Garage Lifts - Compact 4-Post ?

[DEV0 E30]

Totally understand about costs and all that, and if it is truly worth it.
Not in my "forever" house either, so not going crazy with any of my garage plans either - just improvements where I could.
What I have done may seem like a lot to some, but nothing to others. Comfort was my main goal - still need to get the minisplit installed before it is hot, has power ready and all that jazz.

If it was allowed, and looked nice enough - I'd even say carport attached to front of garage could help some and keep the garage for work/storing E30.
Also creates a space shielded from most weather.
Then if you wanted to, eventually enclose the carport, having two separate spaces.
Unsure if that is economical at all or even if your city would allow it.
And, holding yourself back from making it exactly how you want it (bigger/taller/etc - unless you are there long term like you said).

/rant/2cents

[Panici]

The even more expensive devil's advocate option: Can you add any more garage/shed/covered parking space to your property (keeping in mind the costs, space, city setbacks, etc?)

If I recall correctly, I remember you having a longer driveway, is there any way to add more garage to the front of your garage, essentially making it longer? Or other creative options?

Have been thinking about that as well.

I believe city bylaws only allow a single outbuilding, and we already have the large shed in the back.
If only there was a wide enough side yard to drive a car by the house, probably would have built a large garage in the backyard instead. As-is it's tight getting a motorcycle through the side.

I imagine an addition could be added onto the front of the garage, with the tradeoff being loss of driveway space.
Would build it taller and wider with room for parallel lifts inside.

It would be quite an expensive proposition.
I would build it wider and it would have a partial overlap with the porch. The entire front walkway and landscaping would need to be reconfigured to come up the left side of the property. Other challenges as well like trying to find a match for the 100+ year old reclaimed brick that's on the rest of the house.


Perhaps some day if I stay in the house, but it's not something I could even entertain in the next 10 years.

[DEV0 E30]

The even more expensive devil's advocate option: Can you add any more garage/shed/covered parking space to your property (keeping in mind the costs, space, city setbacks, etc?)

If I recall correctly, I remember you having a longer driveway, is there any way to add more garage to the front of your garage, essentially making it longer? Or other creative options?

[Panici]

Hey Panici, make any decisions yet? My neighbor's is a two post, so my late-night google was mistaken, I texted him to send me the model info. He has a cherry 1936 ford rod on top and a fully restomod custom 1948 ford on the bottom, sitting for years without issue. I think it's a good option if you haven't pulled the trigger yet, will get more info soon.

Still leaning towards the Peak 407-P. It's the narrowest 4-post lift I can find from any manufacturer.
It will fit in there nicely, at less then half the width of the space I have available. (I will need to change the position of spare engines and such.)

I like that there is an optional kit to move it around on wheels when unloaded. Important to keep the space flexible. And the four post design isn't relying on concrete anchors to keep the E30 from falling off like a single or two post hoist. I imagine it'll be quite stable with the E30 weighing less then 40% of it's stated capacity.

It's very unlikely that I'll be able to stack two cars with my 9' ceilings even if I have a high-lift door conversion installed.
So this would purely be to get the E30 out of harms way while I work on other projects on the ground/jack stands as per usual.

Expensive proposition, but considering how much love I have into the E30, one that looks to be worth it for my piece of mind.


Garage is packed full until the springtime anyways.
Will be attempting to drop the miata subframe as one piece within the next few weeks to replace the fuel tank. Don't have enough room at the moment to break it into components for bushing replacement like I had hoped.
With the E30 so close by, I feel like not doing any work. Even the moving blanked I hung between them isn't instilling confidence.

Would be looking to get a lift installed in summer 2024 at the earliest, so I still have some time to decide.

[E30Bastard]

Hey Panici, make any decisions yet? My neighbor's is a two post, so my late-night google was mistaken, I texted him to send me the model info. He has a cherry 1936 ford rod on top and a fully restomod custom 1948 ford on the bottom, sitting for years without issue. I think it's a good option if you haven't pulled the trigger yet, will get more info soon.

[Digitalwave]

Yeah that video is definitely staged...

[rturbo 930]

Whenever anyone discusses car lifts, my mind cannot forget this video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OKfqjA6mhGo

It has scarred me for life.

Seems staged. Lifts have safeties to prevent failures like that, and also, who puts a tool box directly under the car? Notice the clapper at the start says 'Lowes Kobalt" on it, suggesting it's a toolbox ad.

[twright]

Whenever anyone discusses car lifts, my mind cannot forget this video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OKfqjA6mhGo

It has scarred me for life.

[Panici]

Panici, first of all I love the custom color. I'm sure you floss it well.

There is a solution for you if you have 9 + ft. My neighbor has done the same. Garage stacker/parking magic, google this. Will make current and future projects a breeze as well. I am sure you can imagine the possibilities, E30 or not.

Thanks! The brown suits the car for sure.

Those parking magic lifts appear to be the single-post variety.
On top of the cost, I would definitely have trust issues relying on the concrete anchors to keep my car safe.

Which is the main reason I'm considering a four-post. Even the small ones rated at 6k LBS should be rock solid with a little sub 3000lbs E30 on there.

[E30Bastard]

Panici, first of all I love the custom color. I'm sure you floss it well.

There is a solution for you if you have 9 + ft. My neighbor has done the same. Garage stacker/parking magic, google this. Will make current and future projects a breeze as well. I am sure you can imagine the possibilities, E30 or not.

[Digitalwave]

I go through this every couple months or so. It keeps me active clearing stuff out of my garage. Storage is everything. Even then, I have to purge regularly.

[HertE30]

Triumph Classic NSS-8 or NSS-8SQ is the most compact 4 post I've come across, similar size to that Peak

[Panici]

Ive got a two car and I was looking into this company called Maxjack that makes a lift for 10ft ceiling applications. You obviously cant stand up underneath it but you can sit on a stool and work. The setup is pretty compact and would probably fit for you. It's a little more on the expensive side.
Shop MaxJax Portable Two-Post Car Lift

I'm looking for a lift that keeps weight on the suspension for storage (something that supports the car via the wheels.)

I do like that MaxJax idea for working on a car in a tight space, although I question their claims of portability.
It seems it is anchored into the concrete floor. How many times can you tension and slack a set of concrete anchors before they loosen up? Not something I want to find out while under my car.

I'm content working on the ground, it's actually quite good exercise getting up and down from under the car to grab parts/tools.

[Dj Buttchug]

Ive got a two car and I was looking into this company called Maxjack that makes a lift for 10ft ceiling applications. You obviously cant stand up underneath it but you can sit on a stool and work. The setup is pretty compact and would probably fit for you. It's a little more on the expensive side.
Shop MaxJax Portable Two-Post Car Lift

[Panici]

It seems like there just isn't enough space for a lift. Honestly, it probably makes sense to focus on clearing out some of the stuff versus taking up the limited vertical space.

Insulating your shed for the motorcycles seems like a really good option. Probably cheaper than a lift and shouldn't take too much effort. Moving the engines out to the shed is also a great idea, could you use 3/4" plywood to get over the soft ground?

Ah, the bigger problem with the shed currently is that it's filled with my late father's vintage motorcycles. I think there are 8 or 9 in there at the moment.

Off the top of my head, there is a makeshift table that could be scrapped to fit one motorcycle. And there is a near-bare frame that could be sold.

The majority of the vintage bikes need to be sold off to generate some money for my mom's expenses. I'm probably keeping three out of the lot.

I had planned on getting them running with the basement full of spare parts we have before selling, but perhaps I should think about selling a few as pre-restoration along with the corresponding NOS parts. Realistically, there is only so much time and it seems I have a mounting number of my own projects.