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I am 72 and getting ready for my second artificial hip. Climbing (falling?) to the floor and onto a creeper is doable but a real chore and requires something to grab on to to get back up. I have always admired lifts that friends had in their garages. I wanted a four poster for my garage. Not actually knowing the inside height of my garage but believing it was decent, I envisioned a four post lift with my 67 on top, and my daily driver parked under neath. That was dashed when I measured only to find that from floor to ceiling joists is but 10 feet.
I want to work on my vette, but would like the maximum height possible to reduce the stooping and bending or at least reduce it.
Ideas are appreciated. Ideas for devices on Black Friday sale are even more appreciated.
I agree with Chuck. One other thing to consider is how does your garage door roll/pull up? You may have to reconfigure the tracks so that they run up very close to the ceiling.
If Garage door is issue, as mentioned just get extenders and run the door as close to the ceiling as possible. I have two of these wall mount garage door openers. I have had mine for 6 years not a lick of trouble with them and it removes all the crap that gets in your way of having your door tight to the ceiling. https://www.liftmaster.com/ca/garage...e-door-openers
As the others have said, your ceiling is the perfect height for a four post lift. My ceiling is 10 foot, four inches from the concrete floor to the drywall on the ceiling. My lift works and fits perfectly with that ceiling height. You should go for it. Don't wait to buy one as they are a Godsend to working on your car. Of course you will have to move your garage door opener mechanism to a wall mount. And yes I can park another car (not an SUV) under my C2r when it is raised all the way up.
A pic for you below to help you decide. Cheers, C.J.
I have a Direct Lift 4 post and couldn't be happier with it. 8 or so years without a problem. My ceiling is just over 10' and I am able to store my motorcycle and model A sedan under the Vette. If you aren't as concerned about stacking vehicles just run the tracks all the way to the top and park like normal. As for working on your vehicle, I find that a rolling stool works great and is honestly nicer than standing.
The rule of thumb is to add the height of both cars to be stored and add 8" (6" for the ramp height and 2 more inches to raise the ramp off the lift on the top latches)..
You can just move the garage door opener to one side if you have a single lightweight door so no need for those "sidewinder" lifts - those also don't fit just anywhere... You can also angle your opener rails up 3"-4" and the door will roll up higher for more clearance.
The garage is 24 X 40 with a 7' door with the opener assembly in the middle so the door shouldn't be a factor. I would like to park the SUV under the vette, but I could also move more of my accumulated flotsam & jetsam under it in the off season, then move my tractor to the rear on the other side of the garage and get the SUV in front of the tractor.
my garage inhouse is only 2.7 m high so I bought this solution.
The lift lifts up to a hight of 1.1 meter and I can work all around and fully open the doors.
I am 72 and getting ready for my second artificial hip. Climbing (falling?) to the floor and onto a creeper is doable but a real chore and requires something to grab on to to get back up. I have always admired lifts that friends had in their garages. I wanted a four poster for my garage. Not actually knowing the inside height of my garage but believing it was decent, I envisioned a four post lift with my 67 on top, and my daily driver parked under neath. That was dashed when I measured only to find that from floor to ceiling joists is but 11 feet.
I want to work on my vette, but would like the maximum height possible to reduce the stooping and bending or at least reduce it.
Ideas are appreciated. Ideas for devices on Black Friday sale are even more appreciated.
Thanks
Well, just had my second hip installed 4 weeks ago. I never should have waited.
Lifts.
Almost as great as a new hip!
10-11 feet,
As Chuck said in his post, you are fine if it is two Corvettes stacking, but you state an SUV. That is likely a deal breaker.
Parking the SUV on the other side. That makes it work!
As others stated, you need "high-lift" garage track installed so that the door stacks right at the ceiling height. Easy and inexpensive, any garage door company can handle it.
Again as others stated, you will either have no opener, or actually, the side opener as someone graciously pictured. I have the exact same ones and they work perfectly, and include a security deadbolt.
While the shorter 7000 lb lifts are fine for a Corvette, I have found using my larger 9000 lb lift to be much easier.
If I "miss" coming in, I have plenty of ramp width to make it a non issue, plus the extra length is also appreciated.
You should opt for extra-length approach ramps. The shorter ones that are standard have trouble handling lower profile cars. A C1 or C2 will be fine with shorter ramps, but a newer C-4 to C-8 needs a more gradual rise to prevent scraping.
I opted to spend a little extra and go with a Backyard Buddy lift. It is a copy of the old Auto Lifters lift, and like that one it is all American made.
The robust locking mechanism directly into the heavy walled posts is VERY re-assuring, and when on sale, can be had for $3,900.00, which isn't too much more than other COMPARABLE lifts.
Others are fine and quite acceptable, but you might lose American made, and have less rigid locks, yet still fine.
Back to the size.
I would never let my wife pull her car in under the narrower 7000 lb lift. I fear those fancy mirrors with radar would eventually suffer.
The 9000 lb lift is much wider. It is as wide as an 8 foot door opening, making it a cinch to pull in and out.
If that will be done on a daily basis, treat yourself to the wider one.
Lastly, I have never heard someone say they are sorry they bought a lift, EVER.
Again if height is an issue, you could opt for a "full Floor" lift filling in the center between the two ramps, and put all of your garage junk up on the lift, and park the Vette underneath.
That lets you use a lift in even an 8 foot ceiling garage.
Good luck with the hip and the lift!!!
Marty
Last edited by DRM500RUBYZR-1; 11-30-2019 at 09:54 AM.
Just my 2 cents. Glad your hip is OK. If you decide to go with a four poster, have a contractor give a look at your trusses to determine if they can be boxed for extra ceiling height for the roof of the C-2. I raised my ceiling from 8' to a peak of 12'. That was radical surgery on my part, but it worked. You may be able to box it out for a fair price and be able to put your SUV under your car. Also, if you have the option of adding removable aluminum ramps, get them. The steel ramps are a bear and if you leave them attached to the lift, you eye will find the corner one day and you will look like a pirate . Good luck. Jerry
The garage is 24 X 40 with a 7' door with the opener assembly in the middle so the door shouldn't be a factor. I would like to park the SUV under the vette, but I could also move more of my accumulated flotsam & jetsam under it in the off season, then move my tractor to the rear on the other side of the garage and get the SUV in front of the tractor.
If you garage is 40 ft. deep you can put the lift towards the far end of the garage with the Corvette up on it and pull the SUV in just far enough to park the nose under the raised lift even if the SUV cab will not go under. The lift will be out of the way of the OH Door tracks and door itself when it's raised. But at 40' you have room to park two cars nose to tail on each side.
What is above the garage - attic or living space? Some have cut and re-configured the roof truss/ceiling joist framing to form a pocket in the ceiling that allows the upper car roof line to fit in it in raised position.
Above the garage trusses is storage space with "treasures" the Warden does not want to part with. Maybe those old Barbie dolls will be worth a zillion dollars some day and support us in out old age......
The idea of the nose under the lift is a good one, thanks!
11-29-2019, 03:44 PM
What are my lift options?
. Good luck. Jerry
