Understanding Lift Specifications

[8pack]

I am looking to build a garage and starting to look at lifts. Before I settle on a garage plan I need to decide on a lift so I can finalize ceiling height.

The most convenient is a 10' ceiling height as most of the barn building companies offer 10 ft walls as a standard.

There are couple of companies that offer lifts with a 72" Rise height that can fit under a 10ft ceiling. The big question is at 5'9" will i be able to work under a car without hunching over assuming the car can be raised to the full lift height.....I need to figure that part out next!

Thanks...

 

[Rick6054]

Hello 8pack, I would recommend that you have at least a 12' ceiling in your garage. I have a 12' ceiling and use the Rotary 14000 lb 4 post lift and have no problems working on my vehicle. Rick

 

[8pack]

Thanks Rick. I was figuring that might be the case. Not easy to find something without being a full custom building with 12' ceilings. A metal building is a no go. Needs to work with the property and look like a barn or carriage house.

 

[BigBlock73]

I have 11' ceilings and the camaro gets to the top,few inches to spare.
Put my RAV4 on it yesterday and had to crouch to get under,will be changing the oil with a jack the next time.
Would love to work on my truck on the lift but that would be torture crawling under it.

Get as much ceiling height as you can.

 

[70lt1z28]

I've heard of folks doing a partial pit on the floor with a movable cover. Slide the cover back, pull in the car, raise the car and you have enough standing room under the engine-trans area. Garage Journal forum has more details. Also folks have done after the fact lofted ceilings that go into the attic space. Much work, but its effective.

 

[Smokey15]

We have 12' ceilings in our shop. A lift with a top crossbar will just barely fit.

 

[xten]

I would not go any lower than a 12' ceiling height. Mine's at 12 and it would have been nice to have another foot or two. Especially if you might put an SUV or 4wd truck on the lift. My buddy has a 10' high garage with no ceiling, and he is thinking about trying to position a lift between the trusses. It's probably going to be in the way anywhere he puts it because of the layout. Something to think about in the planning stages.

 

[70lt1z28]

We have 12' ceilings in our shop. A lift with a top crossbar will just barely fit.

There are lifts (Mohawk) that use a hydraulic line to tie them together. This line is easy to route high up into the ceiling or around the perimeter.

 

[8pack]

Thanks guys. I will work towards a min 12'. If I can do 13' I will. Depends on cost. Will probably have lots more questions as I work this through.

 

[linenoise]

I just put up a 4 post bendpak lift. I got 10' ceiling. It works barely. I take the car up to top and I got about lil less than 5.5' left under it. BUT I got no engine in it or tranny so it sits high right now. You REALLY want a 12' if you can as others said. 10' works fine but you are not putting a big vehicle under it.