Lift for 2nd car storage

[Mike00]

So I’m interested in exploring a lift for second car storage. On the plus side I’m talking about a corvette so it’s only 3700 lbs. 9 years ld house (no idea on concrete depth but can get it checked).

I’ve got a height of both cars at about 88‘ for with 9’3 lowets point (beam) but 12 foot ceilings outside of the beam. I know it’s doable if the posts aren’t under the beam (no need for them to be.

But are there some good recommendations for lifts that would work for this? It’s purely for second car storage. I’ve been considering the rotary life pro park 8s but open to other brands As well.

 

[SILVERPLATE]

I have had a Direct Lift for 12 years. It is used meaning up and down almost weekly. It has been flawless.

 

[Mike00]

I have had a Direct Lift for 12 years. It is used meaning up and down almost weekly. It has been flawless.

Pretty similiar to what I want to do. I’ll have to research that one. I have c7 z06 manua i don’t want to give up. but kind of thinking A c8 z06 might be fun if I keep the manual.

 

[finn]

I have a couple of Advantage four post lifts.

I sold an extra house that had a nice garage I was using for storage of a couple cars, and it was cheaper to buy the lifts than build another garage at my shop or add to the existing footprint. My Advantage lifts were imported, but I see they’re advertising that they’re assembled in the USA now. Probably the hydraulics assembled to the ramps.

Fit and finish on both of mine was very good.

Concrete thickness is of minor significance with a four post lift. The lift pad footprint on the concrete is greater than the tire footprint of the car alone parked in the garage, so the unit load your floor sees doesn’t change much, if any.

 

[SILVERPLATE]

Research the width of any lift you look it if think you may get C8 Z06, it will not fit on my lift, to narrow.

 

[CV428]

Concrete thickness is of minor significance with a four post lift. The lift pad footprint on the concrete is greater than the tire footprint of the car alone parked in the garage, so the unit load your floor sees doesn’t change much, if any.

True. Virtually no moment loading.

Standard 4" concrete is fine.

 

[codeadidas]

You have high ceilings, but this guy provides an in-depth analysis and process of how he chose his 4 post lift.

 

[Mike00]

You have high ceilings, but this guy provides an in-depth analysis and process of how he chose his 4 post lift.

Thank you. That is very helpful. I do have tall ceilings but the support beam, running across the house at 9’3 makes it fun to say the least So this is helpful for me to think through how to make it fit.

 

[Skooterj]

I have a couple of Advantage four post lifts.

I sold an extra house that had a nice garage I was using for storage of a couple cars, and it was cheaper to buy the lifts than build another garage at my shop or add to the existing footprint. My Advantage lifts were imported, but I see they’re advertising that they’re assembled in the USA now. Probably the hydraulics assembled to the ramps.

Fit and finish on both of mine was very good.

Concrete thickness is of minor significance with a four post lift. The lift pad footprint on the concrete is greater than the tire footprint of the car alone parked in the garage, so the unit load your floor sees doesn’t change much, if any.

I ran the math on this in a post a few months ago. The PSI the lift exerts on the concrete with a car on it was significantly less that the PSI the tires of the car alone exert on the concrete. So if your concrete supports cars, it would more than be adequate to support a lift with a car on it.

 

[Mikes61]

Whatever you choose, make sure it comes with dolly wheels and drip pans. I got mine off a seller on EBay. It looks exactly like the Advamtage lifts, and most of the other generic brands. It also has been flawless.

Also be aware of the power requirement. Mine runs off a 15A wall receptacle.

 

[Swanny1953]

I have a BendPak 4-post that I’m very happy with.

10’ ceilings, so I can walk under the Corvettes. The others require use of a roller stool.

 

[racecougar]

I made this spreadsheet when I shopped for my lift in early 2020. As Silverplate suggested, compare the dims to the dims of the car you plan to park on it.



I went with the Forward EFP9 / Direct Lift Pro Park 9 Plus (same lift just different branding). It's been great.

 

[Mikes61]

You’ll also want to get different ramps than the steel ones, they are heavy and have sharp edges. Aluminum ones should be available, or get Race Ramps.

 

[J-Man22]

The video linked above probably goes through all this, but in addition to the height of the two cars you need to consider the thickness of the runways, a bit of space between the bottom car and the bottom of the runways/cross beams, and some space above the top car to get the lift off the locks. You have to raise the lift a few inches to be able to release the locks to bring the lift down. Also some brands have adjustable lock ladders and some don't. The ones with the adjustable lock ladders give a bit more flexibility when you have tight clearance to the ceiling or a beam in your case. They also allow you to adjust for uneven floors.

I have an Atlas Garage Pro 8000 EXT-L that I have been happy with. It has the lock ladders and allowed me to adjust the locks as close to the bottom car as possible, and also adjust for my uneven (sloped) garage floor with the help of shims as well.