2-post lift guys: how often, really?

[evan9eleven]

So, I'm building a new garage with enough ceiling height to allow a full-rise lift, as I got a good deal on a nearly new 2-post. This lift would allow me to walk under a car with room to spare. However, now that the garage is almost built, I see that I could compromise with a mid-rise 2-post lift instead, and build a second floor in the garage for other uses (read: huge man-cave.)

My questions are thus: how often is it really necessary to stand under a 911? Would a mid-rise do the trick, and how much ceiling height would I need to leave for a typical installation?

Thanks in advance!

[82 SC]

I am running a single post lift and have used mine for a little while now. Standing up is nice but you could get by with at least a height you can roll a chair under the car and sit upright. My goal was to get off the ground with my lift. It has been totally worth it. I don't go all the way up sometimes but it is nice to adjust the height to what i need.

[Mark Salvetti]

How old are you? Seriously, as I get older, I think being able to stand underneath gets more important. Although if you can sit under the 911 on a rolling stool with the mid-rise and avoid using a creeper, that's probably good enough.

You might consider a second floor over just half the garage. That sounds like it would give you enough ceiling height to add a 4-post lift in the other half if you ever acquire a third car, letting you stack them.

Mark

[jlex]

What about building a well into the floor where you'd walk down to work under the car... or a half well to get the stand-up height you're looking for with a mid rise lift? The well with a mid rise lift would allow you to remove an engine if the well was covered.

[Spenny_b]

I've got a vehicle lift that gets the sills to approx stomach height, therefore I have to scramble underneath...and boy do I wish that I had a garage that I could get a full lift system in.

My 2p....I would always go for full height. Would a half height be good enough, yes of course, its a luxury most don't have (especially here in the UK with narrow garages, old towns with old houses and on-street parking)...but...if I were going to the trouble of creating a "Garage-Mahal", then I'd not compromise on the tools, and look to do a half-width mezzanine man-cave floor if possible?

Interested to see how your project transpires!

S

[NYNick]

I built a huge garage with 8 foot ceilings, no lift and a beautiful apartment on the second floor. The second floor space is WAY more valuable to me than any lift accommodation, and adds way more value to the house down the road.

A lift would actually limit your market appeal when(and if) you go to sell. Maybe you don't care. Maybe having the lift is more important to you.

Just sayin'.

[timmy2]

My mid rise lift does everything I need it to do, and I have an 850 square foot man cave above the garage.
The lift is tucked out of the way until I need it.

[jjeffries]

The previous guy who noted how age takes its toll on your body has it right. I have this old Rotary which only goes up 45", but is my favorite tool. By pulling the hydraulic ram to increase space under the car I was able to do a motor installation, further aided by a HF 1000lb lift table. The MaxJax is probably the best, most versatile of the currently available mid-rise lifts. John in CT.

[jdbunda]

My $.02 - I have a four-post in my garage. Full height allows stacking cars for storage which is important for me, as I have four cars and only a two-car garage. My ceiling is just under 10', which is just enough to stack two 911s, I wish I had another foot or two which would give some more flexibility. I *really* like being able to walk under the car, and not have to crouch or sit down to get underneath. Obviously many factors to consider, but if I were building from scratch, there is no way I would compromise, I would find a way to have both man-cave above AND ten foot ceilings, even if it meant I wouldn't have a lift right away. Once the garage is built, it becomes WAY more expensive to change your mind. If raising the ceiling were not feasible, I would build a loft on one side, still leaving room for a lift on the other.

[carreradpt]

I have a MaxJax and I use it quite often for all sorts of things on our cars. I love that it is moveable and easy to install and that was the decision maker for me.. I leave one post in place and move the other when not used I also have a 12ft ceiling in that bay so could have gone to a full size 2 post. I'm on the short side and it's comfortable for me to sit on a low stool while working underneath. Just the other day I wanted to remove my rear taillight bucket, so I installed the post, set the arms and up she goes. Quick as that. Love it

[rnln]

I would love to be able to stand, or at least roll around on a mechanic stool under the car. Make sure you can do that even with a big car (van/SUV) on the lift.

Originally Posted by evan9eleven

So, I'm building a new garage with enough ceiling height to allow a full-rise lift, as I got a good deal on a nearly new 2-post. This lift would allow me to walk under a car with room to spare. However, now that the garage is almost built, I see that I could compromise with a mid-rise 2-post lift instead, and build a second floor in the garage for other uses (read: huge man-cave.)

My questions are thus: how often is it really necessary to stand under a 911? Would a mid-rise do the trick, and how much ceiling height would I need to leave for a typical installation?

Thanks in advance!

[eastbay]

Just like there is no substitute for displacement, there is no substitute for lift height. I have an extended height lift that I can park a full size pickup underneath. Added bonus: no ducking or head knocking when the lift is up, not a small consideration imo.

[inaminit]

I have a 2 post full height and it is wonderful. I am 72 and was really beginning to dread working under the car until the lift came. Now it is easy, and you notice all sorts of items to fix or touch when the car is up in the air.

[evan9eleven]

Thanks for the answers guys. I'm 45 and counting with a wretched back, so I get what you're saying about having plenty of space under the car to walk and work. However, I have a scissorlift now that goes a meter up (39") and its been fine for my needs, so I guess anything better then that sounds great, especially if I get a bonus room above the garage too.

I have seriously considered a mezzanine (partial upstairs loft as has been suggested here.) The garage is 5m wide by 7m long (thats 16.4 x 23 feet.) So only 377 square feet. With the 911 being 4m long, my upstairs loft can't be very big, maybe 150 square feet. So you can see why I'm debating what to do...

[Cory M]

you will not regret installing a full rise 2 post lift

at no point will you say, "I wish I bought the mid rise lift instead"

makes working on the car so much nicer, plus you can stack cars which comes in handy

[mrm930]

I had a 4-post lift at my last house. With a 10'-0" ceiling it was a minimum. However I could get my 930 on the lift and park my M5 (at that time) under the lift. Our new house that I am building will have both a 4-post and a 2-post. Both of which I want to walk under the car. So, we have designed a 15'-0" ceiling height in the garage. In case my wife parks her cayenne on one of them and I need to park under it. that will never happen - but nice to allow for it

Mark

[DeRRis]

I have a mid rise lift. It allows me to do everything I need to do to my car



But I have a height restriction because of my roof structure. If I didn't have this restriction I would have gone with full height for sure. Most likely a 4 post as I like the ramps as a workbench.

[evan9eleven]

I'm getting closer to figuring this out -- and the defining question I had to ask myself is: "how will I actually use the space?" Who am I kidding, the most ambitious project I will tackle is an engine drop, which will be fine with a shorter lift. Suspension is already sorted. Besides that it will be normal maintenance.

One compromise is to leave 8.5 - 9 feet of ceiling height, do the mid-rise lift, and still get 1.5m (almost 60") of space under the car when its fully elevated. Plenty for me to sit and work on most tasks. And I'll get a great space above that adds value to the house (read:happy wifey) plus I get my other hobbies out of the house too.

There is a nagging question. Those of you that stack cars, what is the minimum height under a lift you can get away with and still sneak another 911 under there?

[Kemo]

I guess it depends on how much your are working on your car. I almost always have the car on the lift for one reason or another.

[MotoSook]

I've never met a guys who regrets putting a 2-post in his garage.