Selecting a lift for my "narrow" double

[nsogiba]

Now that I have a property worth investing in, I'm just about ready to start thinking about a lift in the garage. For a long time I was set on 2 post lifts but now that I'm looking at the realistic application of what I have to work with they just don't seem that practical for my space. It's important that when I don't have a car in the air, I still have all the usable floor space I can get. With a 2 post I know my wife's friends will open her car door into the center post every time they leave to go somewhere, and I'll be tripping over it every time I try to make my way around the car. Scissor Lifts are looking pretty good right now, but a lot of them are one piece designs that cover up much of the underbody of the car (I have to be able to access motors, trans, diff, full exhaust system, etc). Also need to be able to remove all wheels from the car. 4 posts take up too much space and don't seem to offer any benefit over a 2 post.

Here is the space I'm working with. The lift would be going under where the car is in this picture.

The overall clear width of the garage is 220", or 110" per bay. This is the only thing stopping me from going with a 2 post as the "center column" would intrude into the other bay, where my fiancee parks.

Although the bay seems narrow it has quite a bit of width (here is the same size bay with the car scooched all the way over).

I am looking for answers to a few questions:

1. Are there any other types of lift designs that fulfill my above needs?

2. I am leaning towards a dual type in floor scissor lift as it meets my needs pretty well. A lot of people over on garage journal are using a Chinese brand with decent luck but I'm not too keen on going through the hassle of importing it, having no service/parts/warranty, etc. Are there any brands that produce something like in the above pics?

Here's what I've been looking at.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=473500&postcount=1

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=3222372&postcount=127

Given the concrete work that needs to be done I'd have an outside contractor come in to do the pour of the new recessed portion. The floor is pitched towards a center drain which makes the pour a bit tougher I'm sure, but it works out since I'll be able to install floor drains in each of the recessed trenches and tie them into the main drain. I might be able to cut out the required holes myself though.

Comments? Anyone have a similar setup?

 

[nsogiba]

I am looking at these:

Bendpak
http://www.bendpak.com/car-lifts/specialty-lifts/sp-7x.aspx

Challenger. Absurd pricing for what seems like the same specs as the others
http://www.challengerlifts.com/DX77.shtml

I am most closely looking at this Atlas
http://www.gregsmithequipment.com/Atlas-SLP-7K-Full-Rise-Scissor-Lift

With this type of install. this is the extent of what i want to do, just part of the floor when not in use.
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=473500&postcount=1

Anyone else have a narrow bay with these limitations?

 

[nsogiba]

nobody? at this point I am tempted to think about expanding my garage width-wise (we have an extra "driveway bay" to the right of the garage.

 

[astroracer]

Do this,
Put a gabage can at each post position. Use the outside dimension of the columns to line up your cans. This will be real close to the lift footprint.
Now, park your car in between them and leave it there for a whole weekend. Walk around the cans like they are immovable objects (just like the hoist columns). This will give you a very good idea of what you will have for room when a car is on the hoist.
Also... Keep in mind, the car is up on the hoist. Do an experiment with the garage door. Open the garage door. If the car is up in the air more then four feet or so, will the door hit the car? Keeping it from fully opening? If it hits, you will not get a car in or out without dropping the hoist so the door can fully open.
Mark

 

[nsogiba]

thanks for the idea about the cans, that will be a good measure of what will work and what wont. regardless of the type of lift i install i have enough room lengthwise to keep it forward enough to avoid the door with a sedan.

 

[nsogiba]

just placed my order for a MaxJax. Plan on placing the columns between 114-116" apart.

 

[eastbaysubaru]

I'm in a similar situation and will be going with an in-ground scissor lift when the time comes. I feel like the posts will eat up too much space in the garage and I don't want to have to tip toe around them when I'm parking in that space. I'll be interested to know how you like the Maxjax. Please update the thread when you get it installed.

-Brian

 

[dubber]

Eager to see how this turns out. Fingers crossed for ya. I have a similar width garage and the model you are going with is something i fantasize about lol...

 

[nsogiba]

I'm in a similar situation and will be going with an in-ground scissor lift when the time comes. I feel like the posts will eat up too much space in the garage and I don't want to have to tip toe around them when I'm parking in that space. I'll be interested to know how you like the Maxjax. Please update the thread when you get it installed.

-Brian

The in ground scissor was my #1 choice as far as ergonomics and space was concerned, but I just couldn't justify a price tag that was over 2x that of the MaxJax (not to mention guaranteed concrete work). I will be making some sacrifices with floor space seeing that I don't plan on moving the posts every time I use it, but I just tell myself that it's a small inconvenience to have, compared to laying on my back while using jackstands.

Right now I share the garage with my wife, so I want to keep her parking convenience in mind. I think that it won't be too bad if she just pays some attention to how she parks. The posts will be forward enough to avoid doors hitting them all the time.

Eager to see how this turns out. Fingers crossed for ya. I have a similar width garage and the model you are going with is something i fantasize about lol...

Haha, I have been fantasizing for a long time now, and finally it's coming true. Still hasn't really hit me that I went ahead and pulled the trigger.