Garage layout for lift recommendations

[scottmoyer]

EDIT - The drawing in this post has been edited to show the proper #1 positioning. Posts 1-9 were in reference to the incorrect placement of #1

I have a three car garage where the 3rd stall is 10x20. I'll be installing the lift closer to the door, because I have a tool box and shelf against the wall (green rectangle). There is 20A service in the area to the left of the green rectangle. I can extend that 20A to the opposite corner, if needed. The two locations for the motor are marked as "1" and "2".

Has anybody installed the motor in location "1", and regretted that decision? Has anybody installed the motor in location "2", and regretted it because it takes up interior space? I'm thinking that in my garage, the #1 position would be tight, but #2 takes up valuable space. The total garage width is 28', so it's fairly narrow for a 3 car.

Any recommendations?

 

[Sarki]

Nice 3 car layout and good spot for the lift.
I like position #1 for the motor, out of the way and near the power source. Some lifts require 30amp service so take a look when selecting your lift as you may need to make some changes to your power supply.
I just placed an order for a lift and mine requires 30 amp service.
Good luck and hopefully it doesn't take you as long to order your lift as it took me!

 

[Pate]

I have a similar setup and used #1. I did move the pump to the outside of the column for more clearance.

 

[thickhead]

Any reason the lift isn't going where the black car is?

 

[Z2V]

Will you have enough room to do any work at all on the left side by the wall? Looks pretty tight to even remove the wheel. Myself I think I'd go with the center bay for the lift.
I just reread your question, I would put it at position 2, position 1 would make me feel too boxed in.

 

[scottmoyer]

The reason that the lift is going in the far stall is because the door is only 8 foot wide and not conducive to daily in/out traffic. If you pull a car straight in, there is only about a foot to open the door. Very tight. Since the lift is mainly for storage of another car, and not service, it will be fine against the wall. The two cars that will be on that side don't get driven much, so the tight door and parking space are best suited for these cars and not daily drivers. Also, in the morning when my wife pulls the black car out, I pull my Silverado crew cab truck in to that space.

The Florida sun, on a dew stricken vehicle, will cause paint burn and damage in very little time. My truck used to be in the garage, but now I have too many cars so I let my wife have the garage. There's no other space in the garage that the truck will fit, so the lift goes on the one end, the truck gets the middle during the day.

I did order my lift already. I ordered an Advantage Lift. It should be here in a couple weeks. It requires 120V/20A service, so I'm good there.

 

[PoorOwner]

Hey, I put mine on your spot #2.
#1 would put the pump near the fender and get in the way on under hood work.
And I would not want to exit the car and then have to dodge the pump.

Unless you back the car in, there is 3 feet reserved near the door though (for ramps) so it may be more spacious to back the car in and work near the door.

Whichever post you choose, your lift can position the pump on 1 of 3 sides of the post.

 

[bobabuee]

#2 due to does not get in way of under hood work offset little to the right so if can open car doors fully this makes world difference if need to do interior work.

 

[thickhead]

I would choose position #2.

 

[scottmoyer]

EDIT - I modified the drawing to show where the 20A service is located, and updated the picture for position #1 on the outside of the column instead of the original picture showing it on the inside..

I will be backing the cars in. Like I mentioned before, the door can't be opened easily if I pull straight in.

Knowing that I'll be backing in, does the motor in the #2 position really pose an obstacle?

 

[jvitez]

With your tight space and your plan for a storage only 4 post lift I'd do location 1 for the motor. It's out of the way, your garage is tight, and nothing bothers me more than something protruding into my working space. Getting out of the vehicle in the black car bay will mean you're always looking at or avoiding the motor if it's in location 2. My 2 centavos.

 

[1965gp]

I had a very tight install and ended up mounting the motor on the wall. No problems or issues yet.

 

[zkdiesel]

Not being able to walk between post and wall is a major design flaw in my opinion regardless of use

 

[lakeroadster]

If you stick with the layout as shown, location of the power unit, #2 is better. You don't want to be in a trapped location in the event something goes haywire.

FWIW: I'd put the lift where the black car is.

Other than under car work, it's space constrained where you are placing it.

Not sure how tall your doors are.. will the posts interfere with the overhead door?

 

[scottmoyer]

There is no issue with the lift in the third stall regarding the door or it's track. The middle spot will require the door to be raised up. Like I mentioned though, the 3rd spot is ideal for cars that don't get used very often, due to there being only about a foot to open doors. The builder think that someone in Florida, with a 3 car garage, would actually use the 3rd stall, but for storage. It seems the norm down here to have a shorter parking spot and an 8' door. My house in MN had a 9' door with about 1.5' of extra space to the side. I had no issues getting the car in and getting people in/out in that garage.