Would You Rather Have A Larger Garage, Or A Smaller Garage With A Lift?

92Apocalypso · Jul 22, 2017

I'm preparing to have a garage built in my backyard, hopefully before my daughter is born in November. I'm getting a pad poured and pole barn put on it. owning this fox body has really made me think having a lift may be very valuable. i can't have both. a large shop and a lift. so my question is this, if you had a certain budget and you could have either a 2 car garage with a lift, or a 3 car garage, which would you choose?

keep in mind, I am a contractor/wood worker, so some of the shop has to be dedicated to that craft.

85_SS_302_Coupe · Jul 22, 2017

I'd definitely rather have the lift. If I have enough room around the car to use a floor jack and not hit the walls, open the doors all the way or be able to paint it, that's enough room for me if I can have a lift along with it. If I were building a 2 car garage with a lift, I'd just put the lift right in the middle and call it a one car garage lol.

RaggedGT · Jul 22, 2017

If you build the bigger garage first. Down the road you could always add the lift

92Apocalypso · Jul 22, 2017

RaggedGT said:
If you build the bigger garage first. Down the road you could always add the lift

nope, because in order for me to build it for a lift, I'm raising ceiling height to 12 feet.... if I do a 3 car size, I cannot afford to go 12 foot, unfortunately.

RaggedGT · Jul 22, 2017

Two car-12 feet... You're welcome
lol
I love my garage,it's - 2 1/2 car garage. But it's not tall enough for a lift,and I want one.

General karthief · Jul 22, 2017

Wow, what a dilemma, ok, think about this: build the three car garage and build it with a plan that will include raising the roof over one bay to install a lift later.

Jersey Joe · Jul 22, 2017

To have such problems, I'm stuck in a one car with a low ceiling for good measure, seriously though I think I would go 2 car with the taller ceiling, unless you need to park more than one car in there.

imp · Jul 22, 2017

RaggedGT said:
Two car-12 feet... You're welcome
lol
I love my garage,it's - 2 1/2 car garage. But it's not tall enough for a lift,and I want one.

@RaggedGT
My problem also. 8-foot walls, 2X4 trusses above. I've calculated out how to raise the joist-chord 4 feet, using 2X8 rafters and joists, cutting away the bottoms of about 5 trusses. Gosh, how I want a lift!

Another detail: Lifts call for reinforced concrete in the slab. Otherwise, maybe:

92Apocalypso · Jul 22, 2017

karthief said:
Wow, what a dilemma, ok, think about this: build the three car garage and build it with a plan that will include raising the roof over one bay to install a lift later.

that is a great idea haha. only issue is, with work, and hobbies, and family, and new baby coming, I just don't have time to build it, and I don't see myself having said time for the next few years. thus, I decided to have the like barn built, and you are limited with how you can build it. budget isn't too high, so it really is one one or the other. good try though haha

92Apocalypso · Jul 22, 2017

Jersey Joe said:
To have such problems, I'm stuck in a one car with a low ceiling for good measure, seriously though I think I would go 2 car with the taller ceiling, unless you need to park more than one car in there.

so I currently have a 1 car garage that is attached to my home, that I will still have that to park a car in, even tho it's tight.

92Apocalypso · Jul 22, 2017

imp said:
@RaggedGT
My problem also. 8-foot walls, 2X4 trusses above. I've calculated out how to raise the joist-chord 4 feet, using 2X8 rafters and joists, cutting away the bottoms of about 5 trusses. Gosh, how I want a lift!

Another detail: Lifts call for reinforced concrete in the slab. Otherwise, maybe:

yup, the pad is actually cheaper still, when reinforcing it, but going down in size. also, if I make it a 20x24 I save $1500 by not having a guy come out and survey it for my county building enforcement... if it's 480 sq. feet or smaller i can use survey from when i purchased the home. that's half the price of the lift right there

Mstng93SSP · Jul 22, 2017

I hate being cramped. Drives me nuts! I need space.......i have never had a lift. Would be nice, but I have done everything under the sun on my car without a lift so I would go with a bigger garage personally.

imp · Jul 23, 2017

Mstng93SSP said:
I hate being cramped. Drives me nuts! I need space.......i have never had a lift. Would be nice, but I have done everything under the sun on my car without a lift so I would go with a bigger garage personally.

@Mstng93SSP
My thoughts exactly for the past 60 or so years. In the late '50s, needing to drop one of those cast iron automatics out, I pulled it out of the converter, let it down on my chest lying on my back, then slid it off of me sideways. And, were those bastards HEAVY! But then, I was bench-pressing 240# 12 lifts or so, several reps. Now, I desperately want to keep up doing the work, but at 75, it just ain't possible. A lift would extend my abilities doing such almost till I croak.......imp

JJD08 · Jul 23, 2017

A ten foot ceiling would also allow for a lift in the future. 20x24 wouldn't allow much space for both a lift and wood working equipment.

Adieu · Jul 23, 2017

Look at all you with your fancy garages...

(Says the guy with a 10,000lb capacity Challenger lift in his bay at work.)

nelzfoxes · Jul 23, 2017

I wish I had a garage. Yours is a good problem to have. I had to swap a powertrain outside.

Bullitt347 · Jul 23, 2017

nelzfoxes said:
I wish I had a garage. Yours is a good problem to have. I had to swap a powertrain outside.

Yikes!

Real time recon · Jul 23, 2017

How about a average size garage with a lift

nelzfoxes · Jul 23, 2017

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Bullitt347 said:
Yikes!

If I had a garage, This would probably be done by now.

Bullitt347 · Jul 23, 2017

And the neighbors would be happier I bet...lol

Would You Rather Have A Larger Garage, Or A Smaller Garage With A Lift?

92Apocalypso

Well-Known Member

85_SS_302_Coupe

it sucks (I know) to be on the receiving end

RaggedGT

Been here over a DECADE and still no CT

92Apocalypso

Well-Known Member

RaggedGT

Been here over a DECADE and still no CT

General karthief

wonder how much it would cost to ship you a pair

Jersey Joe

I remember blowing that Monkey's ass

imp

Mustang Master

92Apocalypso

Well-Known Member

92Apocalypso

Well-Known Member

92Apocalypso

Well-Known Member

Mstng93SSP

You have a nice rear end there Dave.

imp

Mustang Master

JJD08

Active Member

Adieu

Easy there, this ain't a dating site.

nelzfoxes

Bullitt347

I have been doing it wrong this whole time

Real time recon

Mustang Master

nelzfoxes

Bullitt347

I have been doing it wrong this whole time

Similar threads

Would You Rather Have A Larger Garage, Or A Smaller Garage With A Lift?

Well-Known Member

it sucks (I know) to be on the receiving end

Been here over a DECADE and still no CT

Well-Known Member

Been here over a DECADE and still no CT

wonder how much it would cost to ship you a pair

I remember blowing that Monkey's ass

Mustang Master

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

You have a nice rear end there Dave.

Mustang Master

Active Member

Easy there, this ain't a dating site.

I have been doing it wrong this whole time

Mustang Master

I have been doing it wrong this whole time

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