Mohawk A7 lift - parking between posts?

[ztarum]

I'm shopping for a lift for my 2 car home garage and have pretty much narrowed it down to the Mohawk A7. The main reason is that I have a low ceiling (10'6"), and my bay is fairly narrow (136" from the outside wall to the center line of the garage). The overall size of the whole garage is 22'8" wide by 23'4" deep. I have two separate smaller garage doors, so a more central lift installation isn't an option. I like the System 1 and would love to use wheel adapters for storage, but there is just no way it will fit, hence the A7.

My main issue is that I have two mid-engine sports cars that I need to park inside, so when the lift is not in use I will need to park between the posts. Does anyone think this would be a problem? I'm worried about hitting doors, tripping over lift arms, that sort of thing. These car are not my daily driver, they are weekend toys, so some lever of inconvenience is OK but I also don't want it to be a disaster to the point I start hating the lift.

The lift will be used, but only occasionally. More often than not I will simply be parking there. In the winter I plan to use it for storing one car above the other so I can get a 3rd car inside. Thoughts?

 

[rbonitz]

I've got the A7... You would have to step over the lift arms when you get out. With the asymmetric config you doors should be behind the posts so I wouldn't think would be a problem - you could put a stop on the floor to get it lined up easily. I don't think that would be a problem for a weekend driver.

It's a heavy duty lift....very substantial and well built - I'm happy with mine.

 

[KPSquared]

Aside from the "should you use a two post for car storage" argument, I don't think you'll have any problems. It will require some care getting in and out, but being as it's not a daily driver, you are probably more careful anyway.

Like was said, find the optimal parking position for clearance, then mark that position. Tennis ball, laser parking guide, drive over parking guide. . .whatever it is that will allow you to be in the same position every time.

That is going to be a TIGHT fit for any lift. The one post will pretty much have to be against the wall, which ***** in most cases. Even at the narrow install, the A7 is 127" wide outside. Just don't want to get those bolts to close to the edge of the slab.

 

[ztarum]

Aside from the "should you use a two post for car storage" argument, I don't think you'll have any problems. It will require some care getting in and out, but being as it's not a daily driver, you are probably more careful anyway.

Like was said, find the optimal parking position for clearance, then mark that position. Tennis ball, laser parking guide, drive over parking guide. . .whatever it is that will allow you to be in the same position every time.

That is going to be a TIGHT fit for any lift. The one post will pretty much have to be against the wall, which ***** in most cases. Even at the narrow install, the A7 is 127" wide outside. Just don't want to get those bolts to close to the edge of the slab.

It's definitely a bit of a compromise all the way around. I know storing a vehicle with suspension hanging is not great, but I don't think it will be an issue for only a month or two at a time. A four post would be nice for storage, but they just take up too much space.

I agree that anything will be a tight fit. An extra 4' of garage width would do wonders. I'm still evaluating the project and may scrub the whole thing if I think I can't make it work. So far it looks like the A7 will fit OK, but still may be a bit of hassle to maneuver around.

 

[JMartens]

I think you'll be okay. My garage is 22'8 overall as well and I have two lifts in mine. My shop is 28 long so the lifts are closer to the far wall than the door. This lets me park the daily drivers with the nose just in between the posts. If you set you lift 10 foot off the back wall, you'd have about 14' between the door and the posts. Don't think you have to worry about the doors.

One of my lifts is 8 foot of the back wall and I have adequate room in the front of the car. As for being tight on the sides, its not bad. I measured and I'd actually just barely be able to pull an axle if needed.

 

[papabil]

put the arms up. you will not trip over them

 

[ztarum]

Thats a good point. Hadn't really thought about that. Having them up out of the way when parking under would make it easier.

 

[brihvac]

Here is my lift in my 16X26 garage

 

[brihvac]

Another

 

[rbonitz]

....Geez - I never thought of that either.

 

[KPSquared]

put the arms up. you will not trip over them

Genius. Pure genius.

 

[ztarum]

I just wanted to post a quick update. I did install the lift and it works well. Parking between the posts isn't a problem at all. It only gets tight when I have 3 cars in the garage ( one on lift, one under, and one in the other bay), and that's only it I have to open more than just the drivers door.

My only major complaint is that the lift arms are a bit too high for my cars, requiring the use of small ramps to get the car up so the arms will fit underneath.

 

[HAP]

I park my boat between my lift. The trailer wheels clear my XPR-10 in the wide configuration by only 1.5" per side. I raise the arms to just above the fenders to give maximum clearance. Keeps people from standing on the fenders too look insde of the boat too. They have to stand on the lift arms...

R,
HAP