Will I regret a lift?

[Ron_J]

I'm making the final arrangements for my garage and am to the point of a lift. The garage will be 30x50x12 with 2 10' doors on the 30' end. I have always wanted a lift as I maintain my 3 vehicles as well as my daughters vehicles as well. But, the thought of the lift being permanent and not being able to use the floor space for anything else is a bit of a concern.

I will probably park my truck (only an occasional runner) in it, but I still wonder if I will regret not having the ability of opening up the floor.

 

[Jlbc212]

I don't know how old you are, but the older you get the more difficult it becomes to do maintenance and repairs while laying on your back. I wish I had it years ago, but I had to wait until I retired before I could get one. My garage is only 28x36 and half of it is used for storage by my son-in-law and his dad. With a garage your size you can place it into one of the corners. The two post lift is one of the best tool investments I have ever made.

 

[tff]

I don’t think you will. You’ve got a good sized garage with only one vehicle in it. Mine is 20 x 30 with two vehicles and I don’t have any regrets. You do want to plan well as to where to place it though.

 

[Mancino]

I don't think you'll regret losing some floor space. I have a 30x40 and have 2 cars parked during the winter. I still have plenty of room on the other half to pull cars in and out to use the lift. Plus, you have another 10' deep. The problem always is, if you have the room, you find stuff to fill it with. Ha!

 

[ALinCarolina]

Sounds like you will have the room. You know all the usual reasons to choose a 4 post vs. a 2 post and vice versa. Like parking etc. But one of the main reasons I went with a 4 post was so I wouldn't have to get down and place the arms of a 2 post. Therefore, like Jlbc, I can't imagine having to get down and use a creeper again.

 

[kaymccampbell]

I have to play Tetris to use mine, in my one bay, and I still don't regret it for one minute. Like TFF says, plan well young grasshopper. I moved mine twice to get it just right.

 

[Innovate1]

I don't know much about lifts but some of the 4 post can be used without bolting down and they also make units with wheels that can be moved around. Even if it's bolted down what's to stop you from unbolting it, cutting off the anchors if needed (shouldn't be) and moving it?

https://www.bendpak.com/car-lifts/four-post-lifts/do-4-post-lifts-need-to-be-bolted-down/

The link also mentions a caster kit to put wheels on at least one of the models.

 

[CraigStu]

A 2 post asymmetrical will work great. The asymmetrical makes it easier to get in and out so using the lift area as a regular parking spot is no problem. It's also no problem to put a car up in the air and drive under it. I worked in an 8 bay shop for 10 yrs. It was 4 bays wide so we drove under cars on lifts many, many times per day.

 

[JohnnyK8]

Get a Triumph C7000. It's pretty good sized and can be moved if needed


Never regretted it for a minute.


Sent from my SM-A505U using Tapatalk

 

[dagofast]

I only have one regret about my 4 post lift.





That I didn't buy it 30 years ago.

 

[nadogail]

Based on the other responses; not only no you won't regret having a lift, but you will be glad to show it off.

 

[jdm5]

Consider a portable like the Maxjack? Can easily wheel it out of the way if necessary.

 

[Ron_J]

Thanks all, I am really looking forward to not having to rely on the floor jack.

Not to get off topic, but those that use a 4 post lift, don't you miss the ability to take the wheels off while on the lift? Or am I missing something?

 

[59 wagon man]

imagine waxing your car and not having to bend down or kneel to wax the lower doors and quarters. buy a 4 post ,don't bolt it down and enjoy. sure a 2 post is a little easier for some repairs but it's a pain to adjust the arms all the time especially as we get older

as for removing the wheels you still need a jack and either a bridge jack or air operated bottle jack make it easy

 

[Shadowdog500]

You will not regret getting a lift! Actually, you will wonder how you ever got by without one.

My shop is about the same size as the one you are building. I put the lift near the back of the one side so it does not block the entrance. (See photo below). You can store a running vehicle there and it will force you to keep the space from the door to the lift clean. A friend built a shop identical to mine but added a side door near the rear of the shop. He put a lift in that bay which works out great because it doesn’t block one of the end doors and he does not have to worry about filling the rest of the shop with non running cars and stuff.


The biggest problem you are going to get with building a shop that big is that some friends and family will think you built it to store their stuff or projects. Friends who had it happen to them told me that this was going to happen while my shop was being built. One guy built his dream shop only to have it full to the gills with relatives furniture for years, and another had a friends half finished project vehicle taking up half of his for years with no work done on it for years.

Start working on your “firm no” now. I’ve had to use my “firm no” on multiple occasions. I even had someone who thought my shop was built to support his business ventures.

It’s kind of like owning a pickup truck where everyone thinks you are their moving man.

 

[Newell33]

I have a 28'x40' shop. I've thought about going with a permanent lift, but I'm always moving my utility tractor, 4 wheelers, motorcycle lift, painting station, and other items all around like a Tetris puzzle (stolen from someone's post above). I ended up going with the QuickJack instead. Although it's not as convenient to use as a permanent lift would have been, it does allow me flexibility to store the jacks when not in use. I'm pretty sure I'd need to find another place to park my utility tractor if I had a permanent lift installed. Each person is different, though. You may not have as much to store or move around as I do. You also have slightly more space.

 

[dagofast]

Thanks all, I am really looking forward to not having to rely on the floor jack.

Not to get off topic, but those that use a 4 post lift, don't you miss the ability to take the wheels off while on the lift? Or am I missing something?

No, because I have a rolling jack on mine. Popping the wheels off is easy peasey. Brakes, shocks, stuts and suspension work are all still possible on a 4 post, while not as accessible as they would be on a 2 post.

In many ways the 2 post vs 4 post come down to personal preferences but for me it was mostly my age and old arthritic joints that moved me in the direction of a 4 post. With a 2 post, there is the repeated getting down on my knees to position the arms and re-checking, placing safety stands vs. merely driving on to the 4 post and chocking a tire and pushing the up button on a 4 post. And I've found removing heavy truck tires is easier on my back as well, I just pop them off the hub and roll them down the ramp out of the way and lay them down. No lifting them up and down 3-5 feet.

 

[Higgins]

We had a 2 1/2 car garage back in IL. and purchased the wheel kit. During the 20+ yrs we were there, we did move it around a couple of times. Just make sure the garage door is high enough so you could wheel it outside...

Cheers!!

 

[niget2002]

Y

The biggest problem you are going to get with building a shop that big is that some friends and family will think you built it to store their stuff or projects. Friends who had it happen to them told me that this was going to happen while my shop was being built. One guy built his dream shop only to have it full to the gills with relatives furniture for years, and another had a friends half finished project vehicle taking up half of his for years with no work done on it for years.

There's truth in this...

We just moved into our new house/shop last June. As we were moving, we were getting rid of stuff we didn't want. The MIL found out we were getting rid of the dining room set and told us she wanted it. I asked her when I could drop it off, and she said she needed to get rid of her current one but, "I could just move it into my shop until she's ready."... We weren't even moved into the house and people were already trying to store their sh!t in it

I tried to tell my wife I didn't want to do that, but I lost that battle. We did agree that the MIL can have until this summer to get it or it'd be given to the first person on FB that comes and gets it.

 

[drmarkr]

I only have one regret about my 4 post lift.





That I didn't buy it 30 years ago.

Winner, winner, chicken dinner.....

 

[Shadowdog500]

We had a 2 1/2 car garage back in IL. and purchased the wheel kit. During the 20+ yrs we were there, we did move it around a couple of times. Just make sure the garage door is high enough so you could wheel it outside...

Cheers!!

What are you wheeling around? Are you wheeling around a car lift?

If so, I’d like to see it

 

[drmarkr]

Thanks all, I am really looking forward to not having to rely on the floor jack.

Not to get off topic, but those that use a 4 post lift, don't you miss the ability to take the wheels off while on the lift? Or am I missing something?

Jack tray and an $80 pneumatic jack from HF. Position under rear jack point, pull lever, place jack stands and release. Slide jack tray forward, pull lever, place jack stands and release.

I have both in the garage at the track and the only reason I use the 2 post is because there's a car on the 4 post some of the time and I don't want to move it just to do a quick wheel/tire change or oil change.

(Another cool mod I did with the jack tray was mounting a small hoist on it and running the cable down through the bottom....we can hoist the (1000#) formula cars with that hoist to get them up as needed)

 

[vavet]

I thought the same thing. At one point I even started a thread on here stating that I'd decided not to get a lift.
I finally ordered a surface mount two-platform lift. I really like the flush mount style, but I didn't want to deal with the logistics of waiting to get it on site before having the concrete guy pour the floor and I didn't trust the dimensions of the vendor enough to do that.
I use mine for a lot of things other than lifting vehicles. I use them as work platforms so I can position my workpiece at a good height when my workbench is otherwise occupied or the workpiece is that awkward size where putting it on the bench is too tall, but the floor is too low. I even put my son on it so I could position him just right for a haircut! You don't really get that flexibility with a 2 post. Each lift style has its advantages and disadvantages.

 

[mike93lx]

What are you wheeling around? Are you wheeling around a car lift?

If so, I’d li,e to see it

A 4 post lift can by put on casters. Not a 2 post

 

[Shadowdog500]

A 4 post lift can by put on casters. Not a 2 post

I never said 2 post lift. If you wanted to move a lift, i figured it would have to be a 4 post. I just looked it up and never realized that you could get a kit to move a 4 post lift around. Here is a video from Greg Smith

I helped a friend install a heavy duty 4 post lift that he got used out of a transmission shop and it had to be bolted down. I know there is a video on YouTube of a 4 post lift failure caused by the leg sliding out from under it because it wasn’t bolted down.

He could also get a portable 1 post lift like this one.

Someone here recently used his to store his truck up on 55 gallon barrels.

 

[thickhead]

4 post lift with a rolling bridge jack.
You can do fluid services, brake/wheel/suspension, trans removal, lower body/floor repairs plus you can stack vehicles/stuff for storage.

 

[Ron_J]

4 post lift with a rolling bridge jack.
You can do fluid services, brake/wheel/suspension, trans removal, lower body/floor repairs plus you can stack vehicles/stuff for storage.

I just checked out the bridge jack...pretty cool.

 

[stillnostrebor]

I'never been more happy with a shop purchase. I have a 2-post asymmetrical lift in a 30'x40' shop and it has not been in my way yet. The only issue I have is I have the lift ******* and need to work on another car on the lift. Maybe I need two...

 

[firebirdparts]

"Regret" and "Lift" have no business in the same sentence, unless the sentence is "I regret that I waited so long to get my lift."

 

[bczygan]

I've got 8 lifts and use them all the time.


































At school!

Bill

 

[lawhorne]

I have a 24x60 shop with a 4 post direct lift - bought used included bridge jack and caster set for 1k. Best purchase. Casters allow it to be moved around (unloaded). it is not bolted down. Columns are more secure with a load on it.

 

[lawhorne]

That being said, I'd like to add a 2 post for the added capability - lifting body off frame/subframe....

 

[Bopbop]

I just finished in the last year my 30 x 60 x12 shop at the new house. I have 3 garage doors in mind. At 1 bay I have a 2 post lift similar to my old shop. I love my lift and do not have any issues with the floor space it takes up. Since I am pushing 60 now and had several neck surgeries I could not think of doing half the stuff I do without the lift.
Once you have the lift you will wonder how you did without one.

 

[thickhead]

I just checked out the bridge jack...pretty cool.

Here is a thread with some good info/dimensions on the jack Advantage Lift sells if you are interested: https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=414837

 

[Lassen Forge]

You will "regret" it if you don't get a "Lift".

Our 4 poster has a pair of trolley jacks as well, that is about the most usable thing I've ever seen. The only thing I can't do with it is lift a body off a chassis (and it's only because I haven't tried... yet...) but yeah.

 

[BruceMc]

Our 4 poster has a pair of trolley jacks as well, that is about the most usable thing I've ever seen. The only thing I can't do with it is lift a body off a chassis (and it's only because I haven't tried... yet...) but yeah.

I haven't done it, but have seen where the trick is to start with the car on the ground, under the lift. You now have two strong rails running above over the length of the car, one on each side, suitable for infinite attachment points for lifting straps, chains, etc.

 

[p00p]

You'll regret that you couldn't build bigger to have another lift.

 

[Justintime2]

Get a 4 post with the cantilever wheel attachments and enjoy!

 

[sixty4]

A 2 post asymmetrical will work great. The asymmetrical makes it easier to get in and out so using the lift area as a regular parking spot is no problem. It's also no problem to put a car up in the air and drive under it. I worked in an 8 bay shop for 10 yrs. It was 4 bays wide so we drove under cars on lifts many, many times per day.

Sorry I went with my 4 post. The two post frees up more space thats for sure.

 

[3rdgendslmech]

pffttt.....hell no you wont regret it! I have a smaller shop 24x32 with a 10' ceiling. I ended up with a floor plate 10K capacity Atlas Lift from Best Buy Automotive. Just the simple fact that once I set the arms, I can get under pretty much any vehicle on a rolling seat makes it worth the money!