pit vs. lift
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 4,809
Likes: 237
From: Utah
I started in this hobby back in the 60's working with a pit. I thought it was the cats meow. We kept it covered with 2X10's when not in use for safety, (almost never) but it does have it's limits. As mentioned vapors tend to collect there and you do need to be careful. I had to leave the pit quickly on more than one occasion. And of course you do have that big hole in the floor!
A lift on the other hand requires height to take full advantage of it. With a 12' ceiling there is little you can't do or accommodate on a lift. A 2-post is much handier for working on a car underneath. It can be used for storage, but does generally require additional concrete depending on the lift you use and it's weight limits.
A standard 4-post on the other hand works well on your typical 4" of concrete. They do inhibit your ability to work on suspension, but with a judicious use of stands and jack bridges you can do anything you'll want to do with it. It does have somewhat of an advantage over the 2-post when it comes to storage and ease of installation.
Since you're building your garage, you're in a perfect situation to accommodate almost any of the modifications necessary for a lift or pit. If you do go with a lift, be sure to specify that the door needs to hug the ceiling. Mine is less than 12" from the ceiling (12') and allows me maximum use of the lift. It is much cheaper to install it that way than to come back later and modify it.
To sum up, if you want it primarily to do mechanical work, you'll probably be happier with a 2-post lift. If it will primarily see duty as additional storage, you'll probably be happier with a 4-post. In any case you'll be happy you have one.... mine is a 4-post Double Park.
GUSTO
A lift on the other hand requires height to take full advantage of it. With a 12' ceiling there is little you can't do or accommodate on a lift. A 2-post is much handier for working on a car underneath. It can be used for storage, but does generally require additional concrete depending on the lift you use and it's weight limits.
A standard 4-post on the other hand works well on your typical 4" of concrete. They do inhibit your ability to work on suspension, but with a judicious use of stands and jack bridges you can do anything you'll want to do with it. It does have somewhat of an advantage over the 2-post when it comes to storage and ease of installation.
Since you're building your garage, you're in a perfect situation to accommodate almost any of the modifications necessary for a lift or pit. If you do go with a lift, be sure to specify that the door needs to hug the ceiling. Mine is less than 12" from the ceiling (12') and allows me maximum use of the lift. It is much cheaper to install it that way than to come back later and modify it.
To sum up, if you want it primarily to do mechanical work, you'll probably be happier with a 2-post lift. If it will primarily see duty as additional storage, you'll probably be happier with a 4-post. In any case you'll be happy you have one.... mine is a 4-post Double Park.
GUSTO
I chose the four post lift. I use it primarily for storage, however it has been useful when working on the Vette and other cars.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 1,249
Likes: 13
From: San Angelo TX
Forget the pit for the reasons mentioned.
How about a good high-quality set of jackstands?
You can do everything you can with a lift (except store another car underneath) and you can just put 'em away when you are not using them.
How about a good high-quality set of jackstands?
You can do everything you can with a lift (except store another car underneath) and you can just put 'em away when you are not using them.
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,986
Likes: 21
From: Columbus MN
I bought it on eBay from an eBay store named Homier Distributing Company. Here's the link to the jack I bought:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...tem=6047592447
That eBay store doesn't have one listed now, but you could contact them;
http://stores.ebay.com/Homier-Distributing-Company
I works great. It has no problem lifting one end or the other of my Corvette a foot or so in about 10 seconds.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...tem=6047592447
That eBay store doesn't have one listed now, but you could contact them;
http://stores.ebay.com/Homier-Distributing-Company
I works great. It has no problem lifting one end or the other of my Corvette a foot or so in about 10 seconds.
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 1,596
Likes: 52
From: Southern NJ
C2 of Year Finalist (stock) 2019
I have a Kwiklift and really like it. I have the height etc for a 2 or 4 post however I feel this is safer and allows me to do everything I need to. I only have one classic car so storage is not a problem.
Last edited by JL66REDCPE; Jan 15, 2007 at 11:04 AM.
