4 post lift with 9.7ft celings

[2tontruck]

I could spend a few days reading or I can just post up a question. I am in the process of shopping for a 4 post lift however my ceilings in my garage are 9.7foot tall. Does anybody have a pic of their lift installed with their car on it they could share with me?
The other option is getting a idea of maybe rebuilding the current roof trusses to raise that portion of the garage, It is a standard 4/12 truss right now. Throw some ideas out there for me please. Thanks!

 

[JamesCovertte]

is the lift you need for parking?

what vehicles you have now?

 

[Dakota00]

What's the height of the vehicles? I just put in a 4 post lift in my garage, ceiling height is 10ft.

 

[2tontruck]

It will be dual pourpose, I will use it about 50/50. The main car is a 65 Nova wagon that stands about 4'9"(lowered pretty good) and I am looking at another 66 Nova post car.

 

[Stuart in MN]

Assuming the new Nova is the same height for discussion purposes, that's 2 times 4'9", or 9'6". Then you add the thickness of the platform itself (around 4") and consider you have to run the lift up past a lock point, then lower it back down, plus the lock points aren't necessarily going to be in the exact spot you need it. Bottom line, you'll need more like 11 feet to make it work, or else get lower cars.

 

[MPM IV]

Subscribing because I'm in the exact same boat.

 

[JKMike]

I may one day be in this boat. Subscribing as well.

 

[2tontruck]

Seems like a pretty common problem with a lot of people.

 

[Dakota00]

^^^ Pics of the garage and trusses?

 

[markw365]

Yeah, you'd need a couple miata's or some other short car like the FR-S/BRZ 50" to the roof line.

 

[OverkillYJ]

Maybe you guys already are, but are these measurements from the bottom of the frame to the roof where it would actually get lifted, or from the bottom of the tires to the roof?

 

[sublimate]

Maybe you guys already are, but are these measurements from the bottom of the frame to the roof where it would actually get lifted, or from the bottom of the tires to the roof?

He's talking about a 4 post lift so it would be lifted from the bottom of the tires...

 

[OverkillYJ]

He's talking about a 4 post lift so it would be lifted from the bottom of the tires...

Oh yeah. I am used to my in-floor lift and my buddies two post. Two post seems like the obvious solution. Automatically subtract quite a few inches right there alone.

 

[rice rocket]

or else get lower cars.

I think you mean, lower the Novas more.

 

[Olyar15]

Also keep in mind that the lock positions aren't infinitely variable. The resting heights of the safety locks can be adjusted slightly, but they are located every 4" or so. Bottom line, for a ceiling height of 9'7, you need cars that are around 52" or lower to be comfortable.

 

[2tontruck]

I will snap a few pictures of the trusses this weekend. My other option was looking into the Maxx Jax due to the moveability of them but I really would like that little extra floor space to get another car in there.

 

[2tontruck]

The two post lift is a option but coil springs usually fall out of my cars when the suspension hangs!LOL... j/k

 

[Gernby]

How much room do you have above the ceiling? I have a 10' ceiling, and just cut a roof-sized hole in it to give a couple extra feet of clearance.

 

[2tontruck]

How much room do you have above the ceiling? I have a 10' ceiling, and just cut a roof-sized hole in it to give a couple extra feet of clearance.

Yeah I have wagons.....BIG hole!

 

[nmk_61802]

Oh yeah. I am used to my in-floor lift and my buddies two post. Two post seems like the obvious solution. Automatically subtract quite a few inches right there alone.

Still have the tires hanging down (sagging) which you have to clear with the lower car. It does gain you the 4-6" of the platform depth though, as the tires now occupy the same space, but you also would need to add back the uncompressed suspension vs compressed.

 

[Dakota00]

How much room do you have above the ceiling? I have a 10' ceiling, and just cut a roof-sized hole in it to give a couple extra feet of clearance.

Holy **** man!! You didn't reinforce the trusses before cutting out the bottom chords!

I also cut a roof sized opening in the trusses to gain an extra 7-8" of ceiling height that I needed.

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