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My garage is just a single, big enough for my Miata, tools, car cleaning products and yard tools. I've done everything in this garage from suspension, brakes, stereos to R&R transmissions and engines. With the Miata inside, accessing larger things, like my shop vac, is like playing Tetris.
I think my biggest problem it's going to be jack handles on the floor jacks. And the fact that my big 60 gallon compressor is in the other garage that's attached to the house. This has only got an 8 or 10 gallon so I may have to wait for it on occasion. Minor trade-offs for the sake of air conditioning.
I'm in the process of building a new workshop/garage and due to some HOA rules and the resulting design constraints I can't get more than a 9' ceiling height. I've got multiple vehicles I want to have the ability to get under; Miata, F150, Prius to service and what not. The range of weight and the lower ceiling height is pretty much ruling out a reasonable 2 post lift. I'm also leary of the lower 2 post units without any tie between the posts.
I thought about the Bendpack Quickjack units but the ones that get the F150 up are too long for the Miata I think and I also like the ability to get under a car from the side instead of from either end only.
Searching about on the net I came across this: Kwik-Lift and wondered if anyone had experience with them? In my mind, it's a fairly low cost solution to what I'm wanting to accomplish given my constraints.
Is there any way you can lower the floor to get the height you need?
Would a sloping driveway towards the garage door create a problem?
The HOA I'm in doesn't allow "detached" garages nor anything connected only by a breezeway. It must share a common wall, or some of one. So I can't push it away from the house to take advantage of a slope, or at least enough to gain a foot of height. I might be able to squeak 3-5" but that's about it. And a sloping driveway in itself would create some drainage problems.
I mean I can solve anything by throwing money at it but at some point it's easier to just by a new house in a place where I can do what I want. Wife is a constraint on that end and between the HOA and wife it's already added several thousand needless dollars.
I should hopefully be posting a lot more in this thread in the coming months as I start work on a 30x40 or 30x50 shop on my new property. Pushing for 30x50 if the budget will allow it. 14' eave height should give plenty of room for a lift.
The plan is to order a steel building kit and pay a local company to erect it.
Unfortunately I can't really start on the project until we close on the old house...which is tentatively scheduled for April 1st.
I should hopefully be posting a lot more in this thread in the coming months as I start work on a 30x40 or 30x50 shop on my new property. Pushing for 30x50 if the budget will allow it. 14' eave height should give plenty of room for a lift.
The plan is to order a steel building kit and pay a local company to erect it.
Unfortunately I can't really start on the project until we close on the old house...which is tentatively scheduled for April 1st.
Good luck! I'd love to have a massive shop. Although, with changing priorities, probably wouldn't use it much.
I'll post more pics later, but I am under contract on this house. Our home inspection is scheduled for Tuesday the 21st and I will take more pics then. I am in heaven!
The shop is 30' x 50' and wired for 220. The electrical panel has a spot for "Lift" and I can see where the previous owner had a lift installed.
Last edited by Chiburbian; 05-23-2019 at 08:36 AM.
Reason: Update info