Minimum new garage ceiling height for a lift?

[BH Davis]

I'm thinking about building a new small barn at home. It will be built into a slope so will have a main floor with a drive in concrete floor lower level. I'd like to put a full size lift (replace my MaxJax) in that lower level.

Question is what I should use for ceiling height. I'd like to be able to just fit my Ford van on the lift.

I'm thinking that I need about 6 1/2' under the raised vehicle and the van is about 5 1/2' from frame to top of roof. If all that is correct then a 12' ceiling should work.........except for any top cross member on the lift.

So can I get by with a 12' ceiling or should I go higher at 13' or 14'?

Thanks,
BH

 

[Stuart in MN]

You also have to allow for some room for the lift to move above the top notch and then settle down on it. Also, the notches on the lift may or may not exactly match up to the height you want to put the van at. I'd go for at least 13 feet.

 

[dave*99]

You also have to allow for some room for the lift to move above the top notch and then settle down on it. Also, the notches on the lift may or may not exactly match up to the height you want to put the van at. I'd go for at least 13 feet.

 

[pattenp]

You need to account for overhead lighting to make sure you don't have a fixture that ends up being in the way. The 13' is a good height to be on the safe side. My ceiling is 12' 6" and my 2 post clearfloor lift is 145" (12' 1").

 

[nolimits76]

All things being equal I'd go 14. Who is to say all your vehicles will be the same height of the current van? Sounds like you have an opportunity to plan for the future so I would. We never hear about guys with too much room.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N910A using Tapatalk

 

[pinebarkauto]

Mine is 12 and I wish it were 14. 12 works fine with my 4 post lift and most cars. My pick-up and the wife's Trailblazer require a little crouching over underneath, not to mention having to be very careful when lifting so close to the ceiling. I have my lift positioned in front of a door without a power opener at this time. It was originally placed in front of one with a power opener until I damaged the roof of a car stored on top when I hit the door opener without checking. Manual release lever hung down about 1/4" too low and left a 3' crease in the top of a car.

 

[69385vette]

My building is 12'. I was concerned about the lift clearance and the builder designed a special "lift Bay". The bay is 18' across with no truss. They doubled the truss at 18' and used something like 2x8 or 2x10 purlins for roof support. With the 1/12 pitch, I have plenty of clearance for my Silverado 4x4 at full height on the 4 post lift. I bought a wide and tall lift as required for the truck. Don't know if this works for a pole barn, but the principal should be the same.

 

[pattenp]

You didn't say if you want a 2 post or 4 post lift. I was assuming a 2 post.