If you’re looking to put a car lift in your garage, some of the unexpected things, both physically and financially, that you should be concerned about.
There are many things you have to consider before putting a lift in your garage, the first one being your ceiling height. Go with the best of the best.
Ceiling Height Requirements
A 10 and 1/2t ceiling, which is just over the minimum. If you go to the company’s website, you can see exactly the minimum requirements for the lift that you’re looking for.
Garage Door Tracks and Opener
Next are the garage door itself, the track, and the garage opener, because in most garages, these will interfere with the car being lifted. For example, this is the track it runs on, and if you were to open this garage door, it would absolutely interfere with the vehicle.
Home Garage Car Lift Tracks Installation
Imagine this lift being in this place and the garage door being untouched. Basically, the garage door would slice through the car, which obviously is not possible. This garage opener would prevent the car from lifting high enough.
You can hire a professional to convert this type of lift to a side-mounted lift. Not only that, but you also have to convert the garage door from opening this way to opening higher against the ceiling. They can be converted to open as high as legally possible against the ceiling, which allows it to fit the vehicle without any interference.
Delivery and Installation
And then there’s the actual assembly. When you order this from the manufacturer, you could ask if they have a forklift handy. The truck that delivers it needs to be offloaded. It has to be done by a forklift. The company could also offer a forklift to offload this package.
Rental companies would allow you to rent a portable forklift. This guy could install this lift as well, and it must be a no-brainer.
These are usually terrific installers who come with a helper. Even without a forklift, they still manage to offload the package. They carry most of the things themselves.
The only thing that they have to carry or handle together is these actual platforms. They put them on dollies and they wheel them into their garage. When the company tells you they need to offload it from the trailer, challenge that and you can save yourself.
The Air Compressor
And then there’s one final expense that you have to add to your list, and it is the air compressor, because most lifts out there operate using air compressors to disengage the brakes. Get the tire inflation kit, which can hook up to the compressor, run the line and inflate all of the tires in the vehicle, nice and easy.
Protective Padding
When you park your car underneath, you will hit your head. Ended up installing this protective padding, extending throughout the bottom of this lift: one of those adhesive foam pieces.
Also, if you end up parking your car underneath and you want to open up the trunk, you will also hit these rails with the trunk. Installing a piece of foam to protect the trunk lid from getting scratched.
Operating the Lift
There are a couple of things you have to consider: you need a power source to power the pump. Routed it from the ceiling. You also need the air hose. That powers your air compressor. To lower the car or to lift it, you have this button. This button raises it, this button lowers it, but you also have to keep pressing this button, which disengages the brakes.
Final thing to note: there’s no limit on how high you can bring this car, so you’ve got to set your own limit, because if you raise it too high, you might end up crushing your roof. In the highest setting, install this tape. When you get to that level, you simply lower the brakes, and then it rests on the brakes.
If you want to lower the vehicle on the lift, you raise it up again to loosen up the brakes. Press this button, and lower the lever and it’s going to lower the lift. This button disengages the brakes; this lever lowers it, but make sure all the towers disengage, so drop it slowly.
It’s as simple as that: it takes about 15 seconds or so. It takes another 30 seconds to lift the car. You can get a 220 hookup, which provides a stronger motor. Waiting 30 seconds to lift the car on 110 power.
Benefits of a Home Garage Car Lift
When the car is off the lift, you gain all of this space back. A solution that allows parking for two vehicles. Storage should not be the primary reason why you get this lift.
You could technically have one car and just drive onto these ramps every day you want to park the car, then drive off when you want to use the car, and use it only when you do work on the vehicle. It gives the ability to work on vehicles underneath and just makes things a lot easier.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much ceiling height is needed for a four-post lift?
A 10 and 1/2t ceiling, which is just over the minimum. If you go to the company’s website, you can see exactly the minimum requirements for the lift that you’re looking for.
Do garage doors need to be modified for a car lift?
For most garages, these will interfere with the car that’s being lifted. Had to hire a professional to convert this type of lift to a side-mounted lift. They were converted to open as high as legally possible against the ceiling.
Is a forklift required to offload the lift at delivery?
It has to be done by a forklift. They had no forklift. They offloaded the package to just the two of them. Challenge that and you can save yourself. Contact our team to get to know more about it.
Why does a car lift need an air compressor?
Most lifts out there operate using air compressors to disengage the brakes.
How long does the lift take to raise and lower a car?
It takes about 15 seconds or so. It takes another 30 seconds to lift the car.
Conclusion
You will have zero regrets about spending the amount, not only on the lift but also on all the prep work, because it gives the ability to work on vehicles underneath and just makes things a lot easier.
When the car is off the lift, you gain all of this space back. There are many things you have to consider before putting a lift in your garage.
