Lift for my garage

[WantaKoth]

Hoping you guys can recommend some lifts for my garage to work on my car and then store it up in the air so I can still use the space underneath to store all my kids stuff they use everyday. Thanks.

[Jagdpanzer]

A lot of us have BendPack 4 post lifts.
Had mine 15 years, works great, no issues so far.
Other good lifts out there with safety certifications worth a look.

[sleazy rider]

which type of lift are you wanting? there is the typical 2-post lift that you drive/push your car into the lift area and then set the retractable arms to lift and the 4-post lift that you drive onto and lift up. both styles let you store things under the car.
i have had my 2-post lift for almost 20 years and i paid 3k for it delivered to a freight company. i picked it up and installed it, with help. since then i have had to replace the plastic slides/spacers and a couple seals but it still lifts a 7500 pound excursion. it was made in the usa. most lifts now are made somewhere off our shores. challenger lifts are still made in the usa. do not cheap out buying a lift.
remember, you will be under the vehicle and if anything happens, it happens fast and you have no where to go.

[WantaKoth]

I was thinking a 4 post because the car sits on the tires all the time would be safer. Do they have an option so I can still remove the Tires, brakes, etc. for maintenance? Hoping someone has a good recommendation for a lift that can do everything on the Zr1 at a reasonable price. Thanks

[Corvette95]

I had 2 four post lifts and 1 two post in my prior garage. If you get the drive on four post lift, you will also have to get slider hydraulic lifts that go in between the two racks to get your wheels off the lift for work on brakes., suspension etc - they costs about $1000 each (need two) so that adds to the cost of the lift. That's why I had both types but I know most people don't have that room. I have downsized and moved and don't currently have a lift and it is sorely missed.

[WARP TEN]

I am sure there are many four post lifts out there that will do just fine for you. As noted many have BendPaks but also many have others. Nine years ago I installed a Direct Lift Pro Park 8S in my two car garage. I am comfortable with mechanical safety stops and did not want to have to hook up my compressor for the stops. There are quite a few pictures of the installation in my albums section; just click on my avatar. The Corvette is usually up from November through early April for the winter. In the summer the BMW is up a fair amount but if there is a lot of rain predicted I get it down to drive. I have a 21' x 21' garage with a ceiling height that varies from about 9'8" at the front to about 10' near the overhead door due the natural slope of the floor. A big help is that I have an 18' wide garage door, rather than the normal 16', which allowed the lift to be left of center, proving more room for my wife's car. I have a 5" tall car and a 4' tall car so they fit with a few inches to spare. To provide clearance I had to raise the garage tracks to within about 6" or less of the ceiling and I cut out a portion of the horizontal metal support at the top of the door, replacing it with a piece of heavy "L" channel. (Either car can go in forward now; early pix show the top cars being backed in until I made those changes). I positioned my lift near the overhead door to provide room in front for refrigerator, tools, compressor, etc. I also got a 90 degree angle bracket to mount the hydraulic fluid tank and pump between the posts rather than outside to give more side clearance. I replaced my normal opener with a Liftmaster 3800 jackshaft opener and installed surface mount conduit for electrical outlets on the ceiling for the opener and for the lift motor and an extra power cord for chargers, so no electrical cords on the ground. I strongly recommend you get a set of Race Ramps as they are very light compared with the steel ones that came with my lift. With my lift location the ramps are outside the garage when I swap cars. For the winters, I had some insulation blown in and added a 220v. electric heater and later an insulated steel door; with the thermostat set to 50 degrees. The lift has been completely reliable, although I did replace the lift cables at the 8 year mark due to a loose strand. Cost back then was about $3,500 installed including the Race Ramps;likely higher now. Good luck with your plans. --Bob

[sleazy rider]

a friend of mine closed his corvette repair facility and sold the majority of his equipment except for a pair of 2 2-post lifts and a 4-post lift which he set up at his house with a huge detached garage/workshop/apartment. previous owner used the garage to store his helicopter in as he did traffic reports for the houston, tx area. now he has sold that property and bought a subdivision? home and sold the 4-post to me which i will be getting in the next month and setting up shortly after that next to my 2-post lift. my garage is 28 x 52 with 10' and 13' ceilings.
now my wife says it will take a h-bomb for me to move out.

[DRM500RUBYZR-1]

Originally Posted by WARP TEN

I am sure there are many four post lifts out there that will do just fine for you. As noted many have BendPaks but also many have others. Nine years ago I installed a Direct Lift Pro Park 8S in my two car garage. I am comfortable with mechanical safety stops and did not want to have to hook up my compressor for the stops. There are quite a few pictures of the installation in my albums section; just click on my avatar. The Corvette is usually up from November through early April for the winter. In the summer the BMW is up a fair amount but if there is a lot of rain predicted I get it down to drive. I have a 21' x 21' garage with a ceiling height that varies from about 9'8" at the front to about 10' near the overhead door due the natural slope of the floor. A big help is that I have an 18' wide garage door, rather than the normal 16', which allowed the lift to be left of center, proving more room for my wife's car. I have a 5" tall car and a 4' tall car so they fit with a few inches to spare. To provide clearance I had to raise the garage tracks to within about 6" or less of the ceiling and I cut out a portion of the horizontal metal support at the top of the door, replacing it with a piece of heavy "L" channel. (Either car can go in forward now; early pix show the top cars being backed in until I made those changes). I positioned my lift near the overhead door to provide room in front for refrigerator, tools, compressor, etc. I also got a 90 degree angle bracket to mount the hydraulic fluid tank and pump between the posts rather than outside to give more side clearance. I replaced my normal opener with a Liftmaster 3800 jackshaft opener and installed surface mount conduit for electrical outlets on the ceiling for the opener and for the lift motor and an extra power cord for chargers, so no electrical cords on the ground. I strongly recommend you get a set of Race Ramps as they are very light compared with the steel ones that came with my lift. With my lift location the ramps are outside the garage when I swap cars. For the winters, I had some insulation blown in and added a 220v. electric heater and later an insulated steel door; with the thermostat set to 50 degrees. The lift has been completely reliable, although I did replace the lift cables at the 8 year mark due to a loose strand. Cost back then was about $3,500 installed including the Race Ramps;likely higher now. Good luck with your plans. --Bob

Beautiful setup!
One comment to OP.

Like Bob, I placed my controls on the one lift exactly as he did.
In 2006, my son, Robert, was 6.
I did not want the controls in his easy reach in the middle of the garage.
So, we purposely put the power post by the wall.
Fifteen years has passed with no issues.
However; my pulse quickens every time I stand with my back to the wall and the ramp 4 inches from my chest as I raise and lower the lift, watching the car , especially if it is the 70 Riviera passing by me.
Once my son was older, I should have simply attached the lifts wheels and spun it around.
Can't now as the other lift would be in the way.
The moral to this is "plan ahead"
You will love your lift!

Marty

[RichS]

I have a extended height Backyard buddy, Superior Lift, and a Atlas. All 4 post lifts. The BYB is the best made, followed by the superior, then the atlas. I like them in the order listed. I do most work on the Backyard Buddy I've had since 02. I built the new garage with scissor truss for the extra clearance.

[WARP TEN]

Originally Posted by DRM500RUBYZR-1

Beautiful setup!
One comment to OP.

Like Bob, I placed my controls on the one lift exactly as he did.
In 2006, my son, Robert, was 6.
I did not want the controls in his easy reach in the middle of the garage.
So, we purposely put the power post by the wall.
Fifteen years has passed with no issues.
However; my pulse quickens every time I stand with my back to the wall and the ramp 4 inches from my chest as I raise and lower the lift, watching the car , especially if it is the 70 Riviera passing by me.
Once my son was older, I should have simply attached the lifts wheels and spun it around.
Can't now as the other lift would be in the way.
The moral to this is "plan ahead"
You will love your lift!

Marty

Good choice for your son's name, Marty! With my 21' x 21' garage and the wider 18' door, I am able to have the lift slightly left of center but still have 22" from the wall to the lift. That little bit of extra room is huge. Plus when I raise and lower it I stand at the front with my back to the refrigerator and reach around for the controls. But I don't have a 1970 Riviera going by so not as scary. --Bob