[arbys]

The wife and I are investigating another new house and garage space. I plan to put a lift in the garage and am unsure of the height needed and type of lift to be used. This will more than likely be a 4-5 car attached garage so nothing too ridiculous. Your suggestions are welcomed.

[2002Z4CSS]

10-12 foot ceiling clearance is good.

[The Champ]

I put scissor trusses in my 30x40 toybox with 10' sidewalls. Center height is nearly 15'. Haven't bought the lift yet, but the shop is ready for it.

[Stuart]

Higher is better, but it depends on what kind of lift you're looking at and how tall your vehicles are. I have a four post lift in my garage and the ceiling is about 10'-6"; I can stack two cars but only if both of them are pretty low, and even then the clearances are very tight.

[Judge273]

Here's my recently raised roof for a 5 car parking space garage with workshop above. Its detached at 720 sf with a 13 foot clearance to provide the max lift for car storage. Had to redo existing garage door too. Its a high lift door with side mounted door opener now.

The before picture:











Got two Eagle extended length lifts with extra height in the space.

[ho428]

I have 10' and a 4 post works fine with two Firebirds, 12 would be better though.

Mike, I really, really didn't need to see that. Nice re-model.
Hmmm, I'd really like to get the RV into the garage.
Raise the roof, raise one door...

[Cammer-6]

put one in like this and theres no overhead height problems
http://www.hei-lifts.com/
2 post lifts normally require 12 ft of ceiling height

[goatless]

I have a two post and only 9' 6" ceilings. I stack two cars in that bay, but I have to take off the wheels nearest the door on the upper car to squeeze the lower one in. It's a little tight.

[arbys]

That scissors lift scares me. Thanks for all the responses. It looks like I'm going to try to get 12' ceilings and the 4 post looks best to me at this time for possible storage. A friend has a 4 post and can move it outdoors to power wash the undersides and then move the empty lift inside.

[Formulabruce]

I have the frost wall up 2 feet and the 8 foot wall on that, the ceiling is 14 on the edge area of the lift, and over 15 towards middle of garage. BUT I use a extra wide/high 4 post so my HD fits under my Firebird ( 1 inch to spare) and about 3-4 inches up top above the bird.. IF you ever want a truck Under a car, go 15 feet anyways IMHO the wood in my lift is a platform for doing the ceiling since when you lower a car, when wheels are slid on it, it rolls around ( LED Lighting under the ramps )

[Norwood]

I am so jealous

[chrisinestes]

If my 14' ceiling was 14'4", I could stand all the way up under my pickup. I do lose about a foot because of the garage door opener, though

Chris

[turbo69bird]

Got to have 12ft 6 inch for a bend pak 10k

[arbys]

[QUOTE=Formulabruce;5034135]I have the frost wall up 2 feet and the 8 foot wall on that, the ceiling is 14 on the edge area of the lift, and over 15 towards middle of garage. BUT I use a extra wide/high 4 post so my HD fits under my Firebird ( 1 inch to spare) and about 3-4 inches up top above the bird.. IF you ever want a truck Under a car, go 15 feet anyways IMHO the wood in my lift is a platform for doing the ceiling since when you lower a car, when wheels are slid on it, it rolls around ( LED Lighting under the ramps )
QUOTE]

What are the limitations with the four post lift other than working on the 4 tires?

[Don 79 TA]

[QUOTE=arbys;5034395]

Originally Posted by Formulabruce

I have the frost wall up 2 feet and the 8 foot wall on that, the ceiling is 14 on the edge area of the lift, and over 15 towards middle of garage. BUT I use a extra wide/high 4 post so my HD fits under my Firebird ( 1 inch to spare) and about 3-4 inches up top above the bird.. IF you ever want a truck Under a car, go 15 feet anyways IMHO the wood in my lift is a platform for doing the ceiling since when you lower a car, when wheels are slid on it, it rolls around ( LED Lighting under the ramps )
QUOTE]

What are the limitations with the four post lift other than working on the 4 tires?

all depends on the work.....
at the shop the 4post was great for alignments, and keeping car loaded (exhaust work)
ours had the ability to lift the front/rear as well
way easier/fast to get on/off lift (think oil/trans fluid changes)
also a place to store tools

cons:
watch your head, it F'n hurts when you hit it on the rails
WATCH the garage height and door height too (but this applies to any lift) ESPECIALLY the antennas


two post pro:
easy to jack up just front or rear
easy for certain types of work, say suspension/brakes

[The Champ]

Originally Posted by arbys

What are the limitations with the four post lift other than working on the 4 tires?

Doing brakes...

But neither one is a problem if you get some 6,000-lb. capacity sliding jack platforms:



or a scissor bridge jack like this:

[LeighP]

Those bridge jacks are damn cool!

[arbys]

Originally Posted by The Champ

Doing brakes...

But neither one is a problem if you get some 6,000-lb. capacity sliding jack platforms:



or a scissor bridge jack like this:

Thanks, that just sold me on the 4 post.

[ho428]

I've used the jacks on the slider a lot, but I've also raised the car on the 4 post, put jack stands on the floor and lowered the car onto the jack stands to get all 4 wheels off quickly, basically used the lift as a jack.
Rolled around on the stool like doing a normal jack stand brake job.

[Old Blue 66]

Originally Posted by arbys

The wife and I are investigating another new house and garage space. I plan to put a lift in the garage and am unsure of the height needed and type of lift to be used. This will more than likely be a 4-5 car attached garage so nothing too ridiculous. Your suggestions are welcomed.

Anything more than three cars is ridiculous. And Im so jealous.