Who has car lift in personal garage

[aleccolin]

I'm using a Dannmar MaxJax, which is what a lot of the mid-rise lift guys on GarageJournal are using. Got it from Costco two years back, don't know how I lived so long without it! Best part is you can quickly and easily unbolt a post and roll it off to the side in case you need the space or park a car skewed in the middle like I do for paint paint correction.

I have a 9' ceiling height, it'll go full height (4 ft rise) with almost any car; trucks and SUVs I haven't had a problem yet but you have to pay attention.

Don't have many good pics of the lift itself, here's a couple I grabbed from my album. The yellow Audi is not mine, but shows the lift better.

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[Anthony 05 GT]

I have a 10,000 lb capacity Atlas 2 post from Greg Smith Equipment. Best investment I've made. No more laying on the floor.

 

[swooshdave]

I'm using a Dannmar MaxJax, which is what a lot of the mid-rise lift guys on GarageJournal are using. Got it from Costco two years back, don't know how I lived so long without it! Best part is you can quickly and easily unbolt a post and roll it off to the side in case you need the space or park a car skewed in the middle like I do for paint paint correction.

I have a 9' ceiling height, it'll go full height (4 ft rise) with almost any car; trucks and SUVs I haven't had a problem yet but you have to pay attention.

Don't have many good pics of the lift itself, here's a couple I grabbed from my album. The yellow Audi is not mine, but shows the lift better.

At 4ft you don’t need a creeper but you can probably get away with a rolling chair?

 

[Anthony 05 GT]

Yes, even though my lift goes up 12 ft I often keep it low and use a mechanic's rolling chair for jobs like brakes

 

[sdiver68]

I will not be tempted to spend another $15k+ on my garage. Please stop posting pics.

Because a lift will only lead to finishing off the insulation and adding HVAC. Then, drywall repairs and paint. All of a sudden, my nice shelving looks substandard and needs to be replaced by cabinets. Professional air compressor, Snap-on tools, tire machine can only be next. Next thing you know, I'm looking back and saying I wish I only spent $15k on my garage.

Nope, I'm happy with my craftsman jack, stands, and tools.

 

[ANGST]

Not helpful , but figured I'd share....

 

[swooshdave]

So is the consensus that you shouldn't use a 2 post for storing a car (1 up, 1 below)?

 

[aleccolin]

At 4ft you don’t need a creeper but you can probably get away with a rolling chair?

Yep I use a creeper seat, a low-ish one is better, I still hit my head a bunch but it's still 1000% better than working off jack stands. I'm too old for that shit.

So is the consensus that you shouldn't use a 2 post for storing a car (1 up, 1 below)?

As long as it's not sitting on the hydraulics, I don't see any real problem with it unless you live in an earthquake zone maybe.

 

[Speedycrw]

I just built my detached garage last year. I made it 13'6" tall at the HVAC duct run. I can get an RV in the garage as it is 40' deep by 70' long. I got a Rotary lift after having a lift in my last garage. I am really pleased with it, and its capacity. It can lift my 2500 Ram diesel. The lifts are not that expensive and fully decked out lift like the rotary can be found for around 5k. There are cheaper ones available, my last one cost only $2300 about ten years ago. They pay for themselves in just the first few repairs! Just make sure you have a proper concrete floor poured for installation.

 

[Speedycrw]

Another pic before I sold the Spec Miata......

 

[Speedycrw]

I will not be tempted to spend another $15k+ on my garage. Please stop posting pics.

Because a lift will only lead to finishing off the insulation and adding HVAC. Then, drywall repairs and paint. All of a sudden, my nice shelving looks substandard and needs to be replaced by cabinets. Professional air compressor, Snap-on tools, tire machine can only be next. Next thing you know, I'm looking back and saying I wish I only spent $15k on my garage.

Nope, I'm happy with my craftsman jack, stands, and tools.

You speak the absolute truth!!! But the outcome will pretty much be your own personal oasis!! Why stop there.....HDTVs and a full size fridge.......

 

[swooshdave]

Yep I use a creeper seat, a low-ish one is better, I still hit my head a bunch but it's still 1000% better than working off jack stands. I'm too old for that shit.

You should have seen me after I got a bike lift. How could I have been so stupid for that long to go without one?

 

[ITLRUN]

My ceilings are 10’ 2”. I can comfortably “stack” two Mustangs. In a perfect world, the ceilings would be at least 12’ high. This would keep me from having to duck under the lift getting in / out of the one on bottom. The lift in my home garage is a Rotary Lift 4 post. It’s perfect for “putting 10 pounds of poo in a 5 pound sack”.

 

[ITLRUN]

The lift in my shop is a Rotary 2 Post. I have used it to “stack” cars too, but it’s the best option for working on cars. My ceiling is really tall so I can raise cars all the way up in here. I have a drain in the floor. It makes washing / detailing cars so easy. I’m getting to damn old to wash wheels and tires squatting on the ground. Lol.

 

[CB18]

ITLRUN, I am leaning towards a four post than a two post lift. I see yours is not bolted to the concrete which I will not do either. When your car is up in the air on it, is it pretty stable? I've never seen a four post in person. It only makes sense that there has to be a tight fitting guide on the four corners to keep that from wobbling around with weight on it.

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