I won't be able to fit a lift in my garage that would be worth a damn. so i was talking to a buddy and he said why not just cut a hole in one of your bays and build a pit. seems like a winner have any of you guys made one or know of anyone who has done it. it seems way simple but so do a lot of other things.

 

Based on your location, the foundations for your garage are probably fairly close to the surface. Digging a pit deep enough to work in would likely undermine the foundations if you are anywhere close to the walls and may require underpinning. You also would have to extend the pit out enough to access via a stair or a ladder. If this is a residential type garage, you may not have enough space. Talk to a local contractor to get an idea of the difficulties you might experience. You should also probably consider installing a sump in the pit if you decide to go with one to capture spills or any water that makes its way into the pit. Most anything can be done, with the proper patience, time and money.

 

Depending on your goals, there are a lot of "mid-rise" lifts that are available for under $2K. Some are even portable. Might be an option.

 

Think that there was some discussion here on the forum recently about how hazardous a pit is. Apparently fumes lay in there and one little spark and you can be on your way to meet the guy in the sky. Lifts are much safer from a ventilation standput and come in many lift heights. Think before I put in a pit, I would do a bunch of homework on the safety aspects. Good luck.

 

Most local building codes these days specifically prohibit garage pits for environmental reasons as well; not a good idea for many reasons. Take a look at mid-rise lifts instead.

 

hmm,knew it was to good to be true.
thanks
greg

 

Better check with the EPA and local building codes. most are illegal.

 

I also thougt about putting a pit in my garage when i built it but my insure compagny told me that it would be illegal and that i would not be insure if anyone apend to fall in it.

 

Pits are another casualty of ignorant beurocracy and political correctness. Pits were in use in virtually all service stations of the past and many truck shops still use them today. They do require a certain amount of common sense precautions like you can't leave them open without a cover or railing to prevent people from falling in when not in use, If water table problems exist where moisture intrusion is a problem, you may need a sump with a pump to keep it dry. The whole gas vapor scare thing doesn't make a lot of sense since any gas spill even on a flat garage floor poses the same danger. Good ventilation is always a good idea but most of all good sense is required whenever and where ever we work on our vehicles. Many a garage (without a pit) has burnt down from gasoline fires caused by carelessness. I have worked in many buildings with pits and had a pit on my last facility and never had a incident. It may be true that they are against the law in some jurisdictions so it is always wise to check before you build. It is sad that the lack of personal responsibility has caused yet another good thing to be outlawed. Hoists are not without their own set of dangers as I'm sure many can attest. How any of us survived prior to the 70s and all of the current safety regulations is truly beyond my understanding. I guess we just realized that the consequences of our own carelessness would be born by us and couldn't be blamed onto others which caused us to use a little more of the gray matter God gave us to keep out of trouble. My how things have changed!!!


[Modified by K2, 6:28 PM 6/5/2004]

 

K2 I like how you think... Dave..

 

Back in those days, we realized we were responsible for our own stupidity, and accepted bad things that were our own fault, and learned from them. Today, the lawyers have ways of blaming everyone else in sight instead (for their 35% contingency fees), and the concept of individual responsibility is history, and the do-gooders and social engineers have created a profession to eliminate all possible risks.

 

Hello,

My father had a pit in his old house. It was handy for oil changes, etc. He did complain about the head clearance, etc. I do remember him saying something about them filling with fumes (as mentioned above). last I knew, it was full of dead tires and black widow spiders (a full colony of them).

Anyway, he tried to do one in his new house/garage. The city basically said "no way" ... I guess they wanted a fresh air supply, alternate drainage, pumps, etc, etc. I told him to make the ceiling taller for a lift!

 

My brother has a restored home from the 1890's in Michigan City Indiana. His 1 car brick garage has a pit and a steam cleaner built into the garage through a radiator style set up. We have yet to try this cleaner or use the pit. I will shoot some photos of this next weekend and post them. I just picked up an unrestored 25 ford we are going to add to the house.
<img src=" http://www.picturejudge.com/memberpi...ages/A@pnd.jpg " border=0>


[Modified by tommyn, 12:51 PM 6/6/2004]

 

While I agree with alot of what you say, you couldn't be more wrong about the above statement. Flammable vapors flow and collect like water. On a flat surface they will spread out and dissipate (at the same time the vapors will pass through their lower flammability limit, become too lean, and will no longer be a problem). In a pit, they will collect and possibly concentrate enough to be between their flammability limits, then all you need is an ignition source (dropped light, electrical switch, etc.). Another problem could be the collection of Carbon Monoxide (no fire hazard, you just die). According to the Fire Dept., all pits are considered "confined spaces" and you must wear a SCBA before entering for ANY reason. Many people have seen someone lying in a pit, went down to help, and become a victim also.
With all this said, a lift is a much better alternative. However, I'm still a little nervous when I'm under a car on my lift. Just make sure you make sure all the locks are engaged and the weight is on them so you're not relying on a rubber o-ring in the cylinder.

 

I have a lot of respect for our firefighters but I don't believe they are my appointed personal guardians thankyou. Basicly what I am saying is that those with good common sense should not be punished for some others lack of sense. When we become adults we assume responsibility for our actions and the consequences of those actions. If I choose to have a pit and assume the risk and responsibility thereof, why should anyone be compelled to deny me that? There is certainly an incredibly much higher risk to my welfare just getting into my car or onto my motorcycle or turning on my gas bbq or anyone of thousands of things I do every day than the risks I face from a potential accident in my pit. If half as much time and resources were spent educating about personal responsibility rather than dreaming up never-ending regulations we probably wouldn't need the regulations or have half the number of accidents that we have. Likely would even reduce the need for such a large fire department. Is it possible we have struck on something here? This is no flame just a reflection on where we are all heading. Come to think of it Corvettes are quite flamable, will they too be illegal to own someday?

Certainly life without risk would hardly be worth living. The thinking man calculates and contemplates the risks of what he is about to undertake and acts according to his willingness to accept those risks. What right does anyone have to take this away from him.

This is still America the Great Land of Liberty :flag :flag :flag




[Modified by K2, 12:59 AM 6/7/2004]

 

I you have not already, take a look at the Kwik Lift.
http://www.kwiklift.com

They seem to have a very good solution for what you are looking for.

 

K2, I like your thinking. To me it equals "job security".

 

panchop

I have had a kwiklift for years now.
it is really a nice piece of equipment.
give them a call.

what i like, is that i can take it out in the driveway, steamclean, hi pressure wash, and then roll it back in the garge.

and for only a about a thousand bucks, not bad !!!

 

John is correct, ~however~ I understand there is a company that will build a "tornado shelter" in the middle of your garage floor (centered under where the car is parked) and it has a sliding low clearance cover over top of it. Now, mind you, I am not recommending it for use as a garage pit, but it sure would seem to provide the same function...