Minimum Ceiling Height for Lift Use (I tried searching)

CamarosRus · Aug 31, 2011

I tried searching but after 10 minutes of reading couldnt find correct older threads...........

I know the minimun height answer is subjective, depending upon height of car or truck ?????

For most Musclecars, Street Rods, Daily Drivers etc...........what do I need for minimum ceiling height in order for a 5'10-6' man to walk under and work/clean a car on lift. Not sure if I'll buy 2 post, 4 Post or Both !!!!

I found nice home with exist 11' ceiling 25x40' shop !!!!

FYI, shop is not sheet rocked and has standard trusses......and NO I do not
want to start modifying/boxing out trusses,etc

Thanks,

Neuswede · Aug 31, 2011

Not only is your height important, but also the working height of the lift you may be considering purchasing. 11 feet is acceptable for some lifts, while some manufacturers may specify 12 feet or more. Sports cars take less height than a truck/SUV, so all this comes into play.

A friend did his garage 3 years ago with 11 ft. ceilings. He has a short 2 post and a storage 4 post, but only works on sports cars, so 11 ft. worked for him.

Sounds like a nice size shop.

Falcon67 · Aug 31, 2011

11'. Our Mustang is 4' 6" and my Falcon is right at 4' 11". Figure tires on the beams at 6' and my Falcon would have about 1" clearance to the ceiling. And I'd still bang my head on the ramps (6' 1").

CamarosRus · Aug 31, 2011

Thanks..................waiting for more imput.........!!!!!!!!!!!

GeorgiaHybrid · Aug 31, 2011

Your best bet would be a 2 post lift similar to a Mohawk. No cross beam at the top and the car can be lifted almost to the ceiling (minus garage door and opener clearance). Trucks could be a problem but most cars should give you between 5.5 to 6.5 feet under the car. It is easy enought to measure the car from the bottom of the body to the top, add 4" or so for clearance plus add the depth of any obstruction (garage doors) and subtract that from 11' to get your maximum under car height.

Keep in mind that most normal two post lifts require a 12' ceiling or better.

340six · Aug 31, 2011

I am also looking at this thread and did a search as I saw a week or 2 ago a thread on just this but can not find it.
Had some one and 2 post drive on as links in the thread for low ceiling heights

holdover · Aug 31, 2011

do not forget to include the extra height you will have to go up to engage/disengage the safety locks above the work height, on some lifts 2-3" . 11' ceiling might be too low for a person 5'10". Also ramp thickness is a consideration to get the numbers you want, my Bend Pac HD9 ramps are about 4", my HD 14 about 6" good luck..

CamarosRus · Aug 31, 2011

UPDATE !!!.....................

I've come to the conclusion that a 11' ceiling and 10' High Door just isnt going to cut it
for all my future possibilities.

I'm thinking a 12' Minimum Door Height (x 10' Wide) should be a minimum so as to move misc RV's, and loaded trailers in/out of a shop.

Also thinking 13' or more ceiling height should be minimum to raise full size trucks up and work under.............

I've gone through my entire life w/o a shop. If I'm going to buy or build one now, I dont want to compromise on the basic door, ceiling issues !!!!!!

Thanks for your experienced advice................

brownbagg · Aug 31, 2011

I need 12'2 for my toyota truck on a two post

Lugnut64052 · Aug 31, 2011

The basic twin-post Rotary lifts I had in my shop needed 12 feet.

Ironcrow · Aug 31, 2011

12 foot 6 inch minimum. Must lifts specify around 12 feet and you really want a couple extra inches so you don't struggle with garage door tracks and where to hang lights too much. Designing to a clean sheet I'd spec 13 feet even.

I'm baffled as to your resistance to box, cove, sissor, collar tie, etc an existing truss if the house/garage is otherwise OK.

CamarosRus · Aug 31, 2011

Ironcrow said:
I'm baffled as to your resistance to box, cove, sissor, collar tie, etc an existing truss if the house/garage is otherwise OK.

Door height is only 10' which isnt high enough for truck/camper and or future 5th Whl trailer ???

Also shop not big enough at 25'x40' so I'd blow out back wall to say 25'60' and then add side roll up doors if two fronts were blocked.........

Anyway, just too much money and aggravation on top of $360K purchase price. (House,shop on .6 acre in NICE development in Covington,WA)

I'll just keep looking !!!!!!

TWX · Sep 1, 2011

Heh. We just bought a beautiful house in large part because it has a 24x38 (interior measurements) HVAC controlled, water-plumbed shop. Interior height is only about 9', and that's not accounting for the garage door opener or the air duct running through the center, and the doors open about 7'. Tall enough to get my eighties crew-cab dodge truck with tall bed shell inside with a little room to spare.

I never had a shop before either, and I really thought about a lift, but I've concluded that I can work around the lack of lift. The only thing that I could use a lift for would be to remove a truck cab from a frame, but I can accomplish that with a chain hoist bolted to the ceiling.

A lift would be nice, especially for installing transmissions, but I've gone my whole life without one and have learned how to do almost everything without it. Only one friend has one, and he ends up with one stalled project stored on the lift, while working on the other projects on the ground.

If you find the right place and it's just not *quite* tall enough for a lift, don't despair. Working in an otherwise beautiful shop, separated adequately from the house to get away from your SO while working, and set up to meet most of your needs is absolutely awesome, even without a lift.

Motofixxer · Sep 1, 2011

I would also agree on the 12' 6" minimum for a standard 2 post. But there are other 2 post like the Mohawk stated that would work fine. There is also the MaxxJak and other similar models. I think 11' ceiling for one of those would be adequate. But if your worried about the door height...then you better go taller. If you think you might need a taller door height for RV's etc then build if you can.

TWX said:
A lift would be nice, especially for installing transmissions, but I've gone my whole life without one and have learned how to do almost everything without it.

I'm sure you have worked without all your life...but your not getting any younger either right? I love mine...now I don't know how I lived without it. I just used it to lift my new compressor to paint the bottom and replace the valve. I used it to set my top box on my bottom...the list can go on.

derekeh · Oct 31, 2017

I'm also pondering on the height of my garage. My garage has laid block that are about 12 inches above the poured floor. I was going to frame 12 ft walls on top.of the for a total of 13 ft ceiling height. My builder says I need at least a 14 ft height to accommodate a lift. I didn't really want walls that tall.

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Lelandwelds · Oct 31, 2017

derekeh said:
I'm also pondering on the height of my garage. My garage has laid block that are about 12 inches above the poured floor. I was going to frame 12 ft walls on top.of the for a total of 13 ft ceiling height. My builder says I need at least a 14 ft height to accommodate a lift. I didn't really want walls that tall.

Pick a roof structure which lets you use the roof peak.

CamarosRus said:
I tried searching but after 10 minutes of reading couldnt find correct older threads...........

I know the minimun height answer is subjective, depending upon height of car or truck ?????

For most Musclecars, Street Rods, Daily Drivers etc...........what do I need for minimum ceiling height in order for a 5'10-6' man to walk under and work/clean a car on lift. Not sure if I'll buy 2 post, 4 Post or Both !!!!

I found nice home with exist 11' ceiling 25x40' shop !!!!

FYI, shop is not sheet rocked and has standard trusses......and NO I do not
want to start modifying/boxing out trusses,etc

Thanks,

Modding trusses isnt that big a deal. You may need to only change three to five to fit most vehicles.

firebirdparts · Oct 31, 2017

11 feet is plenty with cars. With trucks, you need 12.

ndm · Oct 31, 2017

derekeh said:
I'm also pondering on the height of my garage. My garage has laid block that are about 12 inches above the poured floor. I was going to frame 12 ft walls on top.of the for a total of 13 ft ceiling height. My builder says I need at least a 14 ft height to accommodate a lift. I didn't really want walls that tall.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

14 ft tall would let me stack my Dodge ramm 2500 on top of another 2500 ram.

I would go as tall as you can to give you all the options.

I prefer a 4 post since you can still move it around and dont "have to" bolt it down.

danbuff · Oct 31, 2017

My 2-post lift is installed in a 10' ceiling barn.

I work on my 2002 F250, scooting around on a chair/stool..
No problem with changing exhaust, transmission lines, etc.
This is about the height limit for my setup.

I am able to sit upright, comfortably, while working under the truck
A few places are a bit low (snow plow mount).
Of course I wish I had more room, but works ok for my needs.

Lift is a 10k Worth with custom (made by) worth, uprights.
Dan

mike93lx · Oct 31, 2017

derekeh said:
I'm also pondering on the height of my garage. My garage has laid block that are about 12 inches above the poured floor. I was going to frame 12 ft walls on top.of the for a total of 13 ft ceiling height. My builder says I need at least a 14 ft height to accommodate a lift. I didn't really want walls that tall.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

Sounds like your builder is either trying to talk you into more work than is needed or talk you out of a job he doesn't want to do.

Lots of evidence here and elsewhere that 14' isn't necessary.

Scud67 · Oct 31, 2017

My ceilings are 11'6 - I have an Atlas 9kbp that can be installed in a 10' garage. My Mustang and other cars go up on it without issues. My f150 (2wd) goes on it as well and I walk under it without any problems (I am 5'9"). Any larger truck/ suv and I would use my roll chair to do any work.

James-W · Nov 11, 2017

mike93lx said:
Sounds like your builder is either trying to talk you into more work than is needed or talk you out of a job he doesn't want to do.

Lots of evidence here and elsewhere that 14' isn't necessary.

I don't know, 14 feet may not be totally necessary, but it sure couldn't hurt. I doubt the cost difference between 12 feet and 14 feet would be all that much, maybe a few hundred dollars at most. But with a taller ceiling you would have the ability to install any type of lift you want and work on pretty much any type vehicle you want. I would think that in the great scheme of things it would be the best way to go.

laser3kw · Nov 11, 2017

I'm also pondering on the height of my garage. My garage has laid block that are about 12 inches above the poured floor. I was going to frame 12 ft walls on top.of the for a total of 13 ft ceiling height. My builder says I need at least a 14 ft height to accommodate a lift. I didn't really want walls that tall.

if you are building from ground up,configure the trusses to allow for the extra height.
I have a 30 x 40 with 12' walls. I have scissor trusses (vaulted ceiling)above a section for a "bay" area where a lift can be installed (someday). There are attic trusses above the remaining. Plenty of room to lift any thing.

brownbagg · Nov 11, 2017

i got one of those bendpak seven foot lifts,xl-9, but the lift height doesnt matter. for me to walk under my toyota, and Im only 5'5. my toyota roof is at 12'2

kbs2244 · Nov 11, 2017

We have had members show how they replaced flat bottomed trusses with scissors above
where needed.
Not so much a mod as a remove and replace.

Or if you are going to expand anyway, go with scissors in the addition.

mike93lx · Nov 11, 2017

James-W said:
I don't know, 14 feet may not be totally necessary, but it sure couldn't hurt. I doubt the cost difference between 12 feet and 14 feet would be all that much, maybe a few hundred dollars at most. But with a taller ceiling you would have the ability to install any type of lift you want and work on pretty much any type vehicle you want. I would think that in the great scheme of things it would be the best way to go.

I never said anything about it not being helpful or nice to have the height and never advocated for not building higher.

The builder apparently said that 14' was necessary, which i disputed.

Miss the Pontiacs · Nov 11, 2017

danbuff said:
My 2-post lift is installed in a 10' ceiling barn.

I work on my 2002 F250, scooting around on a chair/stool..
No problem with changing exhaust, transmission lines, etc.
This is about the height limit for my setup.

I am able to sit upright, comfortably, while working under the truck
A few places are a bit low (snow plow mount).
Of course I wish I had more room, but works ok for my needs.

Lift is a 10k Worth with custom (made by) worth, uprights.
Dan

I also have only 10’. The allowable build height in my area is 13’. I did a torch on slightly angled flat roof. With a little bit of parapet/facade, 8” of insulation and the trusses left me with 10’ of height. I will likely have to put a lock box on the switch of the lift so no one accidentally rams the lifted vehicle into the ceiling.
A wheeled chair should work great, still beats a set of jack stands and a creeper.

lucky3 · Nov 12, 2017

I have 8ft walls with a row of block and I have a full size atlas lift. With a car like my chevelle on it I can roll around under on a chair no problem. With my truck I just use a creeper. Yes I wish I could stand under it but it's still a lot nicer then using a jack and jack stands. I would never be without a lift in my garage again.

Minimum Ceiling Height for Lift Use (I tried searching)

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