New pole barn - where to install lift

[UpstateNY]

Gents,

This one is tough to do a search on, so I'll ask it here.

New build, 30'wide by 40' deep with (2) 10' x 10' entry doors on the 30' side. 36" man-door on the front-right side of structure.

Assuming I mentally divide the barn into 4 quadrants: rear-left, rear-right, front-right, front-left. Where would you put a 2-post lift ?

I'm thinking in one of the rear quadrants e.g. right-rear. I know it's possible that I'll have "stuff" in the front-right quadrant that would need to be moved to get a car to the lift, but my thought is that a car on the lift will be the exception, not the rule. So locating it front-right, I'd have to dirve-over/through it all the time. TIA for any advice you can provide.

 

[JC23]

Lotsa variables here.

Is the entire building for shop use?
Is there an office or bath?
Will you want to add another lift?

My fave is what type of upper clearance do you have? If you have horizontal rafters, will it clear?

Then, there's the work pattern you want. Should the lift be easy to get to, depending on how much you use it? Also, drive in access to the lift is an issue.

Like I said...lotsa variables. Come up with a plan for the entire shop, first.

 

[UpstateNY]

Lotsa variables here.

Is the entire building for shop use?
Is there an office or bath?
Will you want to add another lift?

My fave is what type of upper clearance do you have? If you have horizontal rafters, will it clear?

Then, there's the work pattern you want. Should the lift be easy to get to, depending on how much you use it? Also, drive in access to the lift is an issue.

Like I said...lotsa variables. Come up with a plan for the entire shop, first.

Shop use - cars, lawn equip manitenance, not so much woodworking as I have that in my basement.

Lift is for car maintenance / car projects. 12' ceilings at the side walls, I don't forsee another lift, just the 2-post. You're correct, drive-in access is the issue in my mind. Locating the lift in the rear mandates keeping that side relatively clear in the front.

As you said, lotsa varaibles, too many it seems. You're sort of damned either way you go .

 

[blackz26]

Are the doors on the 40' side or 30' side? I would either
1. Straight ahead of the left door (just because I'm a lefty lol)
2. Back left corner at an angle so that its one 45° turn to get to it instead of an S movement.

I do not have a garage that big nor have a lift to speak from experience.

 

[mrobins297aaa]

I would put it up near the front in line with one of the doors. thats where I have mine.
there is no real disadvantage to having it there, if you need to you can park a car there or store stuff there. and its a big advantage when you want to use the lift.
if you put it in the back you'll be forever moving stuff when you need to use it.
if you do put it up front consider getting a high lift door where the lift is........one that goes straight up first and then back, it'll let you put the lift closer to the door.
just my two cents

 

[pawdad]

i have 30x40 too put my lift in center of left bay , pull a full size pickup in and watch your space disappear,wow,chaulk line down center of building and another line center of bay

 

[mrobins297aaa]

i have 30x40 too put my lift in center of left bay , pull a full size pickup in and watch your space disappear,wow,chaulk line down center of building and another line center of bay

thats a good point, on a 40' deep building you really can't center the lift in one of the 4 quads it pretty much has to go on center the 40' way.
my lift is 18' back from the door to center of the lift.

I also have a 8' tall door with a 4' high lift kit so the door goes straight up 4' before it moves horizantel which makes the bottom of the door 12' above the floor.

those full size pickups take up a lot of space.

 

[Ray916MN]

I'd put a project area in the right back so it is closer to the man door so you don't have to walk across the shop to get to it when you use the man door.

Based on your described usage I'd put the lift in the back left, in essence making the entire back of the shop open for project work and the front for parking stuff and making it easy to get parked stuff in and out.

 

[RedBKM]

Just like mrobins said. 18' from garage door to posts works great. I have a supercab/longbed truck and it fits with plenty of room to walk around. My shop is also 30' deep.

I chose to center the lift in the door opening because a lot of my projects are rolled in off the rollback.

 

[astroracer]

Also keep in mind work space around the posts. I would keep the nearest post at least 8 feet off the nearest wall. Putting a bench or storing tools along the wall will eat up a lot of that space real fast. That means the door edge should be 6' from the wall so you have a straight shot into the hoist through the door.
Mark