The new guy would love some advice.

[Nighttrain]

Tuff choice. I would probably just save that $2k and use it to purchase a midrise lift. Great for probably 90% of the work you will be doing. Although you may be on a creeper for some work it is still better than having the car up on jacks and stands.

I think moving that four post around in that garage would get old. You will have more stuff in there than you want (lawn equip. kids toys etc>)

 

[GTAHVIT]

yep.. that's about where my head is at also....

Waiting on the call.

 

[GTAHVIT]

update,

We decided to go with the raised trey. They did it for about what it would cost to put a trey in a bedroom so that was pretty reasonable.

The trey will be at least 9 X 18 X 2 And maybe a little more. It will be vertical and not a cathedral style recess...

So now the waiting begins. Thanks again, everyone for the advice. Can't wait to get started.

 

[GTAHVIT]

They started pouring the concrete for the new house.

Should be able to move in the last half of June. Looking forward to my new garage.

thanks guys for all the advice so far... should be fun making the most of my new spot.

 

[Mikey72Nova]

I think you are going to have a nice setup. I'm sure its all said and done, but I'd have to agree with the drive thru idea for the one car side..don't know what your side yard is like though (if its wide enough to drive around anyways) I would also raise the door rails as high as you can..Every 1/8" counts!

I have a four post and love it...measure, measure and measure another 20 times..and really figure out what kind of work you plan on using the lift for..

I primarily wanted to turn my three car into a four car w/a lift so I went w/a four post. But I also do a lot of work that requires the suspension to be at ride height..(loaded)

The four post is great for simulating exactly how the car sits on the ground, and/or for storing another car under it. A two post on the other hand is great for when you need as much access to the car as possible, (those runways can definitely get in the way on a four post).. Anyhow after a ton of research, Bendpack is where I sent my savings..here's some pics of my set up

 

[GTAHVIT]

I think you are going to have a nice setup. I'm sure its all said and done, but I'd have to agree with the drive thru idea for the one car side..don't know what your side yard is like though (if its wide enough to drive around anyways) I would also raise the door rails as high as you can..Every 1/8" counts!

I have a four post and love it...measure, measure and measure another 20 times..and really figure out what kind of work you plan on using the lift for..

I primarily wanted to turn my three car into a four car w/a lift so I went w/a four post. But I also do a lot of work that requires the suspension to be at ride height..(loaded)

The four post is great for simulating exactly how the car sits on the ground, and/or for storing another car under it. A two car on the other hand is great for when you need as much access to the car as possible, (those runways can definitely get in the way on a four post).. Anyhow after a ton of research, Bendpack is where I sent my savings..here's some pics of my set up

Oh man... that Nova is Nice.

Thanks for the pics... I'd like to have a drive through... But, I can't really afford it on the home loan.. We've pretty much maxed it out so I'm stuck.

And, I can't have a privacy fence as our house backs up to a pond so I don't think they will let us park anything back there since the fence will be about 4 feet tall and be able to be seen through...

But! thanks for the pics of your garage.. that at least gives me an idea of the way my setup might work...

I like the idea of a 4 post also, I think the few times I'll need to have the suspension unloaded and the wheels off I can use a jack tray or rolling jack..


We'll see,

 

[JCQuick]

hey GTA fellow Floridian here. when I built my home (3 car attached) I asked about some attic space above the garage since atic access is in there and was told no as well but with a wink.
The forman in charged informed me when the inspection was done. so I went over and floored my atic space with 1x4s. After I moved in I went to Home depot bought 1/2" plywood sheets cut to size and floored it. you would be amazed at whats up there . the best part is the seasonal stuff is all in bins and labeled and gets rotated has needed.

the other thing make sure you ahve at least 1 220v outlet in the garage. and if possible up your 110/115 circuit to 20amp for the garage.
all my garage outlets are on 15 amp and my small pos compressor would pop it so i had to have a dedicated 20amp circiut run.

 

[slimpickins]

Sounds like you've thought it through real well. You'll be glad you spent time doing the hard thinking now rather than saying "I shoulda ..." later on.

Looking forward to the build! Take lots of pics!

 

[GTAHVIT]

hey GTA fellow Floridian here. when I built my home (3 car attached) I asked about some attic space above the garage since atic access is in there and was told no as well but with a wink.
The forman in charged informed me when the inspection was done. so I went over and floored my atic space with 1x4s. After I moved in I went to Home depot bought 1/2" plywood sheets cut to size and floored it. you would be amazed at whats up there . the best part is the seasonal stuff is all in bins and labeled and gets rotated has needed.

the other thing make sure you ahve at least 1 220v outlet in the garage. and if possible up your 110/115 circuit to 20amp for the garage.
all my garage outlets are on 15 amp and my small pos compressor would pop it so i had to have a dedicated 20amp circiut run.

Yep, I'm working with the builder on that right now. That was onod of those last minute, "ah ****" thoughts.

Sounds like you've thought it through real well. You'll be glad you spent time doing the hard thinking now rather than saying "I shoulda ..." later on.

Looking forward to the build! Take lots of pics!

Will do, All I've got now are pics of the foundation form boards... turns out the permits are pulled just yet so I jumped the gun saying the concrete was getting poured.

probably in the next few days.

 

[GTAHVIT]

ONLY 7K...

https://www.psedealerequipment.com/node/201514

gees. sure does seem like a perfect fit for what I'm trying to do... but man for the cost I could have a couple 4 posts...

 

[Mikey72Nova]

ONLY 7K...

https://www.psedealerequipment.com/node/201514

gees. sure does seem like a perfect fit for what I'm trying to do... but man for the cost I could have a couple 4 posts...

That does sound cool with space savings and all..kinda permanent though..
Good luck with the house build..any floor plans of the house avail? And do share progress pics. We love pics around here..

 

[schwalby]

One comment on that back wall since you can't have a garage door back there what about a LARGE man door? This will make it a lot easier if you have to bring things out there like a push mower or a wheel barrow. You would be surprised at what you may use it for.

If you can't afford the door yet ask them to frame it in now, that way when you have the money you just cut out the studs that are in the middle.

 

[GTAHVIT]

That does sound cool with space savings and all..kinda permanent though..
Good luck with the house build..any floor plans of the house avail? And do share progress pics. We love pics around here..

Here ya go!

House plans

Form boards and some plumbing.

 

[GTAHVIT]

One comment on that back wall since you can't have a garage door back there what about a LARGE man door? This will make it a lot easier if you have to bring things out there like a push mower or a wheel barrow. You would be surprised at what you may use it for.

If you can't afford the door yet ask them to frame it in now, that way when you have the money you just cut out the studs that are in the middle.

I'm kinda thinking about trying to build a shed along the end of the one car garage for all the stuff I don't want in the garage...

I'd like to do something like this...

but along the exterior wall nestled between the HVAC compressor.

 

[JB22]

Camaro5 represent!

 

[CULLY]

Fellow C5'er! Just finished our house last year and my garage is similar in width and is 24' and 28' deep with 12' ceilings. I did attick trusses so the attick is very nice usable storage. Have fun planning your man space! I am looking at four posts' as well to store my Camaro SS as well.

 

[GTAHVIT]

Camaro5 represent!

HEY! you guys found me hiding over here...

Fellow C5'er! Just finished our house last year and my garage is similar in width and is 24' and 28' deep with 12' ceilings. I did attick trusses so the attick is very nice usable storage. Have fun planning your man space! I am looking at four posts' as well to store my Camaro SS as well.

Oh I wish I could have afforded the extra wall height... but just too costly...

Maybe some day down the road, I may try and convert the ceiling to a cathedral one.... if that's even possible...

 

[jam0o0]

get taller doors if you can. 4x4 tahoes' from the early 2000's don't fit in a framed out 7' door. also i bet your truck's mirrors are every bit of 90" wide. that gives you 3" on each side when pulling into the single bay. also no car trailer or boat trailer will fit as they are all 8'6" wide.

4 door long bed trucks are 23' or more long. if you ever want to get one it wont fit in a 20' space.

love the house layout. should be really nice. congrats.

 

[flyng_fool]

Just a thought. Don't you need to re-engineer the concrete under the four post lift's legs to be thicker and stronger to accommodate the extra weight?

 

[GTAHVIT]

Ok so, I'm thinking I want to try and build a lean to shed myself.... I may ask the builder to move the AC compressor back a little to give me some more room but if I have to go as is... this is my idea for all the stuff I don't want cluttering up the garage.

Maybe 6' to 7' tall? to fit under the house soffit?

What do you guys think?

 

[GTAHVIT]

Just a thought. Don't you need to re-engineer the concrete under the four post lift's legs to be thicker and stronger to accommodate the extra weight?

Don't think so.. I think that's the benefit of 4 posts is they distribute the weight. Seems to be common practice to reinforce the concrete under a two post but, I'll defer to the experts.

 

[mrobins297aaa]

get rid of that 8'W door if you can make it 9' or even 8'-6". I have a 8' door on my 3 car garage and I hate it. Its a pain to put anything thru it other than a tractor. Make those doors 8' tall also if you can you won't be sorry.
I've had a few car lifts and 10'-6" ceiling is about the absolute minumin height you can live with anything less than that and you'll be so uncomfortable that you'll be lowering the car down and useing a creeper.
you said you wrench on your own cars, think about what type of work you'll be doing most of the time. For most under car work a two post beats a 4 post hands down, and you can use a 2 post for storing one car atop another just like a 4 post,no offense to all you 4 posters out there but I think a 4 post is more for storage than working on your cars.
Think about how that garage door operates in relation to your lift, is it going to be in the way? maybe a high lift door would help?
Below is pic of my first lift, that garage was 21 x20 with a 9' ceiling that I made a tray ceiling to give me more height, I think it ended up 10'6", its been a few years and we have move since then

 

[Kevin54]

Ok so, I'm thinking I want to try and build a lean to shed myself.... I may ask the builder to move the AC compressor back a little to give me some more room but if I have to go as is... this is my idea for all the stuff I don't want cluttering up the garage.

Maybe 6' to 7' tall? to fit under the house soffit?

What do you guys think?

Like Mrobin stated, that 8' door will kill you. It's usefullness is good for tractors, etc. A car and especially a truck will be tight. With an 8' door you will be watching one side pulling in and be real close to the other side and stand a chance of scraping. Have your wife hold a 2x4 8 feet away from an existing structure and pull your Camaro between the two points and you will see how tight.

As far as the utility shed....good place to put it, just make sure you will have adequate airflow around the Central Air Unit.. The way that you have it now looks like it is bottled in on three sides. You won't get real good airflow around it and it will overwork itself. Heat kills everything. You might have to pull it out some or do away with the "L" portion of the shed.

Just my $.02 on it.

 

[GTAHVIT]

Thanks for all the garage door input. I'm gonna have to live with them as the house is now out of permitting and we'll have to leave it be. I'm pretty comfortable parking in tight spots. spent multiple summers hauling hay trailers into barns and stables. Plus moving customer and our own vehicles in and out of the loading bays at my Grandparent's feed store... having to get out of the rear slider window... So I'm pretty sure the camaro in the one car will be no problem... My wife is a country girl who grew up on cattle ranches in Northern AZ... she's pretty competent at maneuvering that Tahoe around in tight spots... At this point I'm gonna have to go with what we have as far as the framing goes. But I'll absolutely keep all of this in mind. There is some great advice here.. I'm really bummed about the rear garage door... that would have been SWEET...

Need to give some thought to the AC compressor.... Maybe it will be the best to just make a 4 sided shed and lose the "L" probably not a bad Idea. I don't have much to put in there... rakes, shovels, lawn mower, spreader. leftover paint and tile and such...fertilizer.... Probably can get away with a 5' x 6' shed.

 

[Milton Shaw]

Your water heater will have to be up off the floor at least 2 feet I think is the code. One minor thing to add to the sink is a mirror. I am always pushing my glasses up when my hands/gloves are black. I know I have been out talking to neighbors with a black nose before. They get a laugh out of it. Build as big as you can you will regret it later when you fill up the shop in a 5 years or less.

 

[JB22]

My garage has 12 ft ceiling, but its only 14ft wide, so its basically a 1 car with some extra storage in the back.

i love checking out what everyone else is doing though, gives me a thought bank for what i want to do once i get a real garage at some point

 

[GTAHVIT]

Dont know if this has been posted here yet. Bu a great DIY on converting a high lift door

http://ddmgaragedoors.com/diy-instructions/garage-door-high-lift-conversion.php

 

[GTAHVIT]

Getting ready to pour concrete.

 

[78Bird]

As to your lift, one feature of the MaxJax 2 post I like is you could install another set of anchors in the middle of the 2-car (or wherever) for a 2nd install location for larger or more serious projects, or if you want to just rearrange things.

plus, it can be unbolted and totally removed if needed.

Just something to consider.

Good luck, and I definitly recommend figuring out some solution to keep yard and other mess out of the garage.

 

[GTAHVIT]

Moving right along...

Trusses and joists delivered.

Concrete poured.. Gotta love the floor drain..

 

[GTAHVIT]

These guys get a lot done in two days..

And some pics of the garage You can see the trey in the pics. I haven't measured the height yet. Will take some tomorrow..

 

[GTAHVIT]

Finally have some pics of what is looking more and more like a garage...

 

[Mikey72Nova]

The plans look great..great progress. look forward to more pics...

 

[Nighttrain]

Looking good. That 4' in the back makes a huge difference. Take a bunch of pictures of the framing for future reference so when you need to hang some heavy shelves etc. May even want to go along the cement base and mark with a marker where the studs are.

 

[redfred18t]

progress is coming along great, looks like it would be a very nice house too when all said and done

 

[BTC]

Cool. I'm in the middle of building a house. I wish I would have found this site a year ago.

Did you end up adding a 220 outlet in your garage? If so, approximately how much did that cost? I have a 1994 Z28 that I'm trying to get up and running again. It sat it storage for many years. I may need to set it on fire with a welder or something, and that probably won't be an option with just 110 outlets.

 

[GTAHVIT]

Looking good. That 4' in the back makes a huge difference. Take a bunch of pictures of the framing for future reference so when you need to hang some heavy shelves etc. May even want to go along the cement base and mark with a marker where the studs are.

That is brilliant... I will do just that.. Something so simple... would be a huge help.

progress is coming along great, looks like it would be a very nice house too when all said and done

thanks very much, so far the only real problems are around the garage door opener outlets. I had them put them near the jack shafts so I cus use a Liftmaster and they put them dead in the middle of the two garaes like they would for traditional openers... Wich is a little frustrating since we have the trey in the two car for a lift...

Cool. I'm in the middle of building a house. I wish I would have found this site a year ago.

Did you end up adding a 220 outlet in your garage? If so, approximately how much did that cost? I have a 1994 Z28 that I'm trying to get up and running again. It sat it storage for many years. I may need to set it on fire with a welder or something, and that probably won't be an option with just 110 outlets.

My builder was a little expensive for a 220 outlet. $700 per... but I spoke with the electrician contractor and he saide he'd run one after the house is bult for probably half that...

And I've been doing a little research on welder and lift power requirments.. it seems that most if not all that are worth anything will require 220...

but that's from a complete electrical rookie... I'm sure there is way better information on this site

and yes, this site has been a huge help.

 

[GTAHVIT]

I'm gonna sneak back in here and ask you guys for some more help..

The house is built and we're all settled in... Funds are low so I'm a bit behind on my garage build... Namely the floor and the lift. but in the mean time I can get some of the smaller budget stuff out of the way...

Here's a few pics. of where we are now.



Installed two Liftmaster openers.

And a pic of the trey, above where the lift wil go. The dimensions are a smaller than we estimated originally.. But it's just enough for me to be able to get the Camaro off the ground enough for me to stand under it.

NO for my question.

I'd like to build a work bench on this back wall where the table and chairs are. It's 138" across. I'm thinking 3' high and... 2' deep???

I'm probably going to split the shelves on the left apart and put one on the left and the other on the right.

Any input I've been scouring the work benches from scratch... I'd like to cut in a spot for my tool big tool chest and a spot to sit with some shelves.. I've got a bench grinder and I'll need to get a decent vise.

Any input on building materials? as in what type of lumber I'll need to consider.

Thanks!!!!

 

[GTAHVIT]

I think I'm leaning towards one of these.... should work nicely in the attached Garage... I've got 10'6" ceiling clearance...

Atlas

http://www.gregsmithequipment.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=ATTD-SLP7K

Mohawk

http://www.mohawklifts.com/wp/consumer/browse-lifts/scissor-lifts/usl-6000/

The atlas is less expensive and is supposed to be bolted to the floor, but I'll probably cut that one into the concrete...


The Mohawk is almost 3 times as much (Just under 6k) but is mobile....