10' ceiling, lift through top?

[zx6rrider]

Im looking into putting a lift in my garage but have a few questions.

Its finished with 10' ceilings, but depending on spacing, would it be practicle to install one taller with the cross brace through the rafters? Ill crawl up and nose around next week and see how its laid out.

Do they seem to take up much space? I mean you can still park a car in between them, one post would be by the wall and the other in between the 2 cars so are they much of an inconvience when not using them.

I think Im going to try and find a quality used one, what all brands would you consider; Rotay, bend-pak, ect?

Anyone have pictures of one with the posts through the ceiling? Thanks

 

[Beemer533]

My buddy has a garage with 12' ceilings and when we closed our repair shop, we moved the lift we had into it. I don't recall the model, but the posts stick up higher than the ceiling by a foot or so.

I don't have a picture now, but all we did was box it in up top (the garage has attic trusses) and it works just fine. We just had to line it up so we didn't have to cut any of the trusses.

 

[Gerald O]

Or you could get a lift designed to fit under a 10' ceiling height.

Just saying...

 

[wnstwolf]

I have a bendpak xp10 two post that has the top cross brace at 14' I lucked out and it just sits atop the top edge of my floor joists for upper storage area. Remember it's not just the posts poking up but you may have the top cross brace beam as well.

 

[Beemer533]

I have a bendpak xp10 two post that has the top cross brace at 14' I lucked out and it just sits atop the top edge of my floor joists for upper storage area. Remember it's not just the posts poking up but you may have the top cross brace beam as well.

Good point, I forgot we had to install the crossmember...


Yes, getting one made for low ceiling would probably be the best plan

 

[lt1driver]

or get one with hoses running across the floor or a model with shorter post....ex is mohawk.

 

[Scud67]

My lift is made for low ceiling applications - the posts are only 9' 6" tall. No need to modify the ceiling for the lift to go through.

 

[ambenz]

Scud 67, got pics and model number? I am in the same boat, er, GARAGE...10' ceilings.

 

[Strouty]

A Mohawk TP10 would work well, but they are expensive new ($6K). Almost any of the floor plate models would work well. The only issue with them is that you have a bump in the middle. If you need to do transmission or transfer case work, you would need to be creative to get a jack in there.

You can find Benwil lifts pretty easily, they are very rugged, and parts are available. They have a high floor plate though (almost 2"). I am pretty sure most of the new floor plate models are much less, more like 1".

 

[Strouty]

One thought, you may consider midrise lifts as well, with 10' ceilings you will not be able to lift the vehicle high enough to walk under it. Unless you are very short and the car roof is low.

 

[Chris05gto]

Check out what I did to my ceiling..........



http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=69240

 

[zx6rrider]

Thanks for the thoughts guys. I looked at the Mohawk but cant justify 6k for a lift. I guess the drive over models wouldnt be that bad, Ill park the car inbetween it most of the time anyways so it shouldnt be too much of a trip hazard. As far as brands go, what are considered the quality made in the good ol' USA brands? Rotary, Bend-pak, Whip??? Are these all good and are there any others? I have a little time till this will happen, gonna figure out the A/C and heat first.Thanks

 

[Sgreve32x]

I have only been around Bend-pak and rotary and those are both pretty dang good lifts. Cant go wrong with either one of them.

 

[Strouty]

Thanks for the thoughts guys. I looked at the Mohawk but cant justify 6k for a lift. I guess the drive over models wouldnt be that bad, Ill park the car inbetween it most of the time anyways so it shouldnt be too much of a trip hazard. As far as brands go, what are considered the quality made in the good ol' USA brands? Rotary, Bend-pak, Whip??? Are these all good and are there any others? I have a little time till this will happen, gonna figure out the A/C and heat first.Thanks

As far as I know, mohawk is the only USA made lift, but maybe some manufacturers sell models that are made here.

 

[Scud67]

Ambenz - I do, but I don't know how to post them here.....

 

[mikec35]

Greg Smith has a lift that is 9'3". It's a baseplate lift. I don't know anything about it, other than what I've read. I have a 2 post lift that goes through my rafters. I didn't want the base plate interfering under the car.

 

[Scud67]

This is the GSE Atlas baseplate 9k lb lift that I have.



And the baseplate doesn't interfere with anything for me. The posts are actually 9' 3", not 9' 6" as I stated before..... Installed this in about 5 hours myself. Just needed help standing the posts up. Once up, they move very easily - you can "walk" them into place.

 

[Rubber_Duc]

Don't know if this helps, but I have a 10' ceiling and my 4 post fits fine and I have plenty of room between both cars and from the ceiling. Now my cars are not very tall but as long as you don't have a high SUV it can be done easily, here is a photo: