Lift Size opinions

[scottmoyer]

Years ago, when I bought a safe, people said to figure out what you need and get the next larger size. That rule of thumb holds true with a safe, but is there a rule of thumb when it comes to lifts?

I still haven't made up my mind on which lift to get. I have a 3 car garage, but I have 5 cars. The lift is being purchased so that the 3rd garage stall can store my two Camaros. Both cars have 101" wheelbase, and total length of 192". The width is 73" on both cars. I'm finding some lifts with a standard length of somewhere around 174", which will allow the cars to extend beyond the ends of the lift. Obviously, extended length lifts are about the same length of the car, so the columns will be about the four corners of the car.

With that information, if you have a standard length lift, do you wish you had the extended length? If you have the extended length, do you wish you went standard? I know bigger isn't always better, so I'm looking for some opinions from those that already own and can provide a newbie with some direction.

BTW, the 3rd garage stall is 20' long. One foot shorter than the double door side. Also the door is 8' wide. Thanks for any suggestions on size. That might help in determining the lift I get.

 

[Z2V]

I would say get all the lift your space will hold, but remember you will want to be able to get around it also. The Bendpak HD9 fits my garage like a glove but I can put my big car on top and move around it with the door down. The car hangs off maybe a foot on each end. My garage is about 20' also.

 

[jcthorne]

I agree. If you can fit it, get the longer lift. The difference in cost is not that high. The short lifts will not hold full size pickups or some SUVs.

 

[LX-Markham]

... figure out what you need and get the next larger size.

Rule of thumb worked when I got my TV.

Bendpak HD9 fits my garage like a glove

I can say the same about my HD9SW
Literally no more than an inch on all sides.

 

[CraigStu]

How about an asymmetrical 2 post. Then no need to worry about size. I worked in a shop for 6 yrs where we had 8 lifts, 4 in front of 4, so we drove between the posts many, many times per day.

 

[lakeroadster]

Longer would be better if you will be doing maintenance on the vehicles while on the lift. The lift crossmembers will be more out of your way.

Shorter would be better if you are just using the lift for storage. Posts will be farther away from the front and back walls.

 

[sberry]

This is a 20 ft garage. Smaller and lighter even cheaper may be an asset here for light storage of light cars. How much headroom is there, enough to lift and walk comfortable under cars?
In a small garage or bay a 4 post really has only 1 post in the way so to speak, same for a 2 post.

 

[scottmoyer]

The headroom is 10'. I will not be able to put the lift at the top with a car on it, but it's better than what I have today. For the most part, it's primary use will be storage. The 3 car garage is 28'x21', recessed to 20', on the 3rd car side. Being that the garage is 28' wide, the 3rd stall is probably only about 8', give or take.

Builders are so stupid these days. When you pull the car straight in, you can't open the driver door in the 3rd stall due to no additional space to the outside wall. The same is true on the other side. Passengers need to get out of the car before you pull in. I loved my garage in MN. It was 32'x24'. Every builder I talk to in FL says that they can't change their design plans.

Due to space, I will probably get the standard length lift. Both cars will fit, but I will need to run the lift close to the outside wall. I'm leaning towards the Direct-Lift Pro Park 8 because the column height will fit out my door, and their longer lift has taller columns. The 88" BendPak columns are the same for the HD-9 as they are for the longer models, but not with Direct-Lift.