So I'm going to be building a 32x48 building (30'x46' inside) and I'm trying to figure out my bay width. One bay will have a lift so it needs to be at least 14' wide. The floor plan I have scribbled out right now has a 16' wide lift bay and 2 15' wide flat bays. With a 12' wide door for The lift bay and 10' wide doors for the flat bays I keep thinking that's overkill. If I could get away with say 12' wide bays that would leave me some extra room for storage and I could maybe do a 10-12' wide door for the lift bay and use this 18x10 door I've already got.
Lets talk bay width
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BarryWells
Well-known member
Put in a good sized pickup. Open both doors. Can you pass both sides with a tool cart or welding machine without acrobatics ? My bays are 20 feet. I consider it minimal.
DetachedGarage
Well-known member
How tall is building? What type of construction? I have a red iron building and the truss was put in so the bays are 13 feet. So make sure the roof does not get in the way of where you put the lift. My lift post is 6 inches from the wall. All things being equal it would be nice to have the post 3'6" off the wall.
Stuart in MN
Well-known member
Sure, a 20 foot wide bay would be great, but sizing them for a pickup with both doors opened plus room to push a tool cart past them is kind of extreme...
nelstomlinson
Well-known member
If the doors on his vehicles could be closed, he could go narrower than 20'.
rattle_snake
Well-known member
Mine are 11', it's tight, lift or not. 12' would still be tight.
One guy doesn't usually need vehicle doors open in multiple bays at the same time.
One guy doesn't usually need vehicle doors open in multiple bays at the same time.
YukonXL04
Well-known member
That's my plan. 3 12ft bays for daily parking and 1 24ft bay for a single workshop with room on the sides
Lucid Moments
Well-known member
I built mine with 14' wide bays. At the end of the year a couple of extra feet doesn't cost all that much when considering the convenience you get from being able to work around a vehicle comfortably.
lakeroadster
Well-known member
I agree
12" block construction ceiling 13-14'. Plenty of height for the lift. My lift post will be around 2.5-3' from the wall in my drawings it looks like I'll have about 4.5-5' from the rear fender of my dually truck to the wall. Plenty of room to pull an axle shaft. That said I hope I don't have to very often Haha
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My last shop I had 14' wide in the lift bay... it worked but by no means ideal.
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My current barn is 19' wide in the lift bay.... that's just right.
I'll have a 16' wide bay but will only have a wall on one side. So if i really needed the room on one side there's like 32'. I figure if I have enough room to get an axle shaft out of my dually on the wall side i should be in good shape. Nice shop by the way!
Falcon67
Well-known member
My lift bay looks roomy
Until I park the F-350 DRW extend cab in there. Then, it's full up LOL. The mirrors just barely clear the posts. And since I'm 24' deep, the nose is nearly against the wall just to have walk around on the tail end.
Until I park the F-350 DRW extend cab in there. Then, it's full up LOL. The mirrors just barely clear the posts. And since I'm 24' deep, the nose is nearly against the wall just to have walk around on the tail end.
boostaholic1
Active member
My lift bay looks roomy
Until I park the F-350 DRW extend cab in there. Then, it's full up LOL. The mirrors just barely clear the posts. And since I'm 24' deep, the nose is nearly against the wall just to have walk around on the tail end.
How wide is your building?
Make it wide enough to open the doors all the way.
Plus.
Stuff always gets leaned up against the wall and that narrows down the bay.
Go check your local mall parking lot.
I think most spaces are 12 feet (that is an Interstate lane width)
Is that wide enough for you to get in and of the car or to work?
Plus.
Stuff always gets leaned up against the wall and that narrows down the bay.
Go check your local mall parking lot.
I think most spaces are 12 feet (that is an Interstate lane width)
Is that wide enough for you to get in and of the car or to work?
Falcon67
Well-known member
Total 40', that area 28'. Door is 16'.
Monza Harry
Well-known member
**^NO the average p. space here is down to 8' If I have to take a truck from work to go get something at the "H. Depot" the tires are line to line in the little one [350(0)/550(0) same size as your CC, Dually] and over with the big ones Tandem/Triaxle or my old trailer (102"). Now we aren't including the "Trailer sized mirrors" in those numbers + another 12" total at a minimum. And we haven't opened a door yet. I went to the local Pizza Hut, when I had my full size van and had to climb out the back rear facing door, and had to open it before parking! Harry