Parking under 2-post lift used for storage??

[Laredo]

New garage will have 12' ceilings, but city zoning, a narrow lot, and a very large tree that I would like to keep is limiting the width to 26', depth 30?? (TBD). Therefore, plans include a lift doing double duty for frequent service work plus storage for my SVO Mustang. I do NOT NOT like working on a drive-on 4-post. Trouble is my daily driver is VW Touareg (68" tall) that I would like to park underneath. Browsing the specs of most of the brands I have seen here, typical lift hieght is 74" to 79" but with the wheels hanging, I don't think it will fit. Anyone here park an SUV under a 2-poster or know of lift that will go higher?

 

[bmacz06]

I researched lifts extensively and I can't recall finding one that will lift higher than what you have found.

Is there any chance you can make the garage 40' deep? I was going to do the same thing you are looking to do but I went 40' deep instead and I am sure glad I did.

 

[ddawg16]

By lift height I assume that is to the bottom of the frame where the lift would be interfacing with the mustang.

Your only real issue is the rear wheels. What is the width of the mustang from the inside of the rear wheels? Then, what is the width of the upper portion of the VW? Worse case, take the rear wheels off...unless the pumpin hangs down too much.

 

[Ironcrow]

I'd weld up some little ramp widgets that perched on top of the lift's pads. Make them wide enough for the tires and put a stop on them so you don't drive off the front. When you want to 'store' instead of 'work', take the pads off, put the ramps on...drive on the ramps and lift it up.

Make sure the arms extend fully to the wheelbase of the vehicle.

Car is higher, wheels are higher, and you get the added advantage of not hanging the suspension bushings at full deflection. Full twist on the suspension bushings (depending how they are designed) may shorten their life.

 

[dawg]

I store that way
there isnt a problem unless you have a leak on the top car.
YEAH I KNOW ITS A WORKING GARAGE

 

[Lloydthumper]

Buy some car movers and put the cars where needed My uncle had two 67 plymouth GTX's plus his sons 96 Mustang Lx coupe in the garage and he had a work bench at the back of it. and a small storage room on one side. The garage if I am not mistaken was a 26x28 due to the size of his lot the city wouldn't let him build bigger.Right now I have two feet of racks on one side 4 feet of toolboxes and table on the back wall a 71 maverick grabber a 96 mustang convertible a john deer 250II skidsteer a 2002 ford focus and a 2001 mercury mountaineer and some other things bandsaws etc in a 30x40 not discouraging you because I plan on adding a lift soon but some times you have to use every inch to make it work.

 

[Stuart in MN]

I don't know who makes it, but I saw a two post lift at a show once that came with attachments to do pretty much what Ironcrow described - it had a slip-on pad for each of the arms that would support a car by the tires instead of the frame. You may want to check around to see if you can find that company

 

[Laredo]

Is there any chance you can make the garage 40' deep? I was going to do the same thing you are looking to do but I went 40' deep instead and I am sure glad I did.

40 ft - yup, I wish. Good suggestion, however, due to required property line setbacks, the house location, and max hardcover ordinance, 31 ft is the deepest I can go (so says the city planner). Not enough to park in tandem and would also be too tight parked sideways on go-jacks. I would still like to leave room for cabinets, work bench, etc.

 

[Laredo]

By lift height I assume that is to the bottom of the frame where the lift would be interfacing with the mustang.

Your only real issue is the rear wheels. What is the width of the mustang from the inside of the rear wheels? Then, what is the width of the upper portion of the VW? Worse case, take the rear wheels off...unless the pumpin hangs down too much.

I see where you're going with this. If I can move the lift forward some I could get yet a bit more clearance from the hanging wheels, but I don't want to go so far forward that I lose work space in the front of the car.

 

[Laredo]

I don't know who makes it, but I saw a two post lift at a show once that came with attachments to do pretty much what Ironcrow described - it had a slip-on pad for each of the arms that would support a car by the tires instead of the frame. You may want to check around to see if you can find that company

Thanks for the tip!! Kept searching and found these from Mohawk. Is this perhaps what you saw? One of the higher priced lifts I have seen but it just may be the ticket.

http://www.mohawklifts.com/consumer/tire.php

 

[hevnbnd]

I'd weld up some little ramp widgets that perched on top of the lift's pads. Make them wide enough for the tires and put a stop on them so you don't drive off the front. When you want to 'store' instead of 'work', take the pads off, put the ramps on...drive on the ramps and lift it up.

Make sure the arms extend fully to the wheelbase of the vehicle.

Car is higher, wheels are higher, and you get the added advantage of not hanging the suspension bushings at full deflection. Full twist on the suspension bushings (depending how they are designed) may shorten their life.

Got any pics of this contraption...

 

[Vicegrip]

Got any pics of this contraption...

This is the one I came up with. Used 1.75X.120 wall tubing, some 3/8 angle iron some 1/4 plate some box tubing and four 1 3/8 grade 8 bolts. 6 foot clearance under car on lift and only take a min to convert. Being underslung on the arms i can go from having a car in wheel lift (storage) to frame lift (service) without moving the car and inch.

 

[blizazer]

This is the one I came up with. Used 1.75X.120 wall tubing, some 3/8 angle iron some 1/4 plate some box tubing and four 1 3/8 grade 8 bolts. 6 foot clearance under car on lift and only take a min to convert. Being underslung on the arms i can go from having a car in wheel lift (storage) to frame lift (service) without moving the car and inch.

Great thinking on locating the arms over your framework. Have you considered putting casters on your wheel frames so you can also use them as wheel dollies?

 

[SteveU]

Thanks for the tip!! Kept searching and found these from Mohawk. Is this perhaps what you saw? One of the higher priced lifts I have seen but it just may be the ticket.

http://www.mohawklifts.com/consumer/tire.php

These are pricey, right around 1400.00 if I remember correctly.

 

[Laredo]

These are pricey, right around 1400.00 if I remember correctly.

Was that $1400 just for the adaptors??

 

[Laredo]

This is the one I came up with. Used 1.75X.120 wall tubing, some 3/8 angle iron some 1/4 plate some box tubing and four 1 3/8 grade 8 bolts.

Hard to tell from the photos - how did you mount/attach your frame to the lift arm?

 

[SteveU]

Was that $1400 just for the adaptors??

I believe it was. I asked for the price back when I was getting a price on the Mohawk thinking they would be a couple hundred but when I heard that decided it would be a bit much to justify to the wife. If/when there becomes a need I will do something similar to Visegrip and make my own. I could almost pay for a welder with the money saved from that one job.