Hoists

[KSHEP]

This is my first post here.

My wife and I are buying a place that has an amazing 24x24 shop. It only has one over head door about 9 feet wide. The previous owner had a hoist in it so it is wired for everything and the concrete is good. So I am trying to pick out a lift for my self. I have narrowed it down to 2 different 2 post lifts.

The first lift is a portable hoist by Maxjax. I can take one post down at anytime and open the entire garage up. This would be perfect for garage parties that we would have and the winter time for my wife to park in the garage. She wouldn’t have to worry about trying to park in between the posts and accidentally bumping the post with the door. Cons would be it only lifts too 4 feet under the car. Also has a mobile cart for the power unit. You can modify the cart to be more permanent hoist.

The second hoist is by atlas. It is a full sized lift and would fit in the 12 foot ceilings. Pros are is that it is a full sized lift and lifts up to 6 feet under car and has a much higher lift capacity. Cons would be that it is permanent and my wife would have to park between the post all winter.

So I am curious as to other people’s opinion on this. What would you do if you were in my shoes.

 

[BillK]

Wonder if you can find out what the previous owner had ? That way you might not have to drill additional holes etc.

 

[KSHEP]

Wonder if you can find out what the previous owner had ? That way you might not have to drill additional holes etc.

He had a 4 post. He was offering it to me and I’d have to pay extra for it. He wanted way to much for it. I could buy a brand new 2 post the price he was asking. I’m not a fan of 4 post. Only really good if you need that extra parking.

 

[619DioFan]

If it were me I would go with a full size 2post. I am 6'4'' so any thing that only lifts to 4 feet is about the same as using jack stands IMO.

 

[KSHEP]

If it were me I would go with a full size 2post. I am 6'4'' so any thing that only lifts to 4 feet is about the same as using jack stands IMO.

That is a good point. I am only 5’7 though. I’m still on the fence. But more and more leaning to the full size. As I crawl under things at work all the time and wouldn’t want to duck just to work under the car.

 

[mike93lx]

How often will it be used vs how often will it be in the way? I'd want full size, but at 6'5",i wouldn't fit under it very well anyway

 

[KSHEP]

How often will it be used vs how often will it be in the way? I'd want full size, but at 6'5",i wouldn't fit under it very well anyway

Hmmm. Bring up a good point. But it is something I don’t have an answer for. As I have never had a garage. I have always worked just in my driveway or parents garage when I could. I would love to say I’d be using it everyday. But at least once a month. I do have a project Jeep to work on once we officially move in. So at first I’ll be using it all the time.

 

[firebirdparts]

You could get a 1 post. Costs a little more.

 

[mike93lx]

Hmmm. Bring up a good point. But it is something I don’t have an answer for. As I have never had a garage. I have always worked just in my driveway or parents garage when I could. I would love to say I’d be using it everyday. But at least once a month. I do have a project Jeep to work on once we officially move in. So at first I’ll be using it all the time.

Project cars justify the taller lift, IMO. Especially since you already have the ceiling height.

Is the door centered?

How about putting the lift off to a side, at an angle. Pull in and go left to use the lift, right to park.

 

[ManOnTheCouch]

Definitely go full size two post. As for garage parties, you could easily put the lift arms out to support a piece of plywood and put a table cloth on it for a bar or table at any height you want. We’ve done something similar with our lift for garage parties.

 

[lakeroadster]

He had a 4 post. He was offering it to me and I’d have to pay extra for it. He wanted way to much for it. I could buy a brand new 2 post the price he was asking. I’m not a fan of 4 post. Only really good if you need that extra parking.

Don't buy a 2 post lift until you verify the concrete thickness.

A 2 post lift and it's anchors induce a totally different load on the concrete than a 4 post. Contact the lift manufacturer for their concrete requirements.

Good luck with your project and welcome to the site!

 

[KSHEP]

Project cars justify the taller lift, IMO. Especially since you already have the ceiling height.



Is the door centered?



How about putting the lift off to a side, at an angle. Pull in and go left to use the lift, right to park.

The door is off to the right. My OCD wouldn’t allow me put it angled off to the side and it would then take the entire one side of the shop if I put it angled tot the left.

 

[Monza Harry]

How about a second door? That would fix the parking issue and put the lift on the less convenient side as you will be using it yourself [not the wife] and likely less frequently overall. Harry

 

[KSHEP]

How about a second door? That would fix the parking issue and put the lift on the less convenient side as you will be using it yourself [not the wife] and likely less frequently overall. Harry

It wouldn’t work with how my fence is set up.

 

[bad_idea]

What would I do? I would take the garage as all mine. I have a 30x40 garage at my house and the wife parks her car in the driveway. That is my shop, not looking to share. I work on something in my shop at any given time, winter especially. I would be concerned about damaging her car.

 

[KSHEP]

What would I do? I would take the garage as all mine. I have a 30x40 garage at my house and the wife parks her car in the driveway. That is my shop, not looking to share. I work on something in my shop at any given time, winter especially. I would be concerned about damaging her car.

I don’t mind sharing the spot in the winter. She is an amazing person and supports and helps me with everything. So yea she can park her car in there in the winter. It’s still only my shop. It’s not that hard to pull a car out.

 

[Showkey]

Reconsider a lift all together.........?


I have 24’’x36’ single over head door and man door. Same concerns multi use but not winter parking.......but the lift takes so much room.......I decided not to go with lift. Three floor jacks and multiple sizes of jack stands.

I have done 2 complete body off restorations with this setup. Is it perfect nope, but major work requires floor space...24x24 is not big when lifts are centered........the lift takes and restricts floor space use. For minor work oil changes and tire rotations .......jacks and stands.

I am also 6-3.......so short rise lifts are not worth the price of admission.

My bet the past owner went with a 4 post for the reasons mentioned above.

 

[KSHEP]

I have looked at the shop with the 4 post and it takes up the entire one side. It isn’t ideal. The 2 post wouldn’t even take up close to half the amount of space.

I have done so many rebuilds and other stuff in a drive way. Plus my wife gave the full PO to get whatever I wanted for the shop.

I’m also short. 5’7.


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