4 cars in a double garage - lift stacking options

[Jonny TVR]

The initial message was deleted from this topic on 01 March 2022 at 16:57

[Baldchap]

You can get short lifts (my two post lift has post heights of less than 2.5m), but I think you'll struggle to get a short, narrow four poster parking lift, which is what you'll presumably want two of side by side.

I'd contact Automotech and ask.

Having written all that... Two of these might work:

https://www.automotechservices.co.uk/products/4t36...

I got mine from them and self-fitted. Easy peasy and they answered my questions over the phone with no hassle.

[TA14]

Do you ever worry about oil dripping onto the car below?

[Lotobear]

TA14 said:

Do you ever worry about oil dripping onto the car below?

Brake fluid is more the thing to worry about.

[Lesgrandepotato]

My old man used to do this, I bought his lift from a place in Holland out the back of practical classics.

We had some drip trays supplied to avoid the brake fluid /oil issues.

[S17Thumper]

Lesgrandepotato said:

We had some drip trays supplied to avoid the brake fluid /oil issues.

My old man has a simple but imaginative thing, under each lift is a sheet of Perspex (or something similar) then pivots at the back and when the lift is raised drops by a couple of inches at the front to give as slope. Kind of works like a ‘roof’ between the 2 cars.

[AW10]

I have an automotech 4 post lift and am pleased with it. Did a self collection and install in April as they weren't doing installs due to the pandemic; that may now be different.

2.5m will be rather snug in height; you need to allow roughly 125mm for the thickness of the ramps and then a couple of cm headroom to raise the lift off locks. That'll be less than 1.2m per car - a GT40 back in the day was 1.1m!

My current garage has a ceiling height of 2.8m and I still cut a "bubble" into the ceiling to give another 80cm of height.

You'll need to make sure the floor is strong enough to support the weight of 4 cars and probably 1200kg of lifts as well. I'll guess you would need at least 150mm of reinforced concrete, maybe 200mm? I used to live in a house with a block and beam garage floor - that ruled out a storage lift.

Most lifts will need a 16A circuit as well.

Also worth puttng a pointer to this thread in the home mechanics section - that's where most lift discussions seem to take place.

[Jonny TVR]

Thanks guys .. will measure the height more accurately.

It does look like a good solution.

[MGSteve]

Worth looking at Strongman lifts too as they do a range of lifts specifically for parking.
They even have a double width lift so that you don't have posts in the middle.
https://strongmanlifts.co.uk/product/double-wide-c...

[Jonny TVR]

MGSteve said:

Worth looking at Strongman lifts too as they do a range of lifts specifically for parking.
They even have a double width lift so that you don't have posts in the middle.
https://strongmanlifts.co.uk/product/double-wide-c...

I can see the advantages of those double lifts but it would mean getting the two cars out from underneath in order to get one top one out. Also if you have varying heights of cars its not as flexible. I think I prefer two single four posts.

I do like strongmans complete centre infills ..

[mfmman]

Drift works used these (I think) they seemed happy enough

https://www.daxmachinery.com/four-post-parking-lif...

There a youtube video of them building them up, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZXIEmwOzTHU

Not sure if there's a fitting service though

[Skyedriver]

SJR Garage Equipment/Garage Equipment on line Ask for Andy.

[jgmadkit]

Have a look at Hoovies garage youtube channel. He has a parking arrangement that would suit. Can't remember the company though but can probably get the same sort of thing in the UK. His arrangement is 6 cars, top 3 all independent and have full under carriage to prevent oil drips etc on the car below.

Example. https://youtu.be/bOyS9llASMo

Edited by jgmadkit on Thursday 27th January 18:57

[DKL]

Hoovies is from Bendpak. They gave it to him so it gets lots of plugs. Oddly a lot of the lifts at the Wizard's place are BP too, they must like product placement.

[DKL]

Hoovies is from Bendpak. They gave it to him so it gets lots of plugs. Oddly a lot of the lifts at the Wizard's place are BP too, they must like product placement.

[Jonny TVR]

The garage is actually 2.7m high but has a crossember in the middle that reduces it to 2.3m. The depth of the garage is 3m. I would need to get the bonnet or lowest points of the car on the top deck cars to make it work. I'm thinking that this would be possible with the cobra as there is just the screen and the other car could be the etype FHC. It would be tight but doable I hope.

[Dave.]

Drifworks installed a bank of unbranded Bendpak copies, not sure if he mentions the brand in the video.

https://youtu.be/ZXIEmwOzTHU

You can get them as singles or doubles.

[Skyedriver]

Jonny TVR said:

The garage is actually 2.7m high but has a crossember in the middle that reduces it to 2.3m. The depth of the garage is 3m. I would need to get the bonnet or lowest points of the car on the top deck cars to make it work. I'm thinking that this would be possible with the cobra as there is just the screen and the other car could be the etype FHC. It would be tight but doable I hope.

Mines 2.4 to eaves and about 3 to ridge, with the TVR I remove the targa panel and the rear roof section and windscreen fit between the roof timbers to gain about 150mm. I've marked the runway so I know exactly where to position the car. Not quite so easy with the Lotus on top....

With regard to leaks from above, the set up come complete with 4 plastic "drip trays" which can slide to wherever the leak may occur.

[Jonny TVR]

Thank you again.

I would like to buy one of these initially and it should work dimensions wise with my cars/ garage.

I really don't want to install it myself .. I know you guys say its easy but I don't want to.

None of these companies offer fitting. Not sure what type of person to look for. I asked my handyman and he wouldn't want to do it. I could try and find another .. is there a specific type of tradesman who would be best do you think?

[Munter]

Bound to be something like "Garage Equipment Installation and Repair".