I am looking a possibly buying a home with a shop already built versus building one. The interior height is 11'8". I know most lifts require 12' minimum . Is that for the top plate clearance or for the cylinders to extend? The car I plan on lifting is 54" and I am 72". Is there a top plate lift option that will work?
Lift requirement question
- Thread starter sickboi55
- Start date
wssix99
Well-known member
Its for the top plate. You also need more height than what is listed so you can physically stand up the lift and assemble it. The ceiling in the middle of the garage is also lower than the measurements taken for the ceiling at the garage door. (Because the floor is sloped.)
All problems are solved with a 4 post lift.
All problems are solved with a 4 post lift.
Shadowdog500
Well-known member
The column height of a Mohawk system 1A is only 8' 7" and a rise is enough for you to walk under the vehicle. It uses hydraulic lines between the columns. You can run the lines above the rafters. The other question you need to find is if your slab meets the requirements for the lift you want to install. Here are the Mohawk slab requirements. https://mohawklifts.com/library/manuals/Slab_Require_Recommend_11_07.pdf
djbmw
Well-known member
Why the hate for baseplate? 
After 12 yrs with mine, I haven't once gotten upset with the "plate in the middle". I just roll my oil catch pans, supports, transmission jacks, etc. around the side OR pull them over the plate (its just a little 'hump")....
After 12 yrs with mine, I haven't once gotten upset with the "plate in the middle". I just roll my oil catch pans, supports, transmission jacks, etc. around the side OR pull them over the plate (its just a little 'hump")....
gizardlizard
Well-known member
I had even less than 11’ 8”. I simply framed between trusses and boxed out a section for the lift with drywall. I can still lift vehicles 72” high. Just have to play around with adapter stack heights as they dictate where the safety locks engage.
dlwilson
Well-known member
I had to go with a baseplate due to height. It's mildly annoying to have to push a non-running vehicle over it, but so much better than not having a lift.
Shadowdog500
Well-known member
I worked under a weaver lift with a baseplate when it was brand new in the 80s. The baseplate can be an annoyance but it doesn’t make things impossible. A friend had Mohawk lifts in his repair shop and I really liked that they are built like tanks and have no baseplate and no height restrictions. That’s the reason I put one in my home shop.
This was taken minutes after mine was installed 14 years ago. It came from a Saturn dealership when Saturn went out of business.
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djbmw
Well-known member
The only time it would be a 'problem' is if the transmission was directly under the baseplate part (which I have never encountered before), and you weren't able to adjust the jack in a position where it could lift/lower dead straight. I have, however, needed to put an underhoist support under the rear output of the transmission and my baseplate was 'in the way'... so I slightly turned the support so that the wheels/feet were straddling the baseplate.
I will say that the baseplate makes sweeping/cleaning the floor a little more tedious *shrugs*.
sz0k30
Well-known member
All the top plate & posts have to do is fit between the rafters, So if you have trusses or rafters on 2 foot centers you have a lot of leeway to locate the hoist. If the ceiling has drywall or other surface cut a section out where you need to.
And do not get a baseplate.