

What I used to get paid to do included qualifying anchor bolted baseplate designs much like what's involved with lift posts. The overriding concern involves the fact that concrete failure tends to be sudden and catastrophic. Paying extra for better than min spec is a good idea.


Norm

 

[doodguy]

Thanks Terry!! What are the dimensions of that garage? I may want to build something like that.

 

[AngelDeath]

Small Garage, but High ceiling.

 

[EcoBoostang]

I'm fortunate to have a full size lift in one of my garages.



My neighbor who has 8' ceiling in his garage use this.





You can do about the same things on both but there are some things a full size lift can handle better like trans R&R.

What brand of lift is that?

 

[terryj]

Thanks Terry!! What are the dimensions of that garage? I may want to build something like that.

21x45x?? It has a 14 ft overhead door.

 

[terryj]

What brand of lift is that?

Mine is a revolution.

http://www.revolutionlift.com/RTP10-10000-Pound-Capacity-Two-Post-Lift-P3C3.aspx

The smaller one is a Danmar maxjax

http://www.maxjaxusa.com/

 

[dgc333]

With a 4 post lift you don't have to worry about the concrete floor.

I hemmed and hawed for a couple of years over whether I should get a 2 post or 4 post lift. Wife and I were at World of Wheels and the guy selling lifts at the show made my wife an offer she couldn't refuse and she bought it for me.

It came with a rolling trolly jack that allows you to lift the front or rear axle off the rails for tire or brake work. It also came with drip trays so you can store a car on top and casters to move it around.

I think I have had it about 6 years now and not once have I wished I had a 2 poster. I am also thank full every time I drive onto the lift for an oil change that I don't need to get on my hands and knees to set the arms on a 2 poster.

 

[Norm Peterson]

With a 4 post lift you don't have to worry about the concrete floor.

I'm not sure about this. I do know of a 4-post lift failure where the lift somehow swayed enough to make a real mess of things.


Norm

 

[dgc333]

If a 4 post lift is swaying then it wasn't assembled correctly.

I should clarify my statement about not worrying about the concrete. Most garage floors are around 3" thick with a 2500psi rated concrete. This is more than adequate for a 4 post lift.

The 2 post lift manufacturers recommend a minimum of 4" of concrete with 6" preferred of a 3500psi min rating on the concrete. Unless you built the garage and know what was poured you need to be concerned if you intend to install a 2 post lift.

When I built my garage I used a laser transit to find the high spot and poured 6" above that spot of 4000 psi concrete so I would be prepared for what ever lift I chose. It cost me twice as much for the concrete than a typical garage floor but in the big scheme of the cost of the garage it wasn't significant.

 

[doodguy]

What company/brand makes a 4 post lift that is reasonable/economical for home use? I'm thinking like a couple thousand dollars. Not ten thousand.

 

[Dig-It]

I bought my Eagle service / storage lift brand new ten years ago for $1800. Prices haven't gone up that much since.

 

[Norm Peterson]

If a 4 post lift is swaying then it wasn't assembled correctly.

Quite possibly, or it may have "experienced a loading beyond its design basis". It was in a garage or barn, so we can probably eliminate wind. But not causes such as earthquake or accidental contact by the vehicle being parked underneath the raised car with one of the posts supporting it.

My point being that I'd rather put a little more margin into a 4-poster's stability than the bare minimum.


Norm

 

[dgc333]

What company/brand makes a 4 post lift that is reasonable/economical for home use? I'm thinking like a couple thousand dollars. Not ten thousand.

Everyone offers 2 and 4 post lifts in the $2k range for one rated in the 7000 lb rating range. $10k is a professional grade lift.

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