Lift Clearance?

[rand5204]

I am in the design process for a new shop - still in the pole barn v. stck built stage. However, whatever the final direction is, there will definitely be a two post lift involved. I have seen sa fair amount of discussion about them and understand that I will need about a 12' ceiling for top clearance. What about the other dimensions? What are the spaced needs around the lift to make it comfortable and easy to use?

Randy

 

[tdkkart]

Go to the various lift websites and they can give you dimensions of all their lifts. MOST vehicles, except maybe extended cab long box trucks, won't hang off the ends of a 4 post, so the lift will be the biggest dimensions. Even a 2 post lift itself is wide enough that with the post far enough from the wall to walk through you'll be in pretty good shape.
I'd say that if everything is far enough away to walk all the way around the vehicle and lift you'll be in pretty good shape. My lift is in one stall of a 24x30 space, in most situations it's plenty of room.

 

[dynahoe]

go to a dealership or goofy lube and walk around and take a tape measure,see the setups and options,most wind up to close to the walls.at least 14 wide buy 20 long

 

[AMCguy]

The following picture of my setup shows what I'll explain.

My garage is 32'x32'. I have two 16' bays minus the thickness of the walls. The line (control cut) you see by the heater is 15' 4'' from the wall. The lift is centred in front of the door, so you drive straight in and onto the lift. There is 32'' to the side wall. You need room to be able to walk around the column.

The critical clearance is the distance from the door to the lift. My lift is symmetrical. It's centre is 11' 6'' from the door. A full sized pickup truck will clear the door but there is very little room to walk between it and the door. An extended cab short box will also fit, but a crew cab will not. I did this in order to have the most room in front of the vehicle when it's on the lift.

 

[32roadster]

Randy
Yes, you will need 12 feet or slightly higher for a good quality 2 post system.
The outside dimensions of a normal 2 post lift is about 131 inches wide at its widest point. And, you should anchor the thing at least 8 inches away from any seam, wall, or fracture in the floor.
You can check our our site for more info if you want.
We do carry Challenger lifts, both the residential models...named Quality.... and the Challenger commercial line, all USA built units, as well.
Good luck

www.kwik-lift.com

 

[rburke65]

I think mine is 6' from a side wall. I have a cabinet in line with the post and still comfortable walking around the post.

 

[rburke65]

And if your are going to finish the inside of the garage ya may as well stick build it. My buddy put up a pole barn and turned around and studs the inside to hang drywall. Ya should have just studded it in the first place. Good luck!

 

[rand5204]

Thanks to all for your great responses. I really appreciate it. I m leaning towards stick built in part for exactly the reason you list rburke65. When I get the design a little farther along I will probably start a thread on it.

 

[Ign]

Side walls, it's up to you and what you might want to roll thru there. Up front (nose of vehicle) 12' minimum, in the rear more than that, and even more than THAT if assym

 

[wssix99]

understand that I will need about a 12' ceiling for top clearance. What about the other dimensions?

You'll need 12' and a few inches minimum for a full size lift. If you want to walk under the thing with a load on it and not hit your head, you will need more height. When you measure this out, be sure to take in to account the slope of your floor. (The front of the room will be several inches shorter than the rear by the doors.)

The best advice I've seen on side clearance is to make sure there is enough room to pull your axles. (Depending on your vehicles, there could be a good bit of variability here.)

On front-to-back dimensions, you'll need to keep in mind that you'll need to center your load on the lift. I found that 25' of depth was a minimum to get a full size truck on the lift and still have a workbench between it and the front wall. (And not have the *** end sticking out the door.) More than 25' would be nice.


While you are planning, this would be a good time to figure out your slab and how you will reinforce it and/or cut your control joints. If you look at AMCguy's picture, his lift is nicely placed within those control joints. (The lift manufacturer will spec the posts being a certain distance from those cuts.) The last thing you want is to have the perfect dimensions/plan and then find a control joint right under a post when you go to do the install.

 

[rburke65]

As wssix99 said.....you're going to need 12' and change for the lift the more you start checking on lifts. If you are going to do 12'+ do yourself a great favor and just go 14'. I just love spending other people's money! I have 13'4" walls and I'm glad I do with my lift. Don't forget to take into consideration ceiling light fixtures, ceiling fans, etc. Lots of folks on here will agree with me. Ya never hear anyone say...."gee...we should have bought the smaller TV". And you will never hear anyone say I should have built it with the 8' walls!

 

[redmondjp]

Yes, taller is better.

Don't forget that often you'll leave the hood up when the vehicle is all the way up on the lift (because you need to go up and down while doing some jobs as you need access from the top & bottom) - that could add 2-3' of extra height to consider, depending upon the vehicle type.

If you don't have enough clearance to go all the way up with the hood up, and you forget, well, you'll definitely remember after that!

Also consider type of garage door and whether lift can be raised with the door open. It's not that hard to install an interlock with a limit switch (mechanical, optical, or magnetic) that deactivates the garage door opener (if so equipped) if the lift is more than a certain height above the floor. Or get a rollup door. Just another thing to consider.

 

[32roadster]

redmond is exactly right !....lol
One trip up with the hood open and its a fast lesson.

 

[fastjohnny]

Never even had a lift on the radar when I built my garage. As dumb luck would have it, I framed with 12' studs, plus top/bottom plates= just enough clearance.