I worked on school buses at an old Nike site the bus could drive across the elevator platform , roll your tool box on and you could lower your self down and work at any height you wanted. The elevator when the army had it had a launcher on it for Nike missiles which were storied in an underground bomb proof shelter with 4 ft. Thick walls . You could drive the bus on the elevator platform and lower it down and stay at ground level and do body work or paint even the roof . If you lowered it all the way underground you had room it pull off the elevator and park 3 or 4 buses , nice working in a cool basement on a hot summer day. This was in the early 70's and 80's we had 3 elevator / pits , wished I had pictures from there now.
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AStrahota
Well-known member
Chuck122
Well-known member
I thought the main safety concern was acetylene accumulating at the bottom and going kaboom on you later on
e-tek
Well-known member
I bought my house partly (okay mostly) because the attached 2-car garage had a pit. It was put in about 1970 with an addition and one can see how sheets of plywood had been laid down and then covered over during the garage cement pour - likely until after the foundation was inspected!
I used the pit for about a year, until I build my big shop out back and put in a BendPak lift. Once I got the lift, there was little reason to use the pit anymore. Besides having to remove the very heavy cover or being VERY careful when moving a car over the open hole, it ***** having to climb out of the pit when you need a tool or part, then climb back in with whatever you needed.
We now use the pit to store tires - and cases of wine - a much better use!
I used the pit for about a year, until I build my big shop out back and put in a BendPak lift. Once I got the lift, there was little reason to use the pit anymore. Besides having to remove the very heavy cover or being VERY careful when moving a car over the open hole, it ***** having to climb out of the pit when you need a tool or part, then climb back in with whatever you needed.
We now use the pit to store tires - and cases of wine - a much better use!
Bogdan M.
Well-known member
I have dug myself an inspection pit to use in my auto workshop.
Here lifts are very common, but I choose to have an inspection pit because I thought that quality tools are a better investment.
I will still buy a lift because having one makes you look better.
The only advantage I see for a lift is that you no longer have to get up and down to take tools you need, so a lift is more confortable.
I repair automatic gearboxes and engines, so a pit can be used even for bigger jobs, not only suspension and axle work.
A pit can be a good alternative to a lift when you don't have a high enough space for a lift.
Let's not forget that before lifts, pits were the obvious choice.
GaryB1
Well-known member
I always wanted to dig one in our dirt floor garage before putting in concrete, but around here rattlesnakes tend to inhabit any cool dark place so ventilation would be only one of the problems!
A guy I knew was doing an oil change on a tractor in the pit at his brother's shop. Apparently something set off a fire while he was the pit, and he was very seriously burned. Up to that point, I thought a pit would be safer than putting a vehicle on a lift.
Given how reasonably priced floor lifts are now, I can't imagine building a pit would even save much money over the cost of a lift.
GGB
Given how reasonably priced floor lifts are now, I can't imagine building a pit would even save much money over the cost of a lift.
GGB
HOTFR8
Banned
I added that to mine in the build stage. A great storage area.
I have heard snakes can be an issue here but they have to fall in first.
The bigger the vehicle the more I prefer it to be on the ground. I have two trucks so a lift was not an option.
kenfath
Well-known member
The US Army motor pool I worked in had a pit. It was well constructed, about 5-feet deep, stairs on one end, foot recesses on the other, explosion proof lights, a fume exhaust system, had drainage and an approx 5' yellow-painted curb. Everyone assigned to the motor pool was given a course of instruction concerning its use. Some of the topics that I remember were: don't fall in it; always have two methods of exit; always turn the lights and ventilation on before entering the pit; only use the pit when someone else was in the motor pool building. (The illustration that started this story, showing a vehicle parked over the stairs would have been against the rules.)
It was OK for buses and larger military design vehicles, especially in the winter. It was somewhat useful when repairing/replacing exhaust systems on the commercial sedans and pickups. It didn't work well for oil changes.
A friend was replacing his c-1920's garage which had a pit. He rationalized the pit would be grandfathered. Building inspector was about to sign-off on the forming and then realized there was a pit. Inspector had the fire chief respond and they wouldn't allow it because of the potential of someone, like a firefighter, falling in. (I agree.)
It was OK for buses and larger military design vehicles, especially in the winter. It was somewhat useful when repairing/replacing exhaust systems on the commercial sedans and pickups. It didn't work well for oil changes.
A friend was replacing his c-1920's garage which had a pit. He rationalized the pit would be grandfathered. Building inspector was about to sign-off on the forming and then realized there was a pit. Inspector had the fire chief respond and they wouldn't allow it because of the potential of someone, like a firefighter, falling in. (I agree.)
kaffine
Well-known member
I hated using the pit when I worked at a Freightliner dealer. When pulling on the pit no one was ever around to help guide and the small curb would hardly be a small bump to the truck tires. It was never the right height some trucks it wasn't deep enough others it was too deep. Some of the trucks the drain plug was on the side of the pan and the pit wasn't wide enough to position the drain pan so the oil would hit the curb and made a very big mess. Had problems getting to grease fittings some I would have to access from above others from below some there was no good way to access with the truck over the pit. We also had some trucks that wouldn't fit on the pit after spending 15 minutes trying to get it on moving a little to the right then back a little to the left I finally had both rear tires hit the curb because the truck was to narrow.
Give me a 2 post or better yet an in-ground 2 post lift. For working on large trucks I would take a set of mobile column lifts or work on the ground with jacks and stands before I would use a pit. In fact after a month of working in the pit that is what I did I would work outside in front of the pit instead of pulling in.
Give me a 2 post or better yet an in-ground 2 post lift. For working on large trucks I would take a set of mobile column lifts or work on the ground with jacks and stands before I would use a pit. In fact after a month of working in the pit that is what I did I would work outside in front of the pit instead of pulling in.
I own one half of a double garage shared with the neighbour, so I can't really tear it down and build a new one. The headroom is pretty limited, and when I poured concrete on the gravel floor I spent a day to dig a shallow pit.
It's just big enough to fit me, around 190 cm x 90 cm, 40 cm deep, (75" x 35", 16" deep). It's been very practical for oil change, clutch change etc., and it's easily covered with some floor boards when not in use. I put down some vinyl flooring as well, so I can easily slide around on my back, and easily clean up spills.
Of course I'd like to be able to stand up, it can get a bit cramped under there. But it sure beats jackstands!
It's just big enough to fit me, around 190 cm x 90 cm, 40 cm deep, (75" x 35", 16" deep). It's been very practical for oil change, clutch change etc., and it's easily covered with some floor boards when not in use. I put down some vinyl flooring as well, so I can easily slide around on my back, and easily clean up spills.
Of course I'd like to be able to stand up, it can get a bit cramped under there. But it sure beats jackstands!
bazzateer
Well-known member
That's not a pit, that's a pot-hole! 
dirttracker18
Well-known member
The only thing a pit is good for is an oil change station.
Having worked in a pit it *****, lighting *****, even the air ***** as all the gases and dust collect there.
With anything heavy you have to drag it into the pit to lift it up to the vehicle. At least with a lift you start at ground level. I had to use a chainfall to lowere a trans into the pit only to lift it back up to the vehicle.
For the cost to build it you can buy a decent lift and have so many more options.
Most guys I know that had a pit have since filled them in. If not permanent then with junk.
Having worked in a pit it *****, lighting *****, even the air ***** as all the gases and dust collect there.
With anything heavy you have to drag it into the pit to lift it up to the vehicle. At least with a lift you start at ground level. I had to use a chainfall to lowere a trans into the pit only to lift it back up to the vehicle.
For the cost to build it you can buy a decent lift and have so many more options.
Most guys I know that had a pit have since filled them in. If not permanent then with junk.
Oldbear
Well-known member
Wine in the garage... almost as good as whiskey.
willy3486
Well-known member
I built one in mine when I built my workshop about 15 years ago. I use it mainly for oil changes.Since I was pouring the floor in the hottest part of the year I was told to do it in two parts. I dug the hole and formed up a wooden box for the sides. I put rebar between the box and the dirt for the walls of the pit. The walls are about 8 inches of rebar and concrete and I have a area about 7 feet long by 2 feet wide by 2 feet deep. The first pour of concrete I did that side of the shop and let the concrete fill in to the pits walls. After it set the next week I removed the form for the walls . I then did the other sides floor and poured some into the pit for its floor.
I usually step down into it and then crawl under it. It has really been handy. I don't have to worry about jacks or stands giving away. The last few times I have changed oil I have used stands as that area is full of junk. I need to clean it out so I can use it again.
I usually step down into it and then crawl under it. It has really been handy. I don't have to worry about jacks or stands giving away. The last few times I have changed oil I have used stands as that area is full of junk. I need to clean it out so I can use it again.
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VHF
Well-known member
When I was at college 20+ years ago we had a 2-car garage for students to use for car repairs. It had a pit in one bay. There was 3" steel pipe protecting the edges of the pit to prevent dropping a wheel over the edge. There was a set of steep stairs down to the pit, and because the garage was built on a hillside, there was a walk-out door opening to the outside at pit level (making the pit into a miniture walk-out basement.) Instead of a door, there was an iron gate, which provided pretty good ventilation while still allowing the building to be locked up when not in use.
Did a lot of oil changes in that pit, as well as a few starters, and dropping a (very heavy!) 4-speed ****** out of my friend's 1973 BMW Bavaria.
Then there was another friend's 1974 Mustang II that needed a starter replacement. We were half way through and didn't have all the parts to finish the job, and needed to get the car out of the bay so someone else could use the pit. On the 2.3 liter 4-cylinder Mustang II, it was nescessary to disconnect the steering column in order to replace the starter. In pushing the car out of the garage it started rolling on it's own, and without being able to steer the car it rolled into some rich kid's new Camero out in the parking lot! Just a small dent in the Chevy's shiny new sheet metal, but that added $600 to the cost of a new starter!
Did a lot of oil changes in that pit, as well as a few starters, and dropping a (very heavy!) 4-speed ****** out of my friend's 1973 BMW Bavaria.
Then there was another friend's 1974 Mustang II that needed a starter replacement. We were half way through and didn't have all the parts to finish the job, and needed to get the car out of the bay so someone else could use the pit. On the 2.3 liter 4-cylinder Mustang II, it was nescessary to disconnect the steering column in order to replace the starter. In pushing the car out of the garage it started rolling on it's own, and without being able to steer the car it rolled into some rich kid's new Camero out in the parking lot! Just a small dent in the Chevy's shiny new sheet metal, but that added $600 to the cost of a new starter!
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Too_Many_Tools
Banned
We have both a pit and a lift...both are just specialized tools that do different jobs very well.
mike_81
Well-known member
I've come across two vehicle pits in my life.
1. my wife's uncle. He made a very wide pit in his garage, turned a 10" I-beam on its side and held it up with 8" concrete pillars for the wall wide. The other side had a 4" angle iron to ensure the tire didn't miss. lol. been there 10+ years works fine. he installed a ventilation system as well.
2. (and this one is WILD) was my late grandfathers. He had two railway ties (or something similar) CANTILEVERED off a cliff. the cliff had a ledge about 4' deep 5' down from grade. He supported the railway ties in concrete pillars from there (hard rock, northern Ontario, Canada) and climed down a ladder to use it. He used this for many, many years until he moved. did mostly oil changes and other fluid swaps. Was very unconventional thats for sure!
1. my wife's uncle. He made a very wide pit in his garage, turned a 10" I-beam on its side and held it up with 8" concrete pillars for the wall wide. The other side had a 4" angle iron to ensure the tire didn't miss. lol. been there 10+ years works fine. he installed a ventilation system as well.
2. (and this one is WILD) was my late grandfathers. He had two railway ties (or something similar) CANTILEVERED off a cliff. the cliff had a ledge about 4' deep 5' down from grade. He supported the railway ties in concrete pillars from there (hard rock, northern Ontario, Canada) and climed down a ladder to use it. He used this for many, many years until he moved. did mostly oil changes and other fluid swaps. Was very unconventional thats for sure!
Well being that acetylene is less dense than Nitrogen and Oxygen (the most common elements in our air) you shouldn't have to worry about it filling any holes in the floor.
holdtherice
Active member
I thought about this very question some time back, and the answer I came up with is you should use the right tool for the job. A pit may be useful in the right situation, but more often a lift or even floor jack can be better. How much work do you do on the bottom of the vehicle without taking the tire off the ground?
Many years ago I worked in a quick oil change place and the basement floor was about as big as the 8 bay above. There was plenty of room around the pits for work and storage, we still used lifts for exhaust work.
Outside of an oil change business, lifts work better for most passenger vehicles. If you have space for a pit at home, perhaps a good set of ramps would be just as convenient.
Many years ago I worked in a quick oil change place and the basement floor was about as big as the 8 bay above. There was plenty of room around the pits for work and storage, we still used lifts for exhaust work.
Outside of an oil change business, lifts work better for most passenger vehicles. If you have space for a pit at home, perhaps a good set of ramps would be just as convenient.
Kels
Well-known member
My dad build a pit in his garage for oil changes or inspecting something, not used often at all, he has railroad beams on either side that fit wood panels that slide so its not open unless he is using it. I always thought it was really cool. Pretty sure he doesn't have ventilation in there but its used rarely. I think the fact its covered is awesome so no chances of falling in!
Rural53
Well-known member
This is one we designed and are overseeing the construction of for the Commercial Vehicle Investigation Unit of the NZ Police. Twenty two metre long pit with built in brake tester and sliding jack units. The pipes on the left are the forced ventilation system.
superduty59
Active member
- Joined
- Feb 1, 2012
- Messages
- 40
Does anybody really worry about permits and zoning? Dude my neighbors are amish and on my land I build what I want. I'm smart enough to know if it isn't safe I won't build it. I don't need to pay the government to ask permission if I can build something or how to build something on my land. I think it's just mostly city folks who waste money on permits, right?
HOTFR8
Banned
You could also get court time with out permits and have to pull down or change what you have built.
gordyy
Well-known member
for truck work where most of your vehicles are extremely heavy they work great as long as its built right and most of the guys using it are the same height. We built one in a shop we had in 1981 worked great for 3 or 4 years then we hired a new employee (there were my dad myself and 2 other guys dad did the book work the other 2 and myself are all over 6' tall) the new guy was 5'3" he had to use a step stool all the time. The rest of us tripped over his stool all the time.
but check the cost of a lift to pickup a crane that weighs 50 tons itself!
but check the cost of a lift to pickup a crane that weighs 50 tons itself!
thatmaskedman
New member
Pits are great. They still use em in big truck shops. If outlawed in your area it is because of the mess caused if gasoline gets in them....don't make a spark. Probably the most common problem is falls. I've fallen in a pit 3 times. I still like them. The planks that cover it when not in use (mandatory) are used to set the jacks on. Good for ****** jobs on RWD cars and trucks. Insurance companys aren't cool with them. Do a nice job on the pit floor finish and you can pick up spills, clean, with a snow shovel.
wnstwolf
Well-known member
I just came across this thread and the picture in the first post rocked my world. That exact situation with the welder down in the hole put me in the emergency room some 20 years ago. I was replacing the floor panels and other sheet metal in a 68 Camaro and was at a friends shop with a pit. this was my first real big job with the welder and I had a lot of work to do. Started work around 8:00 am and the EMTs were on site around 4:30. seems the argon selonoid on the MIG unit I was using leaked a little even when off. Emptied out a full H tank over the time in the pit. Argon heavier than air eventually filled the pit and I was breathing it in all day. Once in me I was poked and thought I was having an asmtha attack!
Got to the ED and the doc was very engenious. No Hyperbarric chambers but instead strapped me to a flat board and stood me upside down against the wall for a few hours. The kids in the waiting room all thought it was a big joke. Far from it if someone did not come abck to the shop to check on me I would have been history.
Careful of pits with no exhaust. We do things that bite us real quick!
Got to the ED and the doc was very engenious. No Hyperbarric chambers but instead strapped me to a flat board and stood me upside down against the wall for a few hours. The kids in the waiting room all thought it was a big joke. Far from it if someone did not come abck to the shop to check on me I would have been history.
Careful of pits with no exhaust. We do things that bite us real quick!
dalehsc
ALLIANCE MEMBER
My dad built a repair garage in the 50's with a pit cut out of the wooden floor of the building,when he expanded in 1959 he built a pit in concrete and boarded over the original pit to extent the general store that my mom looked after.When I took over the operation in 1986 a pit was the only thing I was used to working with. I have had a few purists with unibody constructed cars come to me because their vehicle wouldn't be put on a lift. I did put a lift in(2 post) but still use the pit 98% of the time.
sasquatch12
Well-known member
- Joined
- Nov 6, 2013
- Messages
- 403
My son's gage has both, the property he bought had a 30x40 garage ,two bays. on the one side was a nice concrete pit, nicly built. He then bought a 14000 lb rotary lift hoist, and we installed it,, yup, over the pit.
By spacing out the hoist legs a wee bit, there is now still room to back a dual wheel truck in between over the pit, or a backhoe etc. With a cover over the pit the hoist is accessible, and still allows heavier equipment to be driven in over the pit.
This left the other garage bay uncluttered with no hoist or pit, to work on just the concrete floor.
This has worked very good for him.
By spacing out the hoist legs a wee bit, there is now still room to back a dual wheel truck in between over the pit, or a backhoe etc. With a cover over the pit the hoist is accessible, and still allows heavier equipment to be driven in over the pit.
This left the other garage bay uncluttered with no hoist or pit, to work on just the concrete floor.
This has worked very good for him.
Car Collector Chronicles
Active member
Unless you have unlimited funds to throw at such a project, as has already been discussed, building codes make construction of a pit almost cost prohibitive. There are stringent electrical, ventilation and drainage requirements. Far cheaper to go with a lift; even a very, very expensive one!
Bogdan M.
Well-known member
I have dug myself an inspection pit to use in my auto workshop.
Here lifts are very common, but I choose to have an inspection pit because I thought that quality tools are a better investment.
I will still buy a lift because having one makes you look better.
The only advantage I see for a lift is that you no longer have to get up and down to take tools you need, so a lift is more confortable.
I repair automatic gearboxes and engines, so a pit can be used even for bigger jobs, not only suspension and axle work.
A pit can be a good alternative to a lift when you don't have a high enough space for a lift.
Let's not forget that before lifts, pits were the obvious choice.
I wanted to post here again for some time.
I now have a lot more experience in using an inspection pit and my opinion about it evolved a lot in time.
Inspection pits are surely usable, but belong to the past and should no longer be considered an option.
Having a pit is surely better than crawling beneath a car that's on jack stands, but in comparison with a lift, there are many disadvantages.
Firstly, you can't have your tools right next to you like you can with a lift and a rolling tool cabinet. That means a lot of trips up and down the ladder going to get tools in order to get the job done.
It's not so difficult if you are young, but it's still a hazard and it's riskier when you get older.
Another downside to a pit is having to repair something around the wheels.
Brakes and suspension means working in a crouched position or other uncomfortable positions. If you have a lift, there's no such problem.
Having to remove a front axle support or rear axle carrier is a lot tougher when you have a lift.
Cleaning a pit is also something that's quite annoying.
If you have a lift, you only have to clean the floor. In the case of a pit, you also need to wipe the walls because there are always spills.
Removing a gearbox is also harder.
Basically everything is harder and messier.
In my next garage I will surely get a lift. It makes your life a lot easier.
LS6 Tommy
Well-known member
Good luck ion NJ. Not only will do you have to jump through flaming hoops to put in a ventilation system the State would like, the local Government will likely fine you for building a commercial service garage in a residential area and then raise your taxes to reflect said use. I know a few people (including my grandfather back in the 50's) who have run into various versions of those scenarios.
Tommy
Tommy
lakeroadster
Well-known member
Grandpa's Dirt Bank Grease Pit
Depends on the pit.
My grandfather had a "grease pit" at his farm. He built it into an earthen bank and the pit was open on the end so you could simply walk out of it.
It was handy, mostly for oil changes and clutch / transmission removals... that kind of stuff.
That being said, a pit is a poor substitute for a lift. Brake work, tire rotation, replacing leaf springs / rear axles / shock absorbers, etc. aren't very conducive to a pit.
Depends on the pit.
My grandfather had a "grease pit" at his farm. He built it into an earthen bank and the pit was open on the end so you could simply walk out of it.
It was handy, mostly for oil changes and clutch / transmission removals... that kind of stuff.
That being said, a pit is a poor substitute for a lift. Brake work, tire rotation, replacing leaf springs / rear axles / shock absorbers, etc. aren't very conducive to a pit.
