4 post lift
 

Been thinking about putting a 4 post lift in my garage and measured the ceiling. It's only 10'4". I know that I'll need to run the door all the way not the ceiling. Been looking at the specs on lifts and still wondering if I have enough clearance?

Should be ok, Mine is 10'-6, with an Eagle Lift. Need high-tracks on garage doors. No opener, or torsion opener.

My ceiling is 10'7", with a LARGE beam running across. I have EXTRA HEAVY DUTY garage doors with T-11 stained wood cladding on the outside, so I was looking at $3K to raise my door. I just put the lift in "as-is", and while I can't go to FULL height, it is one of the best things I have purchased for my car.


http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1461548618.jpg


http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1461548669.jpg

I have 8ft ceilings on my garage and still love my lift. Mines not a 4post so no stacking, but it beats the hell out of working on jack stands!

It will depend a lot on what size vehicle you park top or under. I have 10ft ceiling w/torsion openers and there is plenty of room for me to stand under or stack cars. Greg Smith 4-post lift here

What type of lift do you have?

I have a mid rise snap on lift.

Work like a charm. LiftMaster Elite Series: $295 delivered Liftmaster 8500 Wall Mount Garage Door Opener - - Amazon.com

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1461602983.jpg

You never said what for... 10'4 is plenty to lift and work under your car. If you mean to stack 2 cars, it's borderline depending on your garage door tracks and your cars. Doable with 2 low riders or sports cars, maybe. Really-> Do your own measurements by adding both your cars (if planning on stacking) + the thickness of the pad + another 2 inches for locking/unlocking the lift - if you can't lift it higher than the lock point to unlock it, you are screwed ;-) Fudge it another couple inches in case you don't like car shaped dimples in your ceiling.

Other considerations: light. Those things kill it, budget for new lighting around it.
Head bumps: you will get some (arnica base cream works a treat). Installation: recommended unless you are the hulk (and angry). Lightweight ramps: a great idea, trust me on this !
Garage door tracks (high-lift kit). It all adds up.... Still the best investment you can do in a garage IMO, I miss mine....

I love my Greg Smith 4 post. It's moved houses with me too.

Will respond with more from my hotel room later tonight.

Bill

The 1985 Porsche on the lift and a Prius underneath. Will have to measure both before ordering the lift. The Liftmaster looks awesome, I'll check into them. Want to raise the garage door this spring and install the lift next year.

I just put two of the liftmasters in my new shop, they are quiet and so far work great. I have a 12*12 and 10*10 doors.

I bought a Direct Lift from my neighbor last year and only have two regrets; I wish I'd bought one sooner and with 220v motor vs 110v. I wired the outlet for 220v when I built the garage but the deal was too good to pass up but now I have to live with waiting almost a minute for the lift to raise to the top. I also recommend getting aluminum ramps.

My ceiling is 11'10" so I'm able to raise the car to the max height without any interference above or below. Assuming you're raising a lower profile car, you might be able to get underneath to wrench and/or store another low profile car. As far as a door opener for, I wouldn't consider anything else but a Liftmaster. http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1461815107.jpg

Haven't measured the cars yet. Looks like Liftmaster+1. Haven't thought about 220v sounds like a good idea.

Not what you asked, But a scissor lift will do most things for a Porsche real well.
Brakes, engine/ trans removal, etc

One benefit to the lift master openers is you can add MyQ and open the door from your phone! ;)

+1

With 12' ceiling I have a Aamco, made in USA, two post lift I got off Kijiji (like CL) for $1000. For me way better than a 4 post.

as a rule, do standard garage floor specifications work for the installation? would the four poster be more forgiving on the floor?

As a rule, a 2 poster needs anchoring and a 4 post does not... A 4 post also spreads the load on 4 posts. I would think standard specs are fine (if a floor can take a land rover, it can take 2 stacked porsches).
The main advantage of the 4 post is that it's moveable... You put wheels on it, and you can change your mind.... The 2 post is set for the duration once anchored (well you could re-anchor of course but it's more involved).

I moved my 4 post 4 times before was happy in a daily use scenario... From one bay to another, for a accessibility on the side, the position of the motor (not in my way), fine tuning vs garage door, etc... I can't speak as a structural engineer but I never asked myself the question when I had a normal garage floor, it worked... Now that I sleep under my garage (hillside house), I would not put either 2 or 4 post anymore for fear of getting crushed by my cars ;-)