Is a Portable Lift the Right Addition for Your Shop?

David S. Wallens said:

I recently sold myself on a four-post lift--seemed like an easier way to pack three cars into a two-car garage. I talked to a friend who does that, and his feedback was positive. Then, he asked, did I have 9- or 10-foot ceilings? Good question. So I went out an measured: 8 feet.

No lift for me. 

If you want three cars in a two car garage, you just need smaller cars. Once when a hail storm was headed my way, I parked a Bug, the Opel, and a Mazda Tribute all side by side in a two car garage. The Tribute went in last, between the other two and I had to crawl out through the rear hatch, but they fit!

Here's another option for getting a car up in the air in the garage. Kwik-Lift

bigben said:

David S. Wallens said:

I recently sold myself on a four-post lift--seemed like an easier way to pack three cars into a two-car garage. I talked to a friend who does that, and his feedback was positive. Then, he asked, did I have 9- or 10-foot ceilings? Good question. So I went out an measured: 8 feet.

No lift for me. 

If you want three cars in a two car garage, you just need smaller cars. Once when a hail storm was headed my way, I parked a Bug, the Opel, and a Mazda Tribute all side by side in a two car garage. The Tribute went in last, between the other two and I had to crawl out through the rear hatch, but they fit!

8 feet is pretty marginal unless you're buying pretty exotic cars.  That's 96 inches -- subtract 6 inches for the runway platform and the necessary 3-4 inches above each car to accomodate safety catch slop and you wind up with cars that have a maximum height of 41 inches.  A stock Miata is 46-48 inches depending on year and a stock Elise is 45.  To get below 41 you're looking at things like Lotus Sevens without cages or GT40s.  Maybe an airbagged, "stanced" Miata at max slam...

We already keep three cars in a two-car garage but, for some reason, stacking two of them sounded like maybe a better alternative. While our garage might have a low ceiling, the plaster work in there is pretty darn nice. It also has a phone jack. (Yay, '70s fanciness.)

Here's another option for getting a car up in the air in the garage. Kwik-Lift

Holy price tag Batman!  How can something with almost no moving parts cost almost $2k with shipping?  I love this solution, but it makes the Quick Jack look like a dream bargain!

bigben said:

Here's another option for getting a car up in the air in the garage. Kwik-Lift

That looks interesting. With the wheels off it looks like the ramps could act as a bench or be awkwardly in the way.

Gotcabinfever said:

Here's another option for getting a car up in the air in the garage. Kwik-Lift

Holy price tag Batman!  How can something with almost no moving parts cost almost $2k with shipping?  I love this solution, but it makes the Quick Jack look like a dream bargain!

Yeah, I've been thinking about building something similar for my garage.

bigben said:

David S. Wallens said:

I recently sold myself on a four-post lift--seemed like an easier way to pack three cars into a two-car garage. I talked to a friend who does that, and his feedback was positive. Then, he asked, did I have 9- or 10-foot ceilings? Good question. So I went out an measured: 8 feet.

No lift for me. 

If you want three cars in a two car garage, you just need smaller cars. Once when a hail storm was headed my way, I parked a Bug, the Opel, and a Mazda Tribute all side by side in a two car garage. The Tribute went in last, between the other two and I had to crawl out through the rear hatch, but they fit!

Here's another option for getting a car up in the air in the garage. Kwik-Lift

This is why I have Sevens and minitrucks on the brain.

In reply to Mike (Forum Supporter) :

Know what helped make our garage bigger? Getting rid of stuff. Going through everything--and I mean everything--in the garage helped tremendously. A lot of it went away--in the garbage, to new owners, to recycling. 

But, still, more room would always be cool....

In reply to j_tso :

I had one for a while - was great for removing and replacing the transmission on a '62 Imperial but less convenient for putting subframe connectors in a mk1 Capri. Got it for free from someone who upgraded to a 2 post lift and sold cheap when I needed the space. I'd say they are pretty useful but no way I'd consider paying anywhere near $2k for one.

8' is going to be pretty tight for two cars. Mine at 11' and I can get two vw sedans or our van (6'2") and my race car (3'6ish") easily. May be cheaper to bump the ceiling than add actual space though.