Needing an expansion of a 3 car garage to a 4 car garage

[Valeria H.]

I am purchasing my second corvette and need to install a lift so that I can house 2 corettes and 2 drivers. I need input on the requirements for this install and suggestions. I have a full 3 car stall but with a very high ceiling.

I know that I need to have the "overhead doors" elevated. What else do I need to have present to have the lift installed?

[Ronald L.]

Re: Needing an expansion of a 3 car garage to a 4 car garage

Valerie, Hard to say without a lot more specifics, but...

The hoist mfg's have their specs, they advertise in the drive line, and that equipment all goes inside so if your ceiling already works to their specs, then that should be it. Outside doors only need to open to let the car on the ground out

[Jerry W.]

Re: Needing an expansion of a 3 car garage to a 4 car garage

here's a four poster....high ceiling but not required

[Valeria H.]

Re: Needing an expansion of a 3 car garage to a 4 car garage

In addition to the requirements for the lift are there any recommendations for a lift company to buy from?
Valeria

[Keith L.]

Re: Needing an expansion of a 3 car garage to a 4 car garage

I have two Super lifts. My ceiling is 11'6"

[Jim T.]

Re: Needing an expansion of a 3 car garage to a 4 car garage

In addition to the requirements for the lift are there any recommendations for a lift company to buy from?
Valeria

I have two Autolifter M6's I bought and installed about 14 years ago. These are 4-post lifts made with very strong steel and American made here in the USA. I do not belive they are in still in business.
However the Backyard Buddy has been in business for a very long time and I have recently viewed their video hosted by Sam Memmolo and the 4-post lift they sell is very much like my Autolifter M6's and the Backyard Buddy is made in Ohio from American steel. www.backyardbuddy.com
I would not even consider an imported lift.
If you have a trailor or a friend with a trailor, recommend pick-up your lift at the freight dock and unpack it from the trailor. The ramps weigh a few pounds.
My lifts use 110 motors so I can use regular wall outlets for electricity. 220 are also available.
I erected both of my M6's by myself. I adjusted my garage door for a Corvette only garage for 4 Corvettes, so the lift of the garage door allows removal of cars not on the lifts and the garage door does not lift back into the garage enough to hit the two lifted Corvettes that have to be backed in onto the lifts. My garage ceiling height is about 9' 6".

[Richard T.]

Re: Needing an expansion of a 3 car garage to a 4 car garage

I also have the M6 Autolifter. I've had it for 12 years or so and it works great. Also I think they had the best locking mechanism as well as superior construction. My garage ceiling height is 10 foot 6 inches which allows the lift to lock in the full up position and another Corvette easily parks underneath. I have drip trays (steel) that cover the entire bottom front to rear which I'd like to change to plastic some day. Other than that I love it, pulled the trans out of the 62 last winter for a rebuild and it was a breeze, very easy on the old back. Rich

[Robert E.]

Re: Needing an expansion of a 3 car garage to a 4 car garage

Keith, Those are some sweet Camaros you have there.

Robert

[Paul D.]

Re: Needing an expansion of a 3 car garage to a 4 car garage

I also have a Autolifters lift. The company did go under, but was purchased by some of the employees and remained active. Not sure if this is still true. I will try to research better later. I have the M8 which is a little longer and wider between the post. I got it for my 3/4 ton PU, but the extra width is great for parking a daily driver under. It takes up 10' X 16' area plus ramps (maybe 2.5'-3'). Excellent quality lift that is made just like the Backyard Buddy but priced to compete with China made. That plan didn't work so well. I never priced a lift from the employee owned group, but I understand it was more in line with Backyard Buddy. Still worth it in my mind. Latches looked fool-proof. Chip.

[Daniel K.]

Re: Needing an expansion of a 3 car garage to a 4 car garage

Valeria,



OK, sounds like overhead room is not an issue for you. On your garage doors, just make sure the hardware used is considered as "high-lift" and this will get your door(s) as high as possible when opened. If your door opening mechanism is via a torque bar, be sure to use an opener that attaches to the shaft and therefore, you can eliminate the overhead opener and gain a ton of useable space. (See Lift-Master). My shops have 10'-6" clear from finished floor (higher is always better). I've also recessed the lights over the bays. Just make sure you have power nearby and you should be good to go.

[James W.]

Re: Needing an expansion of a 3 car garage to a 4 car garage

I am purchasing my second corvette and need to install a lift so that I can house 2 corettes and 2 drivers. I need input on the requirements for this install and suggestions. I have a full 3 car stall but with a very high ceiling.

I know that I need to have the "overhead doors" elevated. What else do I need to have present to have the lift installed?

Valeria,

It sounds like you have no issues with ceiling height. Lift positioning in the third stall of your garage will come down to how much room you have from the garage door when it's close to the tail end of the Corvette. As long as their is about 8 feet you should be able to fully open the garage door without it coming in contact with the lift posts or the back end of the Corvette.

Hope this helps you in some way.


Best Regards,

James West

[Mark T.]

Re: Needing an expansion of a 3 car garage to a 4 car garage

Valeria I have been in the lift business for 30 years. I have installed and serviced just about every lift out there. Stay away from SUPER LIFTS and AUTOLIFTERS. They both have been in and out of business. I have customers who placed deposits and had problems getting their lifts and had to use legal means to get a refund.
Backyard Buddy is a excellant lift and american made.They are in Warren Ohio their phone number 800-837-9353
The gentelman who supplied the lifts for Charlotte is who you should call, he is in North Carolina. He can survey your garage and tell you if it needs any modifcations to the garage door or opener.
Call Joe Mendola at 704-616-8291 his business name is AUTOMOTIVE EQUIPMENT COMPANY. Joe carries the same brand I recommend QUALIY LIFTS out of Louisville Kentucky . These lifts are ALI tested and certified
and are very competively priced and have the best aluminum approach ramps I have seen .
GOOD LUCK
MARK TULLEY
VICE CHAIRMAN
METRO-LI CHAPTER

[Richard E.]

Re: Needing an expansion of a 3 car garage to a 4 car garage

I also have a BackYard Buddy lift and have had no problems .American made
in Ohio.A friend has two lifts made in china and lost a car off one.
Do yourself a favor and stay away from the cheap ones made in China.
Backyard buddy has a video on their website that pretty much says it all.In fact the guy who helped install mine bought one for his garage.
Rich...

[Don L.]

Re: Needing an expansion of a 3 car garage to a 4 car garage

In addition to changing the radius tracks on my over head (double width) door from 12" to 24", my installer moved the opener from the center of the door to one side. Changing the radius allowed me to hug the ceiling when open, without adding a section to the door as a friend of mine had to do. Of course his door is 7' high and mine is 8" high. When I say he moved the opener to one side, I actually mean mid-way over the right half of the door. Does that make sense as stated?

To ensure the door is lifted evenly, the installer attached a reinforcement bar from one side to the other on the door.

Hope you find some help in this...

[Ray G.]

Re: Needing an expansion of a 3 car garage to a 4 car garage

In addition to the requirements for the lift are there any recommendations for a lift company to buy from?
Valeria

Hello Valeria;
Liftmaster dealers have residential & commercial "jackshaft garage door openers". I have two of each and like the quality. Of course the installing company personnel are critical to a quality installation.
Hope this helps.
Ray