4 post lift???
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 2,092
Likes: 5
From: Fayetteville Arkansas
4 post lift???
For those of you lucky souls that have a four post lift how high are your ceilings? I am looking to make a move soon and am keeping my eyes out on the garages of the perspective homes. I will have the 72 coupe up on the top most of the time and the 2000 coupe underneath. Thanks in advance for the help with the info!
Sully
Sully
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,088
Likes: 181
From: NC
2022 C2 of the Year Finalist - Modified
MINE IS 10'4".
I CAN STACK TWO VETTES, BUT YOU HAVE TO BE AWARE OF THE LOCATION OF THE LIGHTS IF THEY'RE SURFACE MOUNTED. THEY'LL TAKE UP AROUND 5".
THE GARAGE DOOR OPENER IS ALSO SOMETHING TO PAY ATTENTION TO.
WHEN I STACK TWO CARS, I HAVE TO BACK THE TOP ONE ON TO GET MORE CLEARANCE. IT'S NOT REALLY A PROBLEM ONCE YOU GET IT FIGURED OUT.
BILL SR
I CAN STACK TWO VETTES, BUT YOU HAVE TO BE AWARE OF THE LOCATION OF THE LIGHTS IF THEY'RE SURFACE MOUNTED. THEY'LL TAKE UP AROUND 5".
THE GARAGE DOOR OPENER IS ALSO SOMETHING TO PAY ATTENTION TO.
WHEN I STACK TWO CARS, I HAVE TO BACK THE TOP ONE ON TO GET MORE CLEARANCE. IT'S NOT REALLY A PROBLEM ONCE YOU GET IT FIGURED OUT.
BILL SR
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 20,905
Likes: 962
From: I tend to be leery of any guy who doesn't own a chainsaw or a handgun.
MINE IS 10'4".
I CAN STACK TWO VETTES, BUT YOU HAVE TO BE AWARE OF THE LOCATION OF THE LIGHTS IF THEY'RE SURFACE MOUNTED. THEY'LL TAKE UP AROUND 5".
THE GARAGE DOOR OPENER IS ALSO SOMETHING TO PAY ATTENTION TO.
WHEN I STACK TWO CARS, I HAVE TO BACK THE TOP ONE ON TO GET MORE CLEARANCE. IT'S NOT REALLY A PROBLEM ONCE YOU GET IT FIGURED OUT.
BILL SR
I CAN STACK TWO VETTES, BUT YOU HAVE TO BE AWARE OF THE LOCATION OF THE LIGHTS IF THEY'RE SURFACE MOUNTED. THEY'LL TAKE UP AROUND 5".
THE GARAGE DOOR OPENER IS ALSO SOMETHING TO PAY ATTENTION TO.
WHEN I STACK TWO CARS, I HAVE TO BACK THE TOP ONE ON TO GET MORE CLEARANCE. IT'S NOT REALLY A PROBLEM ONCE YOU GET IT FIGURED OUT.
BILL SR
I've got a 12 foot ceiling presently, but at my old house the garage ceiling was 9 foot. I could fit both Corvettes, but not a Corvette and a "regular" car. With the 9 foot ceiling, I had to park the top car backwards also to allow the garage door to slide up over the hood. Tight, but it worked.
On my present garage, I took off the door opener motor and tracks to give me more headroom to lift taller vehicles (like my truck) for maintenace. I still have to remember to lower the vehicles down a touch before I lift the door up, or it will hit the front or rear bodywork.
Former Vendor
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 76,656
Likes: 1,852
From: Jeffersonville Indiana 812-288-7103
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
Sully,
In one part of the back building I have a four post lift. The ceiling is 12' tall and everything works great except. . . . you have to watch lifting the car to the full extent if the hood is open.
In the new building the roof is 22' tall so I have no problems with anything in there. I love the 4 post lift for general use due to how quick I can have a car in the air. So the 4 post will stay in the back since this building has central air.
In one part of the back building I have a four post lift. The ceiling is 12' tall and everything works great except. . . . you have to watch lifting the car to the full extent if the hood is open.
In the new building the roof is 22' tall so I have no problems with anything in there. I love the 4 post lift for general use due to how quick I can have a car in the air. So the 4 post will stay in the back since this building has central air.
Pro
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 683
Likes: 4
I think your question is what is the minimum height that you need. A Corvette is about 48 inches high. Times two that is 96 inches. Than the lift itself is 4 inches in height. Than you will need at least 6 inches between the top car and the ceiling. That comes to 106 inches to be about the minimum. Than there's the issue with the garage door. I have two corvettes stacked and the picture is on the backyard buddy ads.
Good Luck
Good Luck
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 3,802
Likes: 61
From: Wichita KS
Sully, mine is 12 ft. I also have a garage door opener mounted up tight to the ceiling and an 8 ft florescent light above the opener track. I had a garage door company add two sections to the door and move the rails up as high as possible for clearance.
Like Willcox said, as long as the hood is closed you can raise it all the way to the top. Just be careful if you need the hood open while lifting.
We moved to this house in August 07. Before we found this house, my wife and daughter were ready to have me killed because I rejected a lot of houses due to low ceilings.
We already had a 12 ft ceiling in the old house and told them I wasn't going to move for anything less.
cc
Like Willcox said, as long as the hood is closed you can raise it all the way to the top. Just be careful if you need the hood open while lifting.
We moved to this house in August 07. Before we found this house, my wife and daughter were ready to have me killed because I rejected a lot of houses due to low ceilings.
We already had a 12 ft ceiling in the old house and told them I wasn't going to move for anything less.
cc
Last edited by CCrane65; Apr 18, 2009 at 12:24 AM.
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 3,717
Likes: 551
From: Seattle Washington
I built my Garage with the intent of using a Lift. I used a Roll Up Door as it dosn't use any Ceiling Rails. But be aware they don't make a Home Roll up only a Industrial one at an Industrial price. When looking for a lift pay more atension to what your going to Park under it rather than what your going to park on it. I got an extra Wide and Tall one and I still have to pull in the Mirrors of my Silverado to drive between the Posts. Be sure to get the Jack Plate and Drip Pans. When Price compareing be sure to figure in shipping as some will ship it for free. They are Big and heavy so Shipping costs a lot.Some lifts are better than others but not by much. Only some make extra wide or tall so that helped me make up wich one to get in a hurry. If your not in a rush You can even get custom Colors.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 766
Likes: 97
From: Lake Norman, NC
I park my '72 conv. on a 4 post lift in a garage that has 11'4" ceiling. When all the way up, I have about 1 foot clearance to the ceiling. Beware though, some of that space needs to be used when lifting, as the lift needs to go past the stops for engagement. Of course I need to remove the antenna, and to ensure I don't ever forget, I keep a 9/16" combination wrench hanging near the lift's switch as a reminder/fool proof measure.
As for the overhead door and door opener, I had the rail raised and a larger radius section installed in the rail, which allows the door to almost hug the ceiling when raised. Since my lift is in the 2 car bay of my 3 car garage, I had the door opener moved off center, so that it was centered over the second/other half of the door (make sense as typed?). This frees the car from any ceiling, door and/or opener conflicts. Works great. Car can go on the lift and raised all the way in either forward or backward position. Best tool I ever bought!
As for the overhead door and door opener, I had the rail raised and a larger radius section installed in the rail, which allows the door to almost hug the ceiling when raised. Since my lift is in the 2 car bay of my 3 car garage, I had the door opener moved off center, so that it was centered over the second/other half of the door (make sense as typed?). This frees the car from any ceiling, door and/or opener conflicts. Works great. Car can go on the lift and raised all the way in either forward or backward position. Best tool I ever bought!
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 8,627
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From: Houston Texas
CI 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10 Vet
St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05-'06-'07-'08-'09
I did this with a 9'6 inch ceiling. Was okay for storing cars but not as great for working on them. I made sure to place the lift just INSIDE the rail for the door so I had max clearance. Backing top car on felt safer but it would have worked either way.
My new garage, I have 18foot ceiling and just had to monkey with the door rails to make the most of the extra height. Added a panel to my garage door as well.
Wow it hasn't been this clean in there for a year and a half!
Doug
My new garage, I have 18foot ceiling and just had to monkey with the door rails to make the most of the extra height. Added a panel to my garage door as well.
Wow it hasn't been this clean in there for a year and a half!
Doug
Last edited by Snowman; Apr 19, 2009 at 02:30 AM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 3,029
Likes: 137
From: Nashville TN area
my math says i can do it with my 9'6" ceiling. my lift is going in a single car side of the garage which does not have an automatic opener. i am considering this product: http://www.wayne-dalton.com/DirectDrive.asp to keep ceiling clearance and possibly extend the track a little higher.
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 180
Likes: 1
Mine is 10feet, I can get the vette on top and a new taurus under it. Do not forget that once the car is on top that you do have to raise the car to lower it down. I think I have about 2 inches left at the highest point. My hoist still has one more notch to go up, but i can walk and stand under it no problem, I am 6'1"
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 241
Likes: 0
From: Ravenna Ohio
my math says i can do it with my 9'6" ceiling. my lift is going in a single car side of the garage which does not have an automatic opener. i am considering this product: http://www.wayne-dalton.com/DirectDrive.asp to keep ceiling clearance and possibly extend the track a little higher.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,217
Likes: 5
From: Stark County Ohio
I two Backyard Buddy Extended Height lifts. One at home and one at the shop.
I recommend the extended height lift even if you don’t have the ceiling height because the runways are longer to accept a longer wheel based vehicle.
My ceiling height at home is 10ft, 5-inches. I can park a Corvette on top and a sedan under, or visa-versa. I can’t use the highest position of the extended height lift at home, but with a Corvette on top I have plenty of working room underneath – no stooping over while working.
Also at home I installed tracks that take the garage door up to the ceiling. (About 5-inches from the ceiling)
At the shop with a 12-foot ceiling, I can park two full size pickup trucks above and below at the same time.
I recommend the extended height lift even if you don’t have the ceiling height because the runways are longer to accept a longer wheel based vehicle.
My ceiling height at home is 10ft, 5-inches. I can park a Corvette on top and a sedan under, or visa-versa. I can’t use the highest position of the extended height lift at home, but with a Corvette on top I have plenty of working room underneath – no stooping over while working.
Also at home I installed tracks that take the garage door up to the ceiling. (About 5-inches from the ceiling)
At the shop with a 12-foot ceiling, I can park two full size pickup trucks above and below at the same time.
Racer
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 370
Likes: 1
From: Taylors sc
What kind Morgan!???
Mine is 10feet, I can get the vette on top and a new taurus under it. Do not forget that once the car is on top that you do have to raise the car to lower it down. I think I have about 2 inches left at the highest point. My hoist still has one more notch to go up, but i can walk and stand under it no problem, I am 6'1"
