2 Post Lift Location Driven by Ceiling?

[avc8130]

I'm working on placing my Mohawk 2 post lift I just picked up used and decided to stick my head up in my ceiling in my pole barn before locating the lift.

My pole barn ceiling is made up of scissor trusses. These trusses have the inside ceiling going from ~10' at the wall to 12' at the center.

My garage doors are on the gable end since the building is on a cut in a hill.

Due to the layout of doors and the way I use my garage, the lift CANNOT be centered under the peak and must go on one side.

I found that my trusses are 8' apart. I can remove the ceiling in an ~8' section between the trusses and gain a significant amount of height.

With that, is 8' a useful length to have extra height? Clearly I can't fit a whole car up in 8'. The cab on my quad cab truck is just over 7' long so I THINK I could put it up into this space if I place the lift very carefully.

So...where do I put the lift post centers to make sure I get the best use of my extra ceiling height?

ac

 

[Shadowdog500]

Can you provide photos and a basic layout of your shop? Include the reliefs in your concrete in your layout because that is important to know as well.

Chris

 

[avc8130]

Chris,

I'll do my best. Any suggestions for how to make a layout? MS Paint good enough? LOL

ac

 

[neel2008]

download google sketchup. It's like free 3d modeling. I use to to build my dream garages. lol

 

[avc8130]

Here is a pic of the shop standing at the door. The 2 garage doors are behind me in this picture. The overall dimensions of the building are 30 Wide by 50 Deep outside. This works out to ~28' inside width.

The white cardboard on the floor is where I am thinking is the best approximate spot for the lift post. Unfortunately the left post will line up perfectly with a window.

I would LOVE to push the lift deeper into the garage, but the way the concrete floor was done won't allow this.

You can see the control joint running right down the center of the building. I plan to stay 6" away from that like the cardboard approximately shows. There is plenty of space on the left side between the wall and post with the posts set at the suggested distance by Mohawk.

There are also control joints in the floor at the 1/3 and 2/3 distances heading towards the back wall. This is what prevents me from putting the lift deeper in the garage.





And a pic of the lift "resting":



ac

 

[Shadowdog500]

My shop is roughly the same dimention as yours 52x30, and my lift is almost exactly where you have the cardboard. I set the columns 17' from the back wall so I had room for a pallate rack and still had enough room to move a cherry picker around. Hopefully your expansion joints will allow a good placement. I think the way you are going may be a pretty good location.

Chris

 

[avc8130]

Chris,

Your lift is definitely further back than mine. I would LOVE to put mine in a spot like yours, but it just won't work out.

The trusses starting from the back wall are 4' then 8' spacing.

Unfortunately, inside that first 8' space would be PERFECT but of course that lines up with a control joint and would put the column right on the joint.

My columns are going to wind up closer to 22' from the back wall to the center of the column.

The real "Q" I have is determining where the column belongs in relation to the truss in the ceiling. I only have ~12" tolerance to slipping the truck cab up into the ceiling.

ac

 

[Shadowdog500]

22' from the back wall isn't the end of the world, it will give you plenty if room to put storage on the back wall, and you could still get another vehicle in between the lift and the door. Have you considered pouring a new pad where you really want to put the lift? That way you can put it anywhere you want.

Chris

 

[avc8130]

22' from the back wall isn't the end of the world, it will give you plenty if room to put storage on the back wall, and you could still get another vehicle in between the lift and the door. Have you considered pouring a new pad where you really want to put the lift? That way you can put it anywhere you want.

Chris

Chris,

Thanks for vote of confidence. I'm thinking you are right. It is most certainly NOT the end of the world. I think I will put together a motorcycle work area between the lift and the back wall. Maybe a lift table there eventually.

I had thought about pouring a pad to put it exactly where I want. Then I realized I should probably just put it where it can go RIGHT NOW and start using it. If I absolutely hate it, I can always drill more holes or pour a new pad in the future.

I think it is most critical to line up with where I can get more ceiling height. The big question I have is where is the proper lift placement in relation to the increased ceiling height?

ac

 

[ringneck]

The COL (center of lift) will vary by vehicle, so the answer to your question all depends on the vehicle to be lifted and how it is equipped.

Edit to add a link that should help... http://www.bendpak.com/support/balancing-safety/

 

[avc8130]

The COL (center of lift) will vary by vehicle, so the answer to your question all depends on the vehicle to be lifted and how it is equipped.

2006 Chevrolet 2500HD Duramax.

I looked in the ALI lift point manual I got with the lift and found what I think will work. It appears the center of lift is roughly 32" behind the front door gap.

I'm thinking I'll have to put the lift ~36-38" back from the front truss. That should give me a bit of extra space to play.

ac

 

[Shadowdog500]

Sounds like a plan!

Here are a couple of tips from the dealer who installed my lift.

The guy who installed mine drilled the holes all the way through the concrete. That way you can drive the anchor bolts into the ground if you don't like the location.

When i was going to buy a lift at auction, He also stressed to tie the carrage to the bottom of the column with romex when moving them. People tend to reach into the column when lifting it, and if the carrage isn't secured it can roll up the column and break your wrist.

Chris

 

[avc8130]

Sounds like a plan!

Here are a couple of tips from the dealer who installed my lift.

The guy who installed mine drilled the holes all the way through the concrete. That way you can drive the anchor bolts into the ground if you don't like the location.

When i was going to buy a lift at auction, He also stressed to tie the carrage to the bottom of the column with romex when moving them. People tend to reach into the column when lifting it, and if the carrage isn't secured it can roll up the column and break your wrist.

Chris

Chris,

I almost get the idea we got the lifts from the same guy!

I plan to drill all the way through.

My carriages are already tied as that is how the distributor moves them for safety also.

ac

 

[Shadowdog500]

Chris,

I almost get the idea we got the lifts from the same guy!

I plan to drill all the way through.

My carriages are already tied as that is how the distributor moves them for safety also.

ac

If you live in NJ we probably do.

Is your guys name Ross?

Chris

 

[avc8130]

If you live in NJ we probably do.

Is your guys name Ross?

Chris

LOL

Yup.

Where are you located? I'm up North in Fredon.

ac

 

[Shadowdog500]

LOL

Yup.

Where are you located? I'm up North in Fredon.

ac

I'm down south in Cape May Co.

Met Ross at an Auction when we were both bidding on mohawk lifts, turned out he knows my BIL well.

His team of guys had my lift up in no time, and they were so well rehearsed that they didn't even have to talk to each other. Everyone just moved from one step to the next until they were done.

Chris