Need some lift advice please!!

[rwilner]

Hey all,
I am building a new garage and need some advice.
It will be a 3 bay. I'm limited to a 36 x 22 internal footprint.

I'm in the Boston area if that matters.

My goals are:
In the summertime, park the wifes SUV, my 911, and a to-be-purchased (and restored) 914 in the garage. My DD is outside.

In the winter time, store the 911 and 914 on top of one another. Park the suv and my DD in the other bays.

I need the ability to drop the motors and do suspension/brake work.

Clearly I need a 4 post for storage, right? But then I cant do wheels unless I buy the rolling bridges, which are $$$?

Right now my plan is 4 post in bay 3 and maxjax in bay 2. I would love to get away with just one lift if I could.

Thoughts?

Surely I can improve on this...

 

[lakeroadster]

I've had both.. 2 post and 4 post.

My advice, since you asked, is a 2 post. I have a Rotary asymmetric 5 ton. It's rock solid.

 

[rwilner]

I've had both.. 2 post and 4 post.

My advice, since you asked, is a 2 post. I have a Rotary asymmetric 5 ton. It's rock solid.

I'm not sure the pad will handle that kind of load. I'm trying to use 3000psi concrete to save a few bucks.

Does the 2 post work for storage? I'd think that would be really annoying, always opening the door into one of the posts.

 

[snowphun]

I've owned 2 post, then 4, now mid rise (all in different garages). Four post with a bridge jack was by far the best solution for me: easiest storage, easy to work on cars including suspension and wheel work. Four post has less concrete concerns, they definitely have a larger foot print.

I wouldn't want to store a car drooping on a 2 poster.

 

[thejudges69]

I posted in the classifieds about a used Mohawk 9k for 1200 bucks in Connecticut. Just FYI

 

[thickhead]

Take a look at this and see if that helps make your decision easier.
http://advantagelifts.us/lift-accessories/RJT-1-Rolling-Jacking-Tray?sort=p.price&order=ASC&limit=100#PhotoSwipe1462762862988

 

[lakeroadster]

I've had both.. 2 post and 4 post.

My advice, since you asked, is a 2 post. I have a Rotary asymmetric 5 ton. It's rock solid.

I'm not sure the pad will handle that kind of load. I'm trying to use 3000psi concrete to save a few bucks.

Does the 2 post work for storage? I'd think that would be really annoying, always opening the door into one of the posts.

Follow the manufacturer's spec's for the concrete. In regard to saving money... 4,000 psi vs 3,000 psi cost difference is $7.50 a yard here, well worth the money.

A 4 post takes up a lot of garage space. What I did was marked the floor where the posts would go, and then as I used the shop took note of how having the lift would impact my normal activities. For me the 4 post was just in the way too much to put it in the maintenance bay.

Good luck whichever route you choose.

 

[dlcwent]

You could always place a 1/4 plate between the ramps of a 4 post and use any jack to pick it up and set on jack stands. But the rolling jacks are very handy. I can tell you that I'd rather work on a 2 post any day over a 4 post. You're always reaching over the ramps to get to what you're working on. JMO. But keep in mind, my opinion is based on working not storing.

 

[Disney]

I have no problems storing a car under another on my 2 post. It sounds like you're really going to want a 2 post intsead of a 4 anyways if you'll be doing restoration type of work. A 4 post is good at two things, Driving a car on, and exhaust work. The two post is much more versatile IMHO.

 

[rwilner]

Hm.

Does anyone have a single post?

Any pics of storing a car under a 2 post?

Any issues unloading the suspension storing over the winter on a 2 post?

Maybe I just take the wheels off...?

 

[fatkidracer]

problem solved

 

[JRC3]

I'd think that would be really annoying, always opening the door into one of the posts.

Wouldn't you have the exact same problem with the Maxjax unless you were gonna take it down and put it back up every time you need it. To me it seems like a good idea but in reality I see a floor jack being used for little things when it would be more convient to have a lift already set up.

If it's OK on a car to store it on a 2 post, That's what I would do. To me that would be the total package. My only thought is the suspension resting without a load...Would the car sit a little high for a short period after being stored? Probably nothing too bothersome.

 

[68 sat]

that Mohawk adaptor arm seems to be a logical solution. Does anyone have one or used on in the past?

 

[stingry]

Hey all,
I am building a new garage and need some advice.
It will be a 3 bay. I'm limited to a 36 x 22 internal footprint.

I'm in the Boston area if that matters.

My goals are:
In the summertime, park the wifes SUV, my 911, and a to-be-purchased (and restored) 914 in the garage. My DD is outside.

In the winter time, store the 911 and 914 on top of one another. Park the suv and my DD in the other bays.

I need the ability to drop the motors and do suspension/brake work.

Clearly I need a 4 post for storage, right? But then I cant do wheels unless I buy the rolling bridges, which are $$$?

Right now my plan is 4 post in bay 3 and maxjax in bay 2. I would love to get away with just one lift if I could.
Thoughts?

forget the Maxjax and buy two rolling jacks for the 4 post (about the same money) Problem solved

 

[froggert]

How often will you be dropping the motor on the 911? If it's once in a blue moon, you can do it with a 4-post lift. If you're dropping it every month, a maxjax or 2-poster would be much easier.

 

[tgj7]

problem solved

That is cool. Leaving that on the back burner.

That does solve the storage problem, as long as the storage is long term, over the winter. If you like to cycle the cars, moving the wheel adapters is going to be a pain.

My vote is for a 4 post, I have not had a job that I could not do with a 4 post. (never removed the body off the frame)

 

[rwilner]

That is cool. Leaving that on the back burner.

That does solve the storage problem, as long as the storage is long term, over the winter. If you like to cycle the cars, moving the wheel adapters is going to be a pain.

My vote is for a 4 post, I have not had a job that I could not do with a 4 post. (never removed the body off the frame)

No problem removing a body from a frame with Porsches - they are all unibody.

Dropping the motor on the 911 is rare. I think with the 914 it will be more frequent. Plus, the lift will attract other neighborhood 911s like flies to sh**...

That mohawk solution seems awesome.

Has anyone dropped a 911 motor on a 4 post? Will it for between the rails? If not, that's a deal breaker.

 

[rwilner]

Just looked at the price of those Mohawks...6k. Not happening for me.

I'm leaning towards a 4 post. Right now, an HD 9 is the front runner.

 

[srode]

I went with a four post Atlas lift combo from Greg Smith equipment that came with casters to move it, 2 sliding jacks, drip trays, ramps and wheel chocks. Nice set up for occasional work and storage. About $3600 plus a few hundred shipped to a local depot where I went to pick it up with a flat trailer. It would do everything you want - the sliding jacks are easy pretty easy to slide to where you want and have a number of different extensions to get the height right. Mine is the Ext-L which is extra tall and long, have my 69 Camaros stored on top of one another in the single bay of a 3 car garage. Used the 2 sliding jacks a couple of weekends ago to get all 4 wheels off the ground for brake work on one of them, easy peasy.

 

[ms fowler]

In addition to using the sliding jack with a 4 post, consider getting a pair of tall jack stands. That way you can support one end of the vehicle and lower the lift to get the wheels off the runways and do whatever you need to do.

 

[froggert]

Has anyone dropped a 911 motor on a 4 post? Will it for between the rails? If not, that's a deal breaker.

Yes, I have, and it depends on the lift. I have a Direct Lift PP8S and the 911 and 993 motors are too wide to fit between the runways when facing the proper direction. So there are two options: back the car all the way to the end of the lift, jack it up and hang the rear off in the air or separate the motor and ****** after they've been dropped from the car, turn the motor 90 degrees and then lower it to the ground.

 

[rwilner]

Yes, I have, and it depends on the lift. I have a Direct Lift PP8S and the 911 and 993 motors are too wide to fit between the runways when facing the proper direction. So there are two options: back the car all the way to the end of the lift, jack it up and hang the rear off in the air or separate the motor and ****** after they've been dropped from the car, turn the motor 90 degrees and then lower it to the ground.

I can't even envision what youre describing, but it sounds like a horror show to me.

This is a strong advertisement for a 2 post, or my original plan of a 4 post and a maxjax, or maybe a 4 post and an in ground scissor.

Only issue with an in ground scissor is if I ever sell the place...would have to deal with filling it in.

 

[ct03911]

Four post is for storage. Two post for working. They all have plus and minuses.

 

[JimTMich]

The hd9 is available in a wide version and you can mount the runways wider for more clearance between the runways, might be enough to drop the engine.

For me the 2 post is too wide. Makes 2 of the 3 bays I useable. The 4 post posts tuck into corners and is more workable in my smaller 3car garage.