Garage pit cover
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 133
Likes: 1
From: Denmark
Garage pit cover
Hi all
Currently I have my pit covered with plywood, painted same color as the garage floor.
From time to time I need to relocate a car in the garage, hence roll over, or rest, on top of a plywood plate.
Obvious it is sagging.
I want to fabricate new covers which are able to support the weight of a car in a more safe manner.
In top of the inner wall to the floor, I have a frame of angle iron. 35 x 35 mm app. 1.4" x 1.4"
Anyone in here who can chime in with a great idea or solution?
Thanks
Lars
Currently I have my pit covered with plywood, painted same color as the garage floor.
From time to time I need to relocate a car in the garage, hence roll over, or rest, on top of a plywood plate.
Obvious it is sagging.
I want to fabricate new covers which are able to support the weight of a car in a more safe manner.
In top of the inner wall to the floor, I have a frame of angle iron. 35 x 35 mm app. 1.4" x 1.4"
Anyone in here who can chime in with a great idea or solution?
Thanks
Lars
Last edited by naasaa; Jan 2, 2014 at 04:02 PM. Reason: Forgot measurements
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 2,938
Likes: 173
From: hebron IL
C3 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
Hi all
Currently I have my pit covered with plywood, painted same color as the garage floor.
From time to time I need to relocate a car in the garage, hence roll over, or rest, on top of a plywood plate.
Obvious it is sagging.
I want to fabricate new covers which are able to support the weight of a car in a more safe manner.
In top of the inner wall to the floor, I have a frame of angle iron. 35 x 35 mm app. 1.4" x 1.4"
Anyone in here who can chime in with a great idea or solution?
Thanks
Lars
Currently I have my pit covered with plywood, painted same color as the garage floor.
From time to time I need to relocate a car in the garage, hence roll over, or rest, on top of a plywood plate.
Obvious it is sagging.
I want to fabricate new covers which are able to support the weight of a car in a more safe manner.
In top of the inner wall to the floor, I have a frame of angle iron. 35 x 35 mm app. 1.4" x 1.4"
Anyone in here who can chime in with a great idea or solution?
Thanks
Lars
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 997
Likes: 210
From: Schaumburg IL
Any piece of steel would have to be at least 1/2" or it to will sag and it will not spring back, also a steel plate of that size 1/2" thick will be very heavy. I would go with the 2x8 wood, plenty heavy to hold up the car when you have to move across but light enough to remove easily.
Terrorizing Orange Cones
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,572
Likes: 17
From: Northern CO
Hi Lars,
Are you doing the work yourself or are you planning to have someone else do it?
How about fabrication tools? Iron will need to be cut to size before welding together and to manage weight, it could be done in same sized sections. Still strong but you don't need to be Hercules to move it, if it was one piece.
Wood also needs to be cut to fit but may be more affordable and easier to source. Making same sized sections there could also work.
Good luck and be safe, whatever you do.
Are you doing the work yourself or are you planning to have someone else do it?
How about fabrication tools? Iron will need to be cut to size before welding together and to manage weight, it could be done in same sized sections. Still strong but you don't need to be Hercules to move it, if it was one piece.
Wood also needs to be cut to fit but may be more affordable and easier to source. Making same sized sections there could also work.
Good luck and be safe, whatever you do.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 1,200
Likes: 1
From: Belle River Ontario
2015 C3 of Year Finalist
You could cut steel checker plate into sections to cover the opening to make it easier to remove in smaller pieces or you could use aluminum checker plate with angle iron stiffeners stitch welded to the under side of the plate.
Pro
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 535
Likes: 8
From: London Ontario
I have seen many installations using 2x lumber, but, it does wear overtime and doesn't look that great if your 'man cave' is well appointed.
Personally, I would consider using aluminum checker plate (polished) with stiffeners welded on the underside. The surface is smooth and can be made in sections as large or as small as you like. In my industry we have manufactured many chamber access lids that are rated for semi truck traffic on roadways like this. For a 4' span all you need are 4" deep ribs spaced about 6" apart to hold up to just about anything parked on top of it!
Personally, I would consider using aluminum checker plate (polished) with stiffeners welded on the underside. The surface is smooth and can be made in sections as large or as small as you like. In my industry we have manufactured many chamber access lids that are rated for semi truck traffic on roadways like this. For a 4' span all you need are 4" deep ribs spaced about 6" apart to hold up to just about anything parked on top of it!
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski