How much space is required for a 4 post lift?
- Thread starter burger
- Start date
Piper
Well-known member
HI Ed
It really depends upon which lift you purchase. The other thing is the ceiling height. There are a couple of lifts on the market that come in a regular or wide width (some call it narrow or regular) so maybe that will help. Don't discount the idea of casters as another idea where you could move the lift if need be. As well, consider approach ramps in the length. One final thing is that any reputable lift available will have dimensions listed on their respective web sites.
Good luck with your hunt, I'm still doing mine!
Piper
It really depends upon which lift you purchase. The other thing is the ceiling height. There are a couple of lifts on the market that come in a regular or wide width (some call it narrow or regular) so maybe that will help. Don't discount the idea of casters as another idea where you could move the lift if need be. As well, consider approach ramps in the length. One final thing is that any reputable lift available will have dimensions listed on their respective web sites.
Good luck with your hunt, I'm still doing mine!
Piper
I guess my question wasn't so much what the actual width of a lift is (about 10' on the narrower models). What I'm looking for is a guideline on how much room you need to walk around it, how close I can put it to the wall, etc. Maybe I didn't word my question well.
I'd really like to hear from people who've used them for extra storage in cramped garages.
Thanks,
Ed
I'd really like to hear from people who've used them for extra storage in cramped garages.
Thanks,
Ed
JohnZ
Well-known member
I'm not cramped for space, but I can offer this tip - most lifts come with the hydraulic power unit sticking straight off the side of the front corner of the lift; I spent the $40 for the offset bracket that relocates the power unit off the FRONT of the lift, so it's not in the way of moving adjacent to the side of the lift. Would have been a major PITA to have it sticking out on the side. 
Attachments
JohnZ said:I'm not cramped for space, but I can offer this tip - most lifts come with the hydraulic power unit sticking straight off the side of the front corner of the lift; I spent the $40 for the offset bracket that relocates the power unit off the FRONT of the lift, so it's not in the way of moving adjacent to the side of the lift. Would have been a major PITA to have it sticking out on the side.
John, is that orange cord the power cable for the lift? Does it just plug into a wall outlet, or is it hard wired into a garage circuit?
mikeyr
Well-known member
I put my posts up against the wall on one side to maximize the space in the garage, its worked out fine since that leaves me with about 2 feet from the wall once the car is on the lift, the columns are 12"x12" then the rails are about 6" from that and the car is small. I use the lift to work UNDER the car and for things like brakes its worked fine, i assume if I wanted to remove the rear axle for example, I might need more room but its a 4-post with casters so its easy to move.
One other thing to consider is the size or type of cars you have will vary your walk around room. I have my 4 post as close to one wall as possible. You will still have room along the side (depending on the brand you get) because the ramps are inside of the 4 posts. Figure 10 foot high ceilings at the absolute minimum unless you have a Lotus or something like that. I have a couple of 32-34 hot rods, it is close with a 10 foot ceiling, but I have them stacked.
burger said:
JohnZ
Well-known member
mshedb said:
I move the lift occasionally (on the caster kit), and have used it outside in the driveway (which is why I got 8'-high doors instead of the standard 7' doors - lift on casters won't clear a 7' opening), so it's "soft-wired"; just 110V.
related question and I also wanted to know if the slab to be perfectly flat, I have an older garage and it has expansion joints perpendicular to each other, settled obviously = 4 separate slabs? but it slopes slightly at some places, what I am saying is that if we it put a 20 foot level to measure it probably is not level and true. Does the lift have some kind of provision to level themselves?
Junkman
Well-known member
I have mine outside while I continue to work on the garage, and this week I had occasion to use it. The driveway isn't level by any stretch of the imagination, and the lift works fine. While the manufacturer doesn't recommend using it on an unleveled surface, I haven't found any problems doing so. It might be more of a liability issue than anything else. In my estimation, a variance of about 3/4" + / - shouldn't be a problem under most circumstances. I am not endorsing doing anything that a manufacturer recommends, but I am merely stating what I consider safe for myself, and not anyone else. I am responsible for my own errors in judgment, and you also have to do the same for yourself.