under floor storage

[cutthroatxxx]

So I've been working from my 24x36 ft shop&business has been picking up&I need more space,I'm about to add a addition&when I do in the new floor I want to make a concrete ramp going down to almost like a grease pit to store some motorcycles&I'll cover it with steel grating when not used.
Anybody ever done anything like that@all?If so any tips?My grandfather had a grease pit he built in his old shop I was a kid but I vaguely remembers he used a backhoe to make the hole then he made a concrete floor I could of swore it had cinder block walls but dad says they were concrete.

 

[bazzateer]

If you do it make sure the pit is completely water proof. If water gets in all those bikes will be toast!

 

[Sureshot]

Why not go up instead?

I have 13' roof on my addition and use the space above the office to store motorcycles. The office roof is 2x4 steel tubing with a 3/4" deck. Gives me about 5' 2" room.

I wouldn't want my bike underneath. Rocks through the grating, fuel spills, water intrusion, dropped ??????.

 

[cutthroatxxx]

Up would be a lot of up..the roof use to have a gable roof that reached 24ft@the peak but now its a shed roof it starts@7ft&runs to 13 ft my addition will run 15 ft in length&bring the run up to 16ft.I'm set on going down.The addition will be to store my drag car&some bikes to free up my work area.The doors that are on the back of the shop now will remain the addition will be like an extra room.I already have plans to combat the Water.I think it's a good way to make some extra space&seems fairly inexpensive.Just gotta come up with a good game plan.

 

[cutthroatxxx]

Btw want the headroom to pull horse trailers&rvs in if ever needed..just open doors to exsisting side if needed.

 

[GShelton]

This would be one hell of a big hole. The length would be excessive to get the pitch of the ramp to a usable angle.

 

[Hawk]

Be very careful of ventilation. Almost all fumes settle down. No ventilation=no breathing the trapped fume.

 

[bgarrett]

Pits have been outlawed because heavier-than-air vapors settle down there with no way to escape. These vapors may be explosive or replace oxygen and you pass out and die

 

[sberry]

This might have seemed like a good thought at the time, way too complicated and expensive.

 

[cutthroatxxx]

I get everything done @a good.price..I can get my concrete&rebar for free&Im buying my own backhoe.I know how finish&have buddies that will help out..&grease pitts arent illegal here theres 3 shops I can think of off the top of my head that has them.My only issue is the ramp&if I cant do it Ill either farm it out or eliminate it&use a hoist to get things in&out.

 

[kbs2244]

I would go with the hoist.
A simple ladder for yourself.
It will save a lot of floor space.

I would come up with some kind of fan blowing 24/7/365.
You will need air circulation not only for the fumes everybody is scared of but also to keep rust and mildew off the bikes.

 

[fringeofinsanity]

I'd check your ordinances. Pits were outlawed here as we'll and I know of 3 fellas that had to have theirs filled in because they wouldn't grandfather them.

 

[Sureshot]

If you are buying a backhoe then you could make some "cubes" with a lift point on them to easily pick them out of the hole. Never any need to go down in the pit. I use hot tub pallets all the time for work tables and on my lift etc. You could get some and make a metal frame to lift on. A couple tie down points to balance the bikes and you are golden.

 

[cutthroatxxx]

I'd check your ordinances. Pits were outlawed here as we'll and I know of 3 fellas that had to have theirs filled in because they wouldn't grandfather them.

Theres no codes on non cmmmerical buildings in my co..so I can build a ring of death on my roof of I want

 

[Reverend Bow]

Theres no codes on non cmmmerical buildings in my co..so I can build a ring of death on my roof of I want

Oh Hell Yeah! Post pics of that!

 

[crazytrain]

Member HOTFR8 has a pit with a room off of it. He may have some ideas for you and some knowledge. I know you are looking for larger scale but he may be of some help. I personally don't see a problem as long as you vent it well to keep any dangerous gases out of it. Good luck.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=150063&highlight=hotfr8

 

[jimindm]

Theres no codes on non cmmmerical buildings in my co..so I can build a ring of death on my roof of I want

Your first post says shop-business is to small. Now you say no codes on non commercial. When is a business non commercial? Sounds as if you are splitting hairs here. It either is or is not commercial. Insurance needs or building codes will probly come into play here.

With that, I would look at a precast concrete floor. One that is rated for the weight that you may want to have on it. Then you could have a so called basement space, instead of just a pit. Then go with some kind of a open elevator in the corner. It could as big as the likes of an elevator seen at a construction site. Or it could be as simple as a platform hooked by a winch to an a frame structure. Think of a dumb waiter in a restaraunt, that the dishwasher is in the basement.

I would still have some kind of venting done down there. Just a PVC line with a blower to vent it out. Maybe a blower that is in a radon detection system. Does not blow alot but blows constantly.

 

[cutthroatxxx]

Its not a business..I said I work from home..as in doing jobs from home.Nothing like running a full shop.Just working out of home shop but its picked up.

 

[cutthroatxxx]

Sorry so short earlier was in the middle of something,Its like this I work out of my home shop but thats about it I do alot of work for guys but its not like a legit business.But my work area is getting cramped from my own personal project bikes&cars..My mainn worry is that Ill hit bedrock..as long as I dont I figure Ill be ok.A basement seems like overkill for my needs..I guess I really could just make my addition bigger but just thougt it would be cool.If I told you what I pay for frame work you would think Im nuts for not having a shop as big as the chrysler plant built.

 

[HOTFR8]

You should have a look at my Pit Cellar build in my extensions.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=150063&showall=1

 

[cutthroatxxx]

Have been reading through it since lastnite looks cool.

 

[DIC]

The pit would need to be pretty big to turn around in. Unless your motorcycles have reverse..

 

[cutthroatxxx]

Why would I need to turn them around in there?