Lift Placement Advice

[Tscott]

I'm making major progress in the shop lately and my next step will be to get myself a 2 post lift. My current front runner is an Atlas PV-10P which has an advertised total width of 137". I'm trying to decide where in the shop to put the lift to best maximize my space. Below is a quick sketch of the general shop arrangement as it stands now.

View media item 67579

The compressor and all the shaded items are permanent as they would be a royal pain in the **** to move. The concrete throughout has fiber reinforcement and is 6"+ thick so the lift will be safe to install anywhere. When I built the shop I had every intention of installing the lift in bay 1 but I later installed the work benches shown and now I'm concerned with space between the lift and the bench (Bench is approx. 30'' deep). Bay 2 has the shelving rack (approx. 30" deep) so I need to watch my spacing between the front of what I lift and that to make sure I don't limit access to the other half of the shop should I leave a long vehicle on the lift. Bay 3 is typically the bay I pull long things like my boat into since the door is on the end wall. I think I want to avoid bay 3 because I may want to start parking the boat inside in the near future once I clear out some of my more long term projects.

I see advantages and disadvantages to placing the lift in any of the bays. If this were your shop where would you place the lift and why?

Tom

 

[Aahz]

A normal car dealer bay is 12' x 24'. We recommend 9' from the center of the lift to the nearest obstruction (in front) for an asymmetric lift. If the lift is symmetric, that dimension should be 11'.

From the center of the lift (side-to side), the minimum should be 6' to the nearest obstruction (both right and left). Minimum distance would be 7' if the only obstruction is a wall.

From center of lift to rear of bay should be 13' with a symmetric lift and 15' if the lift is asymmetric.

Hope that helps!

 

[astroracer]

Bay 2, The shelves at the back won't be in the way. Put the hoist about 14 or 15 ft. back from the door. Just make sure the door will fully open with a car all the way up on the lift.
Mark

 

[Kaizen]

If it's in bay 2 won't that get in the way of the boat? I'd move the workbench. If it's pieces you can leave some where a lift/car would not affect it. IMO you boxed yourself in with hard to move items


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[Tscott]

If it's in bay 2 won't that get in the way of the boat? I'd move the workbench. If it's pieces you can leave some where a lift/car would not affect it. IMO you boxed yourself in with hard to move items


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I think you're right but I like the way the shop is set up and I'd like to make it work as is if possible. If the lift is in bay 2 I think I can still get the boat in. I'll have to measure to be sure but the boat on the trailer isn't much more than 25'. I'll have to work it in on an angle but it could work.

Tom


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[JamesW84]

Kaizen said it. You're boxed in as it is.

With a door on the end wall, I'd want plenty of room from that door to bring items in. Either put an overhead door where the walk-thru door is to match the others and pull in, or put it in bay one. Using Aahz's info, you could put it in bay 1, maybe move it as far as you can to the left of the door opening and still have enough room to get a vehicle on the lift.

 

[Tscott]

Kaizen said it. You're boxed in as it is.



With a door on the end wall, I'd want plenty of room from that door to bring items in. Either put an overhead door where the walk-thru door is to match the others and pull in, or put it in bay one. Using Aahz's info, you could put it in bay 1, maybe move it as far as you can to the left of the door opening and still have enough room to get a vehicle on the lift.

That's what I was thinking too. I'm measuring in the shop now and if I put the lift in bay 1 and move the lift as far from the bench as I can (left as you look at the diagram) I should have 32" between the lift and my bench. It's not a tone of space but it does land on a section of the bench with a vertical support that separates one section of bench from the other so it shouldn't be in the way too much.

Tom


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[Tscott]

Also as I read the specs on the lift it appears that the 137" measurement is from the outside of the baseplates. Outside column to outside column is only 125" so my clearance between the bench and the column will be almost 42".

Tom


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[Kaizen]

Also as I read the specs on the lift it appears that the 137" measurement is from the outside of the baseplates. Outside column to outside column is only 125" so my clearance between the bench and the column will be almost 42".

Tom


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Only thing to watch for would be long pieces of metal or wood on the workbench. The lift would get in the way. Tape out the lift on the floor and bring in a vehicle and play make believe while having a few beers. It would give you room to get a bigger boat!


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[Triumph8]

I'm working a similar problem in my head right now. I'm currently building a 30x60 shop with a 12x60 shed. Most of the shed will be office area/guest cabana. I have my 12x12 rollup on the end like you. My pedestrian door is straight across from yours on the side with the shed. My regular car doors will be on the same side as yours.

I'm planning on putting mine where you have bay #1. That's so I have maximum floor space in the workshop for projects. My belief is placing immovable objects in the middle of the floor should be done with extreme caution for what your future interests may be.

That being said, if you're smitten with the bench placement, how would placing the lift on the diagonal be? Maybe, one post near the compressor and the other near the workbench. Leave at least three feet on one side to get big rolling thongs through (engine stands, tool boxes). You want enough room in front of the vehicle to work on it (remove engine/suspension/front clip). This may be a bit awkward looking when a vehicle is on the lift, but you may be able to have a car on the lift and still have use of bays 1 and 2 for other cars and have the boat trailer in 3.

Like was mentioned above, get you some painters tape or some chalk and start outlining. Just don't get stuck thinking only about right angles, it could be a better answer is out there.


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[Triumph8]