Lift in the way?

[jack stand]

I'm sure that I not alone here, but when I was a kid and allways trying to keep my "junk" working, I drempt of having a lift. Well now it' mostly newer vehicles for us and more oil changes and maint. these days, rather than bigger jobs, (junk yard trannies, motors etc). I set up my last shop with 2 generous bays rather than stuffing 3 into a 36' wide bldg. I reinforced the lift area slab, put electric in the wall for power, 16' ceilings etc., but after being in that shop for a while, I really thought that I'd end up walking around the lift more than working under it!
This shop was not for parking and I (in my mind) basically had a mechanical bay and the other one was the welding bay.
Well my new shop is 64' wide (3 bays) and am starting to 2nd guess the lift again. My vehicles are 3/4 ton or better and this eliminates the roll away type. I am enjoying my floorspace but I really getting tired of the up and down off that dam creeper, even for an oil change! Maybe I've answered my own question but need reasuerance from you guys out there?
Is your lift in the way?

 

[apexit1]

With that much space I don't see how a lift could get in the way. GO for it

 

[yogitech]

I've got four lifts in my bays at work, and I love mine. There's just so much more room when you can move around easily. If not in use you could raise the lift all the way up to free up the floor space, if that's what you worried about. I hate working on the ground at home, it doesn't feel "right", I've been lift spoiled... Lol

 

[A_Pmech]

My vehicles are 3/4 ton or better and this eliminates the roll away type.

Whiting makes roll-away lifts large enough to lift a locomotive. Surely somebody makes one that can lift a pickup truck?

 

[Cryptic1911]

in the way is better than getting up and down from the creeper. I think the tradeoff is more than worth it

 

[darkk]

Our 4 poster isn't in the way really. And as said, better than up/down. Also a lot easier than doing a trans swap on the floor. Yes, we're on our third trans job in the last 6 weeks.

 

[KermitFrog]

We stack when we need floor space. 2 cars, one spot. Also we too lift it up all the way when we need floor space. No regrets.

 

[BMEP]

I've had 2 different 2 post lifts, one in a 750 sq ft 3 car garage and one in my current 1050 ft 4 car. They are sort of in the way from time to time but the value outweighs that by far.

However, there is another thing to consider - they take up a lot of parking space. Basically, they take up enough space to turn a 2 car bay into a 1 car bay, as far as parking goes. Still, they are sooooo nice to have.

 

[admranger]

Whiting makes roll-away lifts large enough to lift a locomotive. Surely somebody makes one that can lift a pickup truck?

NFW I'm getting under that!

 

[slddnmatt]

my 9000lb direct lift has casters and it will hold my f250 with a powerstroke..pretty much bought it to use as a lift to a second story to store cars, so i needed it to move!!

 

[Ign]

Agreed w everyone here. It's sometimes in the way but value far outweighs that. Main problem I have is that it's difficult to have a drive-thru bay with a lift for pulling thru truck and trailer. My trailer will fit thru my extra drive thru clearance, but only with care.

 

[brownbagg]

get a four post on wheels

 

[financer83rs]

No i added a bay to dedicate to the lift. I have a 26'X28' detached garage and a 24'X24' attached garage with a added bay that is 16' wide and 40' deep and L's around the back to 30" for fire wood storage. Love it and use it regularly. Best project i have ever done.

 

[e-tek]

Of course you won't regret a lift - even if you want to park an extra car for a while!

One thing I've been cautioning though is the purchase of an Extra Wide vs Regular Wide (4 posts). I went all-out and ordered the BP9 XTW (Extra Tall and Wide) and now wish I had just ordered the regular/narrow lift. The posts on the Wide stick out too far and encroach against the wall on one side and the next bay on the other. I have a truck and a Galaxie and still don't need the extra wide.

Other than that, I normally won't even work on them unless they are on the lift - and I also have a pit!

 

[jdieter]

Jack Stand I went through the same dilema as you and after much research decided on a flush mount scissor lift. It has worked out well as I use the lift for much more than car maintenance and light repairs, i.e. adjustable height work table, removing ZT mower blades, welding table, painting table, unloading heavy item from a pickup, etc. One of my hobbies is juke box restoration and it is great for that, those beasts weigh anywhere form 300-400lbs. I no longer work on the floor or have to lift smaller machinery on to a workbench. As an example, currently I have a glass display case 3'x6'x4' I'm refinishing for my wifes junk store. This thing would be a bear to roll around on a concrete floor, not damaging the glass and I'd be doing most of the work on my knees. I'd estimate about 20% car work and 80% everything else with the lift.

 

[holdover]

my garage is smaller than yours it is 40' X 60 foot. Entrance is from the 40' side. the shop work area is in the rear half, that area has two 4 post lifts, one against the wall that is used for double stacking my mustangs and a bendpac HD 12 in the center, that still leaves me a dedicated work area for building hotrods, restoration work, welding projects etc. the lifts are not in the way because of all the space in the garage, and at my age there in no fun working on a creeper.

 

[Vettedrmr]

Is your lift in the way?

No more so than my roller toolbox. And my back is much happier for it.

Have a good one,
Mike