Lift placement in garage

[inition]

My dad and I are building a new garage. It is 34x24 with a 12 foot ceiling. It will have a 4 inch slab with 12x12 inch trench on the high end of the ground that will be filled with concrete and rebar. I read some posts and decided pouring 6 inches of concrete were the lift would be placed would be a good idea. Does it matter if the lift is on one side of the garage rather then centered? The downhill slope will naturally make the concrete much thicker on one side.

 

[mrobins297aaa]

I'm not sure what you mean by a 6" pad?, I hope your not planning on putting the lift up on a pad 6" above the floor? that would be a big mistake because it would make your lifting arms 6" above the floor and at that they would not fit under the car.
Now making the concrete 6" thick where the lift sets is a good idea.

also I would try and make the ceiling at least 12'-3" because a lot of lifts require 12'-0" clearance to install

 

[darkk]

We built a 30x30 garage, our slab is 6" thick 3500 psi concrete with 6x6 wire screen and fibermesh added. Maybe a little overkill but better safe than sorry. On you floor,816 sq ft (plus 4'x4'x6") pad area =3/4 yard extra = 11 yds
not including the footings.
816 sqft @ 4" = 10.07 yds
816 sqft @ 6" = 15.11yds

Installing your lift on one side instead of the center makes no difference to the floor. Only about 4 yards concrete difference, I would just pour 6" on all of it. Not that much extra.

 

[zmotorsports]

I think your decision to go 6" floor rather than 4" is a good decision. As far as lift placement it does not have to be centered, mount it wherever is most convenient for your application.

I would recommend about 4' from either side/wall so it will give you enough room to get around when working and still allow enough room to remove an axle shaft from a vehicle. Mike.

 

[Falcon67]

I have found that - sorta - you can take sq/ft, divide by 27 and then divide by 1.5 and get close to the total yards, including footers. Around here for 12x12 footers anyway.

You didn't really say what kind of lift - if it's a 4 post, why not get a lift with then caster option and put it where you need it.

 

[brownbagg]

my lift is 2 feet from wal and my fat **** cant squeeze through there so I have to walk around

 

[darkk]

Mine is about 42" from the wall and it's plenty of room. Even for a fat guy...the ramps are about 18"-20" farther in so removing axles etc will be a piece of cake.

 

[weegaz22]

In small garages like yours i would be looking at in floor rotary/scissor lifts, that way when its down its down, no posts to get in the way etc

 

[6768rogues]

I put my lift on one side but left it far enough from the wall so that I can pull an axle out from a truck if necessary.

 

[inition]

Thanks everyone. We are going to place a 2 post lift to one side. My neighbor suggested putting plastic under the concrete to keep out moister.

 

[Cryptic1911]

definately put down plastic, it'll cure much better