Garage Layout Questions

[widebody911]

Ok, I'm the 'drawing up plans' phase of my new garage. This will be a detached structure, 25' wide, 30' deep, 10' walls. and an 8' door. It will have 110/220, a small bathroom with 8' walls, and the bathroom will be sheathed over on top giving me a storage area above it. I'll be using inverted V trusses starting 5' from each end, with a shear wall on on the last normal truss, which will give me a 5' x 5' or so storage area at each end of the structure.

My question is thus: I want to install a lift. I'm looking at the scissor lifts and the 2-post lifts. The primary use for the lift would be brake and suspension, engine removal, etc. I don't really need the capabilty to store one car on top of another. I like the scissor lifts that sit low to the ground, as they're less 'in the way', but the 2-post lifts would offer unimpeded access to the entire underside of the car.

I'm also trying to figure out *where* to put it. I'm thinking of putting it in one of the corners, such that there would be 4-5 feet between the car and wall, which would give me plenty of room to work on the car.

Thoughts? Suggestions?

Here's the floor plan, with possible lift locations noted:

[HawgRyder]

Have you considered one of the "roll-away" type lifts (4 post style) that are available?
They operate on electricity...are safe...and can be had with tire rails or the "4 arm swing in" style.
Bob

[Kevin Stewart]

i just built a garage i screwed up by not putting the bath etc at the rear your eating your storage space, your storage space will be just in side the overhead, if you put the bath at the rear you will have storage all the way across next to the bath like benches shelves etc, Kevin

[widebody911]

Putting the bath at the front-left corner does a couple of things for me: one, it visually balances out the front of the structure, and creates a 'sheltered' area on the back side if the bathroom which would be perfect for setting up a PC. It's space that is hard to utilize anyway, because of it's proximity to the door.

[724doorE]

The space behind the head is perfect for a lathe and a milling machine. An old series one Bridgeport would be a nice fir. That would be good for doing stuff like case shuffle pinning.

Dennis H.

72 911E

[Wayne 962]

I would get a portable scissors-type lift, they run around $3K delivered (saw some nice ones at SEMA). That way, you're not limited in what you can do. They weigh about 800 lbs...

-Wayne

[widebody911]

Hmmmm - hadn't thought of that... Know of any links? Anyone here used one?

Originally posted by Wayne at Pelican Parts
I would get a portable scissors-type lift, they run around $3K delivered (saw some nice ones at SEMA). That way, you're not limited in what you can do. They weigh about 800 lbs...

-Wayne

[pbs911]

Thom, I am envious. You guys who don't live in the crowded $2,000 per sq. foot of land areas and make less than seven figures a year have it made. Does anyone have any ideas on how I can get my wife to move from So. Cal!

[Jack Olsen]

I did a quick search. I hope guys who know more will add to this list.

http://bendpak.com/home/home.asp

http://www.backyardbuddy.com/byborder.htm

http://www.fordsmith.com/model_LR6.htm

http://www.kwiklift.com/

Here's a video, even.

[dad911]

I am extremely happy with my Eagle Lift. Great support, good quality. On-time delivery. I have their drive-on lift. http://www.eagleequip.com/

[carnut169]

OK, I'll contribute:
Click here for a list of ALI approved lift makers

[Jack Olsen]

Wow. Only $1900?

Click on the picture for more information.



(Wayne, you ought to sell these.)

[Porcupine]

Try the following
www.mohawklifts.com
hofmann
www.nussbaumusa.com
www.worthequipment.com
rotary lifts
or www.ontool.com look under lifts and vehicle lifts. They have 2/4 poster etc
no I dont work for them.
Remember your max height when specing a lift.

[cary]

Thom, just a thought. P-Cars are about 14 feet long. If you can make it 32 feet deep. You can put P-Cars in there double deep.
And still have a little room.

Plus sheeting comes in 4 * 8 sheets.

I think your interior layout depends on what your uses are going to be. Is this going to be a dedicated car shop ? Or is it multiple use ?

I want to be able to do a total restoration in my shop. So I'm going to build a separate area for grinding, welding and body work. Nothing but bare walls( & lights, lots ). Nothing for that dusty crap to land on. Needless to say my design has enlarged as I've continued the designing. But I have 10 acres so I don't have space problem. Only $$$ restrictions.

Like you, I don't have plans to store cars with my lift. So I've been leaning toward the 2 post. But the scissors lift is intriguing me. Especially for restoration work. It would lend itself real well to disassembly and transferring the tub to the body rotisserie. There is nothing under the P-car where the scissors lift is. The only project that you'd need to be under there for is changing the fuel lines. I did this on the 77. You go from the fuel pump area back to the engine area quite a few times. I was on the creeper. So with the lift, you'd have to walk around. Big deal, how many times are you going do this......

I'd like to see exactly where it lays out under a 911. To determine how useful it would be. The 2 post has adjustable arms. So it can be adjusted out of the way for suspension work. If the frame part is TOO big on the scissors lift. ???? Then it would be a tire changer. Just a thought.

As for using it on other cars. Drive lines, exhaust and fuel filters/lines. I think it would still work. But not as handy as the 2 post.

Don't forget the space you'll need for work benches & cabinets. I'm allowing 2 feet all the way around the other part of my shop.

Sorry for being long winded.

Forgot, work benches. Stainless Steel. You can pick them up at the restaurant/grocery store junk yards. 6-8 footers for $100-$200. Will last you a life time.

[dean]

My garage is 30'x30' and it is too small. Think about a bigger size. The two post lifts from Eagle look very good to me.

Bigger is better in this case.

Dean

[widebody911]

I would *love* to go bigger, but I'm on the ragged edge right now as far as zoning. I'm zoned R1 in Sacramento county, and my "auxillary structure" can't be more than 50% of the main structure, which is only 1400sqft. If I had my druthers, I'd have gone all the way to the easement on 3 sides and attached it to the existing garage on the other. This would have been ~80x60!

[cary]

Because I don't have a space restriction. I'm going build mine 32 * 68. Which will allow me to have 3 projects going on at once.
One in the mess shop. One in a space about the size of a double garage. And one on the lift in the space of a normal doulbe garage.

A 10*12 store room and a 10*12 office behind the mess shop.

I'm not weathly guy. Just lucky. I have someone ( $$$ ) helping me.