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I've seen advertisements for 2 and 4 post lifts that make it appear possible to store two cars in a single car spot in a STANDARD sized garage. Is this "smoke and mirrors" or do you really need a high ceiling to make it work? Also, is it a major ordeal to remove and reinstall a lift in case of a house move? Finally, how much does a decent lift cost? I'm thinking about adding a new baby to the family, but there's no more room at the inn at present.
Bruce, I am sure there are many suppliers out there. This year at Carlisle Eagle Equipment had a display. Their WEB site is www.eagleequip.com. Their number is 1-800-336-2776. I liked what I saw and their price seemed OK to me.
If you order from them and use verbal KEY CODE "SH0075" they said they would honor the show price and the show throw-inns.
I do not have a lift yet. I am sure others will add posts.
Sure you can fit 2 cars in one stall with a standard ceiling height of 8'.... you won't be able to lift the car all the way though and you will only have enough clearance under the lift to park the nose of the lower car under it.
It took me and a helper about 4 hours to unload, unpack, move, and build the 4 post lift I have. I suspect now that I've done it once I could dismantle/assemble in 2 hrs with a strong helper. That being said... these suckers are HEAVY and I hope to one day sell my house to a "car guy" who will accept the lift along with the liability that goes with it (thinking waiver here).
The heaviest parts are the two channels on which the car sits (4 post). I would estimate each of these was 400 lbs. I moved mine around with hydraulic jacks and some skateboards
Thanks for your input. My garage is fairly deep, so just being able to put the nose underneath may still work (never thought about that scenario before). I guess I need to breakout the old tape measure and do some cipherin'. I was thinking about getting a shark convertible, and hoped that I could squeeze my '64 coupe underneath it. Maybe lower the tire pressure?
You're welcome - another option is to remove part of the ceiling. I was lucky enough to be able to design a garage around a lift. Part of my ceiling is missing......
My roof peak is 17' but I can lift a SUV 60" in the air w/o an issue.
brian
I have two 4 post types side by side with 10 foot ceilings. I tell folks you need the height of the two cars plus 8 inches for the latch to work. I have seen folks modify their ceiling or position the car so that the windshield goes between the rafters. I prefer the Autolifters brand. Get the jacking bridge or you can build one so that you can remove a wheel etc while on the lift. Get enough drip pans to completely cover the center of the lift and catch any drips. The aluminum drive up ramps are nice. Look carefully at your garage door. When open it must clear the raised car. Some modification my be required. I don't like the 2 post for storage. Something about it dangling over another car spooks me.
Bill' comments are right on. There are many things to be considered. I built the garage with the intention of putting a lift in and that helped. I had one door set up as a high rise so that it would clear the top side car when I open the door. I also put high ceilings in to clear everything and I ordered the extended height lift so I can walk under it when working on the car. I have a Backyard Buddy and I am very pleased. It came well painted and crated and took some time to put together. The weight is an issue. When you bring it home count on having 3 other adult male friends to help you unload it. 2 are not enough and the rush to return the rental truck makes the friends waiting when you arrive with the crate necessary. You won't be sorry. I love my lift but my car looks much uglier from the underside! Daniel
Don't store your car on a two post. Better to have four posts for that. However, bumping into each of the four posts (if your room is not big) can get old...
There are two Eagle two post lifts that will fit under (about) 110 inches. The taller ones have a cross bar and can handle more. Dimensions are on the web site, but remember what was said above about "lifting past the latch".
I also recommend the casters (four post) in case you want to move to another room, or a new building near-by.
Tom D.
4889
Next, you will want a neat all aluminum adjustable body dolly, right?
I also have two 4 post type M6 lifts from Autolifters. Have had the first one 9 years and the other 8 years. Have them both in my two car garage with four Corvettes. I have adjusted the gargage door to prevent it from going all the way up so that when the 68 and 70 are up on the lifts, the garage door stops above the headlights and there is still plenty of room to drive the 85 and 96 in and out of the garage and under the raised lifts. My gargage ceiling height is 9 feet and a few inches. The M6's four posts come with a large flat base and it is not necessary to secure them to the garage floor. If I ever move I can take them with me easily. I erected my M6's myself. Was not difficult using my floor jack to lift the ramps to assemble the lifts. The ramps are heavy, so if you have a bad back help would be needed. If you buy one, I recommend you pick it up at the shippers freight dock on a flat bed trailor because a fork lift can only move it the way it is packed for shipping. It can them be disassembled on the flat bed trailor and moved piece by piece into your gagage.
It works well. Good quality. Easy to assemble. Put it up myself in about four hours. Could do another in half that, not counting wiring.
Pick it up at the truck shipping terminal. Pick-up will work with a two post. I don't know about a four post. You can break it down in the back of your truck and unload it with one person if you are in reasonable health.
I bought a two post lift. Like it a lot. I may buy a four post to keep outside where I can clean the underneath of a car outside.
If I had to take one or the other. Two post would be my choice.
What is your major need? A lift for parking/storage or a lift for working on/restoring your car? The four post is the GREAT for storage and fair, at best, for working on the car. Yes, they are fair at best even with the gadgets/attachment sold so you can work on your car. The two post asymetrical lifts are GREAT for work/service/restoration of your car and fair, at best, for storage. YOUR major need is the first question YOU must answer.
I recommend buying "locally" from a local dealer who will deliver and install your lift. I purchased a "Rotary Brand" lift from the local dealer who delivered/installed and warranteed the lift for 5 years labor included. Rotary happens to be the brank with the largest use commercially in the Tennesse area therefore he was very competitive with a first class product. This dealer was no more expensive that "Autolifters, Back Yard Buddy, Eagle and all the other suppliers and all I had to do was open the door to the shop. No trips to the truck terminal, heavy lifting, reading assembly instruction etc. You get the picture.
"I" have always been big on buying a product that needs assembly from a vendor that can provide both, product and assembly. Because when there are problems there is no question as to whether is was a faulty product or poor assembly since the vendor provided both. No arguing between the assembly person and lift vendor. I believe that none of the lift vendors listing in any of the above posts (play on words here) can provide a lift and setup/assembly. All of the lift vendors listed above provide a fine product. I chose Rotary due to national reputation and the longtime local distributor.
Yes, I know that these lifts are not hard to transport to your home or assemble if that's what you want to do. I am just raising another point for consideration since you asked for comments.
Bruce: I bought a Superior lift last year with about 30 other Corvette guys and we got a pretty good deal (www.superlifts.com). We got the lift, delivery, jacking bridge, 3 drip trays, caster kit, oil change canister and aluminum ramps for $3,250 US. They said they would honor the same deal for other Corvette owners just by mentioning the "Corvette Forum Group Purchase" organized by me. I've found that it is very easy to negotiate with the lift companies so work on your best deal. I am finishing mine up this Thursday as a matter of fact.
The lifts can be moved without dismantelling them if you can clear your garage door header. The website gives the dimensions exactly, but I know it will just clear my standard garage door. Then you just call a flat bed tow truck and pull it up using the casters.
Most Corvettes are between 48 and 50 inches tall, plus 8 inches clearance so you'll need about 108 inches total. Watch the garage door height though as it needs to clear your hood - you will most likely need the door tracks raised. You'll also need about 108 inches in garage width as a minimum.
I have a Cytech Double-Park (www.doublepark.net), very pleased with it after four years' use. I had my garage doors and framed openings made 8' high (vs. the standard 7') so the lift can be moved outside if necessary; I don't think any lift on its casters will fit under a 7'-high door opening. Also had the garage door in the lift bay set up as a "high-lift", with the horizontal tracks 8" from the 12' ceiling so I can have the door fully open with a car at full working height.
I can 2nd ( or 3rd ) the Autolifters M6. A good lift with the enclosed channel design. My garage is 9'6" with a standard 8' door(?). I stack both of my '72's with it with no problems. The bottom car fully fits under the top one and the garage door opens and closes fully - AS LONG AS THE TOP CAR IS BACKED IN - so that the garage door goes over the hood of the top car but doesn't quite reach the windshield.
Would have been disappointed if you hadn't shown up with a pic...
As John well knows, I have 2 of the Cytech lifts. I love them and wouldn't trade them for anything. Another NCRS member locally also purchased one and has zero problems.
I love the casters, but also find that the powdercoating and finishing seems much better than other brands I've inspected.
Patrick
Vice-Chairman (West), Michigan Chapter NCRS
71 "deer modified" coupe
72 5-Star Bowtie / Duntov coupe. https://www.flickr.com/photos/124695...57649252735124
2008 coupe
Available stickers: Engine suffix code, exhaust tips & mufflers, shocks, AIR diverter valve broadcast code.
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