2 post lift width???

[redmethods]

Let's just say that I have a single bay garage that is 12ft in width.
Could I get away with using a 2post lift? If yes, would I still have a good bit of room to work on a sports car?
How narrow of a lift can I get away with?

Thanks

 

[rburke65]

Don't even have my 2 post installed yet but the mfg. specs. state 10 foot between the post for the installation of the post plus the width of the columns, I'm thinking if this a single enclosed space it's going to be real tight. Good luck.

 

[dennis111]

On my new 2 post lift, the outside of the columns are 137.5" apart-nearly 10'. That would leave barely a foot of extra space on the outside of the columns (assuming that your bay has a wall or an obstruction that limits it to 12' wide) and the lift is centered in that bay.

That short distance won't really hamper you from actually working on the car, but it does make it more difficult to go from the front of the lift to the rear (or vice versa) if the car isn't all the way up so that you can walk under it. The columns and lifting carriages are in the way.

I allowed 30" to the nearest side wall and that seems sufficient.

I believe that there are narrower lifts available though, which would help your situation.

 

[admranger]

You can do it. My lift takes 12' 1" of room and I have one post base hard up against the concrete sill wall on one side. Worst positioning still leaves almost 36 inches of space between the wall and the car. Just worked out there tonight and I did a **** job of putting the car in (I was in a hurry, of course...).

A lift with tight access is still better than no lift.

 

[redmethods]

This is just the first draft of the house. But you get the idea of the garage i'm after.

If I can't go wider on the outside of the house (Architectural Guidelines). I might bring this to the build to redraw.

 

[redmethods]

You can do it. My lift takes 12' 1" of room and I have one post base hard up against the concrete sill wall on one side. Worst positioning still leaves almost 36 inches of space between the wall and the car. Just worked out there tonight and I did a **** job of putting the car in (I was in a hurry, of course...).

A lift with tight access is still better than no lift.

Any pictures?

 

[admranger]

Any pictures?

Yes, but since I can't size them appropriately for posting (haven't figured that out yet on my macbook pro using iPhoto's edit tools...), pm me your email address and I'll shoot them for you.

I didn't realize you meant 12' w/walls on both sides. That would be a PITA. making it 13' wide helps, but I have one side where it is wide open. Only one side is tight against the wall. Not sure how it'd work being that tight all around except the back.

 

[redmethods]

Yes, but since I can't size them appropriately for posting (haven't figured that out yet on my macbook pro using iPhoto's edit tools...), pm me your email address and I'll shoot them for you.

I didn't realize you meant 12' w/walls on both sides. That would be a PITA. making it 13' wide helps, but I have one side where it is wide open. Only one side is tight against the wall. Not sure how it'd work being that tight all around except the back.

PM sent

Do you use photobucket.com?

 

[nehog]

Personally: you will never be happy with that narrow a space... I think you need to re-think your plans, and try a different approach.

 

[pattenp]

By my math 137.5" is nearly 11.5'. Hey.. but what's a foot or so.

On my new 2 post lift, the outside of the columns are 137.5" apart-nearly 10'. That would leave barely a foot of extra space on the outside of the columns (assuming that your bay has a wall or an obstruction that limits it to 12' wide) and the lift is centered in that bay.

That short distance won't really hamper you from actually working on the car, but it does make it more difficult to go from the front of the lift to the rear (or vice versa) if the car isn't all the way up so that you can walk under it. The columns and lifting carriages are in the way.

I allowed 30" to the nearest side wall and that seems sufficient.

I believe that there are narrower lifts available though, which would help your situation.

 

[rburke65]

It was when I went to school!

 

[dennis111]

By my math 137.5" is nearly 11.5'. Hey.. but what's a foot or so.

 

[brownbagg]

just get a four post, that way you can move it around

 

[nehog]

By my math 137.5" is nearly 11.5'. Hey.. but what's a foot or so.

Metric inches... They be bigger!