Lift Options for 10' ceiling height??

[VT-WHEELIN]

im in the process of designing my new attached garage which will be 32'x40' with 10' ceiling height and im wondering what 2 post lift options i have avaible to me. looking for a lift capacity of 9000-12000 pounds.

 

[gsport]

if you're in the planning stage right now, why don't you just make a higher ceiling where the lift is going and not be limited??

 

[pattenp]

I purchased a 9000lb clear floor two post lift and during my shopping for one I found that 12 feet of ceiling height is about the minimum you can have. I was lucky to have a ceiling height of 12 1/2 feet. I think the two post style that don't have the cables or hoses overhead would work with a ceiling height of 10 feet.

 

[chad pickens]

My 30x60 shop has a 11' ceiling and I modified the trusses over the lift for 1'6" more height, it has worked out very well

 

[jtillery]

www.gregsmithequipment.com sells a 2 post lift that needs 9'2" of ceiling height. I looked at them in person and they seem to be good quality. If you can make the ceiling higher do it, you will not regret it. You will get some benefit out of a lift with a 10' ceiling, but it would be alot more functional with a higher ceiling.

 

[Junkman]

If you don't have sufficient hight to accommodate the car, no matter what lift you purchase, you are still going to be slouched over working under the car. The average car is at least 5' high, so the best that you can expect to have is 5' under the car, with the car roof touching the ceiling. You should make the garage at least 12', and 14' would be best..

 

[catuck]

I have a Mohawk 9000lb 2 post lift in my garage - 10'-4" ceiling. I think the lift is around 8' or 9' tall (can't remember and too lazy to get off the couch to check). I do have to slouch a little, but it's not too bad. I didn't want to make my ceiling any higher for aesthetic reasons - my offices are on the second floor and any higher and the garage would dwarf the house. I wish I could have gone 12+ feet but I compromized and I'm not disappointed.

 

[livewire]

My walls in my shop are 12' 4-1/2" tall. I have a Bend-Pak XP-10ACX and it fit just perfect. This lift is 145" tall. I love this lift and use it almost everyday. I don't think I would have been happy with a lift that I couldn't lift the car all the way.

 

[steffen707]

I bought a baseplate lift from completehydraulic and its worked out well; however, i'd make your ceiling higher because a rotary lift is much better. Also you could buy a rotary in ground 2 post lift, but they're like 6000 bucks. What catuck said about slouching is sometimes true, but not always. I'm 5'7" and I can walk without slouching under any of my hondas, gotta slouch under a s10 though.

 

[steffen707]

Oh, and with a low ceiling height like that you have to worry every time lifting a car that you don't smash it into the ceiling. Make it high enough for an overhead lift, and you won't ever smash a car.

 

[JMURiz]

Just get one of these Bend Pak lifts, the total height is 128" (XPR-9F)
I know you said 10' but raising it one foot would make this model work.

 

[SteveU]

im in the process of designing my new attached garage which will be 32'x40' with 10' ceiling height and im wondering what 2 post lift options i have avaible to me. looking for a lift capacity of 9000-12000 pounds.

if you're in the planning stage right now, why don't you just make a higher ceiling where the lift is going and not be limited??

If you don't have sufficient hight to accommodate the car, no matter what lift you purchase, you are still going to be slouched over working under the car. The average car is at least 5' high, so the best that you can expect to have is 5' under the car, with the car roof touching the ceiling. You should make the garage at least 12', and 14' would be best..

I agree 100% with the above, if you are in the planning stage not to limit yourself by putting in 10' ceiling. Because you mention lifts with a capacity up to 12,000 lbs I assume you will be working on trucks & SUV's and not just low sports cars. If this is the case, what Junk said about being hunched over will be doubly true since you will now be limited to 4' or so under the vehicle. Also figure you will lose some height for your lighting which will reduce this even more. Most guys have to work around a pre-existing building, you have the ability to design yours around your lift so don't limit yourself. When my barn collapsed in 2000 from snow load I thought about rebuilding it with 10' ceilings but am glad I went with the original 14'. If you ever get into different hobbies down the road such as woodworking you won't have to worry about hitting the ceiling or knocking down lights when handling sheets of plywood.

 

[sstruckguy]

My last employer (a Toyota dealership) built a new dealership and went with inground lifts. Seeing them in a picture/blueprint state does them no justice at all. Car door and ceiling clearance becomes unimportant, but you will be limited on how far you can raise the vehicle if you stay with a 10' ceiling.

Obviously, you have to plan this from the beginning, but it makes for an ulta ULTRA clean installation. I also grabbed the spec sheet if you want to consider this set-up.

Specs: http://services.contentmagic.com/files/54/1155664174157.pdf

Challanger was the first google search, so if you have a brand specific preference, I'm sure that they will make a similar probuct.

If you picture the typical lift, you just kind of turn it upside down and dig a hole to put the posts/cable runs/hydraulics into. They use vegetable oil instead of hydraulic fluid (green ya know) and they run ALOT quieter than most lifts as well.

Good luck on your decision

 

[Tantara]

I have a 10'-6" ceiling with a rotary single post lift. I have no problem with most cars, with mini vans and pickups I go as close to the ceiling as I dare and I am satisfied with that solution. Go out and measure your cars and figure out what you need you may be all right. If you work on pickups (your name implies that you do) find a way for a higher ceiling.

Keep in mind I do hobby work only not a professional daily use.

Lots of times the lift is only halfway up like when I do brakes and tires.

Brad

 

[VT-WHEELIN]

The reason it will have 10' ceilings is the garage will be attached to the house. so its for asthetic reasons. I only ever wrench on my own stuff and my friends. I own a lifted jeep on 38's and a F-350. But i am limited to the 10 ft ceiling height. I was hoping to do 14' or even 12' but it wont look right.

the in ground looks nice but im sure its out my price range. thanks for all of the ideas and keep them coming

 

[X73]

The reason it will have 10' ceilings is the garage will be attached to the house. so its for asthetic reasons. I only ever wrench on my own stuff and my friends. I own a lifted jeep on 38's and a F-350. But i am limited to the 10 ft ceiling height. I was hoping to do 14' or even 12' but it wont look right.

the in ground looks nice but im sure its out my price range. thanks for all of the ideas and keep them coming

Did you happen to my thread about my shop? It sounds like we are in the same situation. http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=31786

 

[chad pickens]

The reason it will have 10' ceilings is the garage will be attached to the house. so its for asthetic reasons. I only ever wrench on my own stuff and my friends. I own a lifted jeep on 38's and a F-350. But i am limited to the 10 ft ceiling height. I was hoping to do 14' or even 12' but it wont look right.

the in ground looks nice but im sure its out my price range. thanks for all of the ideas and keep them coming

This is easy have special trusses designed for where the lift will be.This way the outside looks the same and you have clearence. Its hard to say I dont need it for this or that,A lift is a tool you plan to have for the rest of your life .Dont limit your options

 

[jtillery]

The reason it will have 10' ceilings is the garage will be attached to the house. so its for asthetic reasons. I only ever wrench on my own stuff and my friends. I own a lifted jeep on 38's and a F-350. But i am limited to the 10 ft ceiling height. I was hoping to do 14' or even 12' but it wont look right.

the in ground looks nice but im sure its out my price range. thanks for all of the ideas and keep them coming

I have done alot of research on this since I was considering buying a 2 post lift for my shop that I am fixing up. It is an existing structure, alot of the area has a 12' ceiling, but the that would give the easiest access to the lift only has 10'4" ceiliings. For a 2 post that will work with 10' ceilings you are going to be limited to a baseplate style lift. I think the highest capacity baseplate lift available is 9000lbs. Especially if it is a newer F-350 it is going to be pushing the capacity, you are going to have to have the weight distributed perfectly.

If it was a commercial shop, I would say don't bother with a lift unless you have 12' ceilings or higher. Since it probably won't be used daily, you can still have a functional lift with 10' ceilings. I have an 04 and 09 F150, they are both 4x4 and stock height. They are 76" tall, doing quick math you would think the max lift height is 44". However, both trucks have 20" of ground clearance, so the majority of the vehicle will be 5'6" off the floor. You will have to be very careful about raising it without hitting the ceiling. You will also have to remove antennas before lifting most vehicles to get extra height. Also, make sure you use recessed lighting over the lift area, when you are dealing with 10' ceilings, a couple of inches becomes very significant.

I would definitely check into having the trusses modified if you were dead set on 10' ceilings, like others have suggested. Going to 12' ceilings would probably be a good compromise between look and function. You are probably getting sick of people telling you that, but there are good reasons. Honestly, when it is all said and done I think you would regret doing 10' ceilings much more than regretting the look of a garage that is 2' higher. If you are using an architect try to get some sketches with 10' and 12' ceilings so you can visualize it easier before settling in on a decision.

 

[SteveU]

This is easy have special trusses designed for wher the lift will be.This wqay the outside looks the same and you have clearence. Its hard to say i dont need it for this or that,Alift is a tool you plan to have for the rest of your life ,dont limit your options

Also you will find the older you get the harder it is to work in awkward positions. Brake work would be no problem with a low ceiling but exhaust or other under the car work is much easier if you aren't bent over.

 

[usa#1]

If you are going to use trusses in your building design, you should be able to retain the outside building height to match your house and still get additional interior ceiling height. A simple idea may be to have the trusses designed with a raised trey area so that the ceiling height at the exterior walls is 10 feet and the interior building ceiling height is raised to 12 feet.

 

[JCByrd24]

This is easy have special trusses designed for where the lift will be.This way the outside looks the same and you have clearence. Its hard to say I dont need it for this or that,A lift is a tool you plan to have for the rest of your life .Dont limit your options

+1....10' walls from the outside but cathedral ceilings inside easily will give you enough clearance for a full two post so you can stand up under your vehicles. This can be done with scissor trusses as X73 appears to have or it can just be that the bottom cord (collar tie) of the truss doesn't come down onto the wall.

Also I'm sure you've already considered this, but for example my house has 8' ceilings and my garage 10', but the house sits a good 2'+above grade (foundation shows 1.5' + 1' for floor joists), so my house is taller/eves are higher. Just keep that in mind.

 

[JOHNMAN]

My Rotary 2-post asymmetrical lift can accommodate 10' ceilings without additional parts required. I recently moved into a home that had an existing pole barn. The pole barn has 10'-0" clear below the joists. The joists just happen to be on 8'-0" centers. My solution was to locate the lift posts on either side of (2) trusses. I was able to set the lift up in it's normal configuration (12'-2") clear height. I have no cars that are 8'-0" wide so it shouldn't ever be a problem.

Perhaps you can come up with a creative solution as well.

In my opinion, 10' may work for you unless you try lifting really tall vehicles. None of my cars are 5' tall. Some of my trucks are higher than that, but I rarely need to stand up under them when they are on the lift.

I would avoid any in-floor lift. The installation is expensive, they are really tough to move (not worth moving), and maintenance could be tough.

I would stick with a well known name brand lift.

I prefer lifts made in the USA.

Good luck with your project.

<a href="http://s137.photobucket.com/albums/q202/johnflesburg/?action=view&current=IMG00097.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q202/johnflesburg/IMG00097.jpg" border="0" alt="Lift"></a>

 

[chad pickens]

If you are going to use trusses in your building design, you should be able to retain the outside building height to match your house and still get additional interior ceiling height. A simple idea may be to have the trusses designed with a raised trey area so that the ceiling height at the exterior walls is 10 feet and the interior building ceiling height is raised to 12 feet.

Here is my self made tray ceiling

 

[steffen707]

Sometimes its a matter of inches to be happy with a 10' lift. I only do hobby work as well and working on my parents s10 I have to crouch under it with 10' ceiling. You're talking f350 and lifted jeep. People usually only plan to build a nice garage once, BUILD IT RIGHT ONCE. Either go higher ceiling, or get cathedral trusses, OR BOTH. Go with 12' sidewalls and cathedral trusses. I've retro'ed one garage and am doing it to another in a month or so for my first house. What i would give for a few more feet of clearance here or there.

Also think about the garage door and how far that's going to move into the shop, where the lift will be. The typical 7' trolly door opener is actually 10 feet long, so a 10' trolly operator is 13 feet long. It's a pain when you gotta close the garage door to use the lift.

 

[PAToyota]

Check out the MaxJax lift posted on here - just the thing for low ceiling heights.

Edit: Just saw your weight requirements - that would be an issue with the MaxJax.

 

[X73]

If you are going to use trusses in your building design, you should be able to retain the outside building height to match your house and still get additional interior ceiling height. A simple idea may be to have the trusses designed with a raised trey area so that the ceiling height at the exterior walls is 10 feet and the interior building ceiling height is raised to 12 feet.

You're right but 12' probably won't be enough for a standard lift with a clear floor lift. That's what I ran into. I asked the truss maker how much higher the inside peak could be & still meet the snow load code & they got an extra 14" to make it 13' 2" inside peak height. That makes it high enough for about anything to be picked up to full lift in my shop. This will depend upon the depth of his building & provided the pitch is in the right direction. Another way is to to have rafters put in instead of trusses. For me it was a little more money due to the added labor. Rafters will give him even more height than a scissor truss. Just another option.

 

[SteveU]

Mohawk system 1 lift will work with your vehicles and the hydraulic lines can be routed in the floor so you don't have a base plate to deal with or trip over. Height on it is 8'7" so it would fit under a 10' ceiling no problem with the lines in the floor. Here are some links & info:

http://www.mohawklifts.com/consumer/system1.php
http://www.mohawklifts.com/library/brochures/what_makes_a_mohawk.pdf
http://www.mohawklifts.com/library/How_2Posts_Lifts_Are_Made.pdf
http://www.mohawklifts.com/library/manuals/System_IA-10_Rev_11-2008.pdf
http://www.mohawklifts.com/pr/system1.php

 

[ironroad 9c1]

also subtract the distance from the floor to the bottom of the frame to get the lifted vehicle height, not from the floor to the roof . Gives you a little more distance to figure.