Lift or mechanic's pit for new garage?

[LilTractrThatCould]

I spent 6 yrs wrenching in various auto dealerships. Two post is the easiest to work around. Toyota had 15 lifts. Two were 4 post. One was for undercoating vehicles other was rarely used other than storage. Unless it was a specific task, most techs would avoid the 4 post. Get a rig on it for something like a fuel pump. Upsell a brake job, now you're losing money because all this steel is in your way. If I was given a 4p, I would sell it and buy a 2p. Most of wear and tear is brakes, suspension, and tires. Why spend money on something that makes those components harder to get to?

 

[vagem55]

I built a pit in my garage at a former house. It sure helped changing my Explorer transmission and fluid changes on everything. Upfront cost, no maintenance or electricity. It was approved by the building inspector, but I had installed curbs to keep from driving in and a six-inch tube to the outside with a fan to blow INTO the pit to remove trapped gasses. The lights needed to be explosion proof. It needs to be long enough to get in and out, with steps. It needs to be deep enough for you to work standing up, with a sump and possibly a drain pump (we hadn't sealed the 12-inch block walls from seeping). It isn't fun if you don't have everything you need in the pit, as going in and out is a pain.
The curbs and anything you use (like plywood or steel plate) to cover the hole when not in use to keep from falling in also create a trip hazard.
I will need a high lift kit for one my garage doors on my new shop, but I've decided on a four post for safety and storage of vehicles, with a caster kit to move it to different bays for different vehicles from a 1984 Corvette to a 2012 Airstream Interstate on a Sprinter 3500 dually.
It will have drip trays and the jack tray.
It is more in the way doing under vehicle work, but much safer for me, anyway.
It's not the best for rotating tires front to back, but I have an air jack for that and am getting too old to lift the wheels much anyway.

Advantage DX-11000-WD | 11,000 LBS. 4-Post Lift for Heavy Vehicles

Discover the Advantage DX-11000-WD, a powerful 11,000 lbs. 4-post lift perfect for trucks, SUVs, and more. Safe, durable, and designed for heavy-duty use.

realgaragelife.com

 

[Mudfarmer]

Built the new garage over the footprint of the ancient shop that we tore down. We elected to keep the pit (as well as the 1962 Bomb Shelter) but have yet to use it other than for storage these last ten years. It's wood covered and usually under a parked trailer. Never been a safety concern. Has been a good conversation piece.

 

[CliffordK]

I spent 6 yrs wrenching in various auto dealerships. Two post is the easiest to work around. Toyota had 15 lifts. Two were 4 post. One was for undercoating vehicles other was rarely used other than storage. Unless it was a specific task, most techs would avoid the 4 post. Get a rig on it for something like a fuel pump. Upsell a brake job, now you're losing money because all this steel is in your way. If I was given a 4p, I would sell it and buy a 2p. Most of wear and tear is brakes, suspension, and tires. Why spend money on something that makes those components harder to get to?

I've wondered about overall access. You can get a bridge jack to lift any part of the vehicle, but still you would have to work around the platforms. A tractor seems as if it could be awkward for a 2 post lift.

Most lifts would require a fairly high ceiling, although the MaxJax is designed to be more or less seated under the vehicle, and in theory the lift can be unbolted from the floor and moved.

The pit might not require as high of a garage.

 

[CliffordK]

I've wondered about installing a single post in ground car lift. When lowered it would be mostly out of the way, although usually they are a few inches above the shop floor, however if one is pouring a new floor, one might be able to recess it even further.

Trip hazard?

 

[Shawn T. W.]

Most big truck stop shops have pits, I got pulled into the state of Mississippi weigh station on I-20 just east of Meridian, and they had me drive over there pit for my level one inspection ...

They're not working on anything just looking at the underside. Much faster than a creeper along with out of the weather.

I was address the previous posts about them being dangerous, and illegal ... And if you go to a T/A - Petro truck stop shop/garage you will see mechanics working in then, also some Speedco & Loves have pits, so more "working in them" ...

While what you said was true about the state weigh stations inspection pits ... They would not allow there employees to use them if they were dangerous and/or illegal.

 

[aircommuter]

What do you mean by 'split' ?

As for parking underneath I thought about that. Would be great unless whatever is on the lift has a leak.

They have mechanical locks too.

 

[TMGT]

I've wondered about installing a single post in ground car lift. When lowered it would be mostly out of the way, although usually they are a few inches above the shop floor, however if one is pouring a new floor, one might be able to recess it even further.

Trip hazard?

There's a reason you don't see those anymore, unless it's a leftover in a old shop. They are about the worst lift to work around, always in the way when under a car.

My uncle has a shop with quite a few in ground lifts, they are all 2 post style Rotary's.

Sent from my SM-S921U using TractorByNet mobile app

 

[Shawn T. W.]

They have mechanical locks too.

I took it that he meant like a oil or coolant drip from whatever was on the second level ...

 

[aircommuter]

I had a pit in each of my first two home shops. They had floor drains to daylight. The obvious problem is working on suspension, brakes and other axle components. latest and last shop ha dual two post lifts, one Bend pak asymmetrical 10k extra wide and a Nussbaum 7k. Four post lifts are mainly for alignment or things where you need the suspension loaded. My ceiling is 23’5” for the fact that I have a mezzanine over the wood shop area. Total space 7700. Seemed nice at first but has shrunk since.
So I recommend a two post and a crane.