I am currently in the market for my first home. I want to get at least a 2 car garage, with one side a 2 post lift (either symmetric or asymmetric), and the other free for another car to detail, wrap, or general stuff not required of a lift. I will probably put the one post as close to the side wall as the installers will go. I'm not worried about getting around it or anything, I will walk all the way around if I must, and if I need to work on something on the passenger side I will back it onto the lift instead. I have seen people suggest anywhere from 10-15 ft on either side of the post front or back. Should a 20/22 wide X 20/22 deep garage be adequate? I only plan on owning the home for 3-4 years or so before building a home and having full control of the sizing, so the minor inconvenience of the tight squeeze on the lift should be fine. As long as I have room to wrap the other car.
Room for a 2 post lift.
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wssix99
Well-known member
Most "standard" cookie cutter 2 car garages are not going to be lift friendly.
For what you are describing, I suggest considering a 4 post lift. It's easier to install, easier to wire, easier to move, you don't need to bolt it down, (so the installation position is not critical), you can move it around, and it's easier to move around and work around in tight spaces.
Then, when you move it will pack up nicely and fit well in your new, larger garage.
For the short time you'll be in this garage, I expect your 2 post headaches will far outweigh any 4 post inconveniences. (Unless you expect to be doing non-stop suspension work.)
For what you are describing, I suggest considering a 4 post lift. It's easier to install, easier to wire, easier to move, you don't need to bolt it down, (so the installation position is not critical), you can move it around, and it's easier to move around and work around in tight spaces.
Then, when you move it will pack up nicely and fit well in your new, larger garage.
For the short time you'll be in this garage, I expect your 2 post headaches will far outweigh any 4 post inconveniences. (Unless you expect to be doing non-stop suspension work.)
MrBalll
Well-known member
I would say no. I have a 25' wide shop and I have the one post 16" from the wall and regret it due to spacing issues(needs more space). I also park a truck on the side without the lift and it is cramped. I have about 18" between my truck and the wall.
So if you only have 22' wide I'd suggest waiting on a lift. You might could do it if you are a toothpick and don't mind having no room to get out of your vehicles. Otherwise just wait.
So if you only have 22' wide I'd suggest waiting on a lift. You might could do it if you are a toothpick and don't mind having no room to get out of your vehicles. Otherwise just wait.
James-W
Well-known member
Welcome to the forum.
I am with the members who say wait till you have a larger garage before you get a lift. A lift would be nice to have, but with the size garage you have I don't see how it would be practical.
I am with the members who say wait till you have a larger garage before you get a lift. A lift would be nice to have, but with the size garage you have I don't see how it would be practical.
I will likely be doing a fair amount of suspension, and exhaust work, and I haven't been able to find many 4 posts to accommodate the needs. Do you know any that have more under car clearance/portable? that plus a QuickJack maybe?
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Falcon67
Well-known member
Fit it then take it with you when you move.
16' door, left post in pic is 24" off the wall. Gives you some idea of available room. That position had an 8' ceiling until I recently modified it. I now have full left capability. Now having said that, in a standard house garage I don't see how you can get two cars in there with a two post. I could see possibly a 4 post with casters pushed up against one wall if the garage is wide enough. The area in the pic is 28' wide, 23.5' deep. Our house garage is 22' wide and about 22' deep - larger than most houses. We like to snoop new construction - I see a lot of 4 door pickups in driveways because the house garage is too short. Ours barely fits with 18" between front bumper and the wall.
16' door, left post in pic is 24" off the wall. Gives you some idea of available room. That position had an 8' ceiling until I recently modified it. I now have full left capability. Now having said that, in a standard house garage I don't see how you can get two cars in there with a two post. I could see possibly a 4 post with casters pushed up against one wall if the garage is wide enough. The area in the pic is 28' wide, 23.5' deep. Our house garage is 22' wide and about 22' deep - larger than most houses. We like to snoop new construction - I see a lot of 4 door pickups in driveways because the house garage is too short. Ours barely fits with 18" between front bumper and the wall.
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firebirdparts
Well-known member
30 feet wide is pretty ideal for what you want to do. If you can't swing that, then you need to start looking at narrow lifts and do some paper dolls.
If the lift posts were 10 feet wide OS/OS, I can see that in a 24, but it wouldn't be spacious. Detailing and putting on wraps, you'd want some space.
In front of the car, you can figure out how much space you need to work. It's not much, but if you have room for a bench in front of the car, you'll work faster. Length of garage, honestly, is not going to be the problem.
The big problem is going to be height. If you limit your options to houses with say a 12' high garage ceiling that should filter out most of the houses. Maybe 10' is enough if your cars are low.
If the lift posts were 10 feet wide OS/OS, I can see that in a 24, but it wouldn't be spacious. Detailing and putting on wraps, you'd want some space.
In front of the car, you can figure out how much space you need to work. It's not much, but if you have room for a bench in front of the car, you'll work faster. Length of garage, honestly, is not going to be the problem.
The big problem is going to be height. If you limit your options to houses with say a 12' high garage ceiling that should filter out most of the houses. Maybe 10' is enough if your cars are low.
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wssix99
Well-known member
I have a BendPak HD7W lift, which gives me almost 7' of clearance underneath. You can also get casters for it and roll it around. The guy who made this video made some mistakes in this, but did come up with some cleaver ideas and demonstrates the casters/rolling around the lift at time 37:00
BendPak has a narrower version of this lift also and I believe most lift manufacturers have competing products. I like the BendPak because they tend to be just a tad taller than other brands and have some different size/options. Their 4-post rolling jacks also contact at the frame's lifting points if you need to do suspension work. In the end, the lift and the two sets of jacks will cost you more than a single 2 post lift, but the product you'll be left with should be a lot more useful/versatile for your situation and something you can continue to use in the future. (If you bolt this down, it makes a great storage lift.)
^ - BTW If you can roll the lift around, that should help you solve some of your space concerns, particularly if you need to do work, which requires some elbow room. (You can move everything out of the garage and then scoot the lift over in the middle.)
Kevin54
MEMBER EMERITUS
No. You need a wider garage. Plain and simple.