Garage Considerations

not quite as fancy

Had to rent out my old "cave" but at a good lease term so I was able to do a little addition to the warehouse- as you can see, parking is tight. By the way, I noticed some folks talking about lift prices- this one's 9000 lb capacity and I bought it used/installed for 1500.00. I did recondition it a little and cleaned it up and it's made in the USA and Canada so I'm not afraid to walk under it :-)

Cheers
 

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Plans are back....

Plans are back and we are making progress. One fundamental question about the lifts, 2 or 4 post. It would appear that 4 post with ramps are more suited for easy drive on, drive off while the 2 post (asymetrical) allow greater access under the car. Prices seem to be comparable and given the reality that it's primarily for storage, I'm leaning towards the 4 post. As always, your input is greatly valued. BTW, the garage is going to be limited to 20 X 27 feet, although I think we can get 11' ceilings.
 
A good compromise

If storage is first priority get the drive on ramp type.
However add a sliding jack assembly so you can work on suspension and brakes.

John
 
11' is more than enough height, get a

High lift version with top locking position which puts the bottom or the ramp above your head. Nothing like bonking your head on a thousand pound steel lift. It'll stagger you a bit.

Moats of these lifts are fine tunable so you can adjust the top level to work with you car and ceilIng height.
 
2 post lifts need to be anchored to the floor, holes, bolts... Does not move.
4 post lifts I was looking at (10 year ago) did not need to be bolted down. You could even get ones with wheels on them.

I love my 2 post lift for restorations / engine swaps / general car work, but I would love to have room for a 4 post for car storage next to it.

Or i need reduce my pile.
 
My backyard garage

My 40' x 60' backyard retreat. It is a little cluttered sometimes but I manage. It was built to use and not for show {:>) All steel, insulated, 6" concrete floor with 7000# American-made 2-post lift (from a transmission shop for $800). It has eight mercury vapor lights and three skylights. Two air compressors, two MIGs, one TIG, and one stick welder plus a plasma cutter. I also have two air compressors and a large blasting cabinet.
 

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bfeng said:
If storage is first priority get the drive on ramp type.
However add a sliding jack assembly so you can work on suspension and brakes.

John
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I have a 4 post with midrise pneumatic sliding jack and optional casters. Though convenient the platform does get in the way sometimes. Great for storage which it's used for most.

Pros have the 2 post lifts, while they are more convenient for working, have to be careful of where the car is lifted from. Can damage or drop the car by improper lifting.
 
The "man" cave

One thing to consider when building the "cave" is that sooner or later our chicks will want to add feminine touches and basically try and re- organize our own peculiar methods of organization into another dimension ..... therefore proper signage and security measures are required to discourage this....
 

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Nice dog! Labs are my favorite.

Your comment on the signs reminds me of a test some grad student buddies and I used to use to see who's work was cooler.
 
That is a 'chessie....handsome guy huh? And he really guards with teeth vs a tongue....
Remember the sign from "our gang"? (he-man woman hater's club)...."no girlz" The signs I collected from my cold war days for the most part, hope I do not offend.
 
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Sliding bridge jacks

I hate my sliding jack. It hangs down below the bottom of the ramps a good 3"
That puts it at the right height to just scrape my noggin (hbchris would knock himself outncold). Plus, the width doesn't allow the rising/arm section to fully retract flush w the top of the ramps. I have moved the ramps closer together than stock so my LBC's don't fall thru the middle (narrow track)l
Ideally you need the storage lift in one bay and a two post repair lift in the next bay, and a walled off third bay with a drain in the floor so you can wash inside...
 
To be more serious....I have a "Max Jax" mid-rise lift due to height considerations. I followed the lead of "sven" Very happy to this point and can lift all vehicles in my humble fleet. Four post lifts use quite a bit of room, plus constraints as to doing actual work. IMHO a decent and cost effective way to go.
www.maxjaxusa.com/
 
We have a permit and now stakes in the ground. ImageUploadedByTapatalk1363037698.102561.jpg
I realize that there are more appropriate forums for this so I will not bore everyone with daily updates. The real question is whether the garage or car will be here first.
 
There's a bedroom above it and a wide open room which will no doubt be where I find my teenage children doing the same things I did at their age when I thought my parents didn't know any better. Fortunately I have 10+ years before they get to their teens.
 
Rats....I guess I am getting old. My youngest at 31 this year. Best to you and the project...I never really had my own space until I was 48....
 
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Garage is framed and at this point has rough ins for wire and plumbing. Should be done in another couple of weeks.
 
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The garage is done. Four post lift being installed today, epoxy floor next week. All we need is a 69 BMW.

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In case you are curios, that is artificial turf around the pool. Haven't mowed it once!
 
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