Lift or mechanic's pit for new garage?

[strykerAKAmack]

2 post if you want to do work on vehicle
4 post if you want to keep a vehicle off the ground and store stuff under it .

I've got a 2 post my buddies got a 4 post, any time he needs to do any type wheel suspension work well he up on my 2 post while his 4 post keeps his garage space open LOL

 

[freedhardwoods]

After Daddy's Dodge was dropped from a 2 post lift "because it weighed so much more at one end" according to the dealership,
David from jax

That sounds like an excuse from an incompetent worker. I don't think I would trust that dealership very far if they don't even know the limitations of their own equipment.

 

[350c]

Can you put in a pit? I can't help but feel like I read a long while back those are frowned upon by some environmental government organization.

I don't remember why I'm thinking that, which is frustrating, but I would love a pit myself and someone once put a pin in that bubble.

I'm sure the pit and/or the lift, or whatever form you can think of, is frowned upon by some environmental government organization.

 

[350c]

I am planning out my garage for a new build. I plan on working on my cars, tractor and UTV in this garage. Which would be the best way to go? A lift, if that is even possible with a tractor considering how back heavy it is, or a mechanic's pit?

FYI. Tractor (Kioti DK6010SE + filled tires) is probably around 5,000 lbs but I may eventually upgrade to 100hp + tractor.

I'd suggest a lift unless you have the ability to have a walk-in pit--when you get older, climbing the ladder/steps to enter/exit the pit will be a pain. Also, the lifts provide much more versatility, whereas you would need to keep the pit covered or protected with some kind of barrier, such as railings.

 

[tstorzuk]

Before I relocated to warmed regions, I had a pit. Complete with air, power, and a ventilation system, which is critical. I miss it every day. If I could do it again next week, I'd go with a pit again. Design it carefully. Do not allow your wife to sweep the floor into it.

The ventilation system inside a pit is absolutely critical. My brother had one without one. Everything rusted when it was left in there. The lights and electrical, tire rims, etc... Once the electrical rusted out, it was super dark inside.

Plus, I found that when working in it the floor was never at the right/ideal height.

Hope those points help you make an informed decision.

 

[repete]

That sounds like an excuse from an incompetent worker. I don't think I would trust that dealership very far if they don't even know the limitations of their own equipment.

Once I get a vehicle about six inches off the ground I give it the shake test. ESPECIALLY trucks.

 

[Dunno]

Get a lift. BUT, don’t think a $1995 dollar 10,000lb chicom imported lift is the same as a $13,000 dollar 10,000lb American Mohawk lift - they aren’t! A fellow did a test where he filmed 10,000lb imported lifts failing to lift 7-8,000 pounds, and catastrophically failing. I bought used Mohawk lifts and they’re built like what they are - the best lifts you can buy. The 3/4” American steel they are made of is mighty impressive and reassuring. Try not to buy on price, but on the image of what you will look like after the bargain basement lift has failed and the vehicle has come down on your head.

 

[henerythe8th]

I am planning out my garage for a new build. I plan on working on my cars, tractor and UTV in this garage. Which would be the best way to go? A lift, if that is even possible with a tractor considering how back heavy it is, or a mechanic's pit?

FYI. Tractor (Kioti DK6010SE + filled tires) is probably around 5,000 lbs but I may eventually upgrade to 100hp + tractor.

A 100hp+ tractor won't be lifted with a conventional car lift.
In a pit a car cannot fall on you, but you'll be climbing in and out for stuff. A pit also requires removal of pit cover before use, AND bad gasses can collect down there. The pit that i had used a vertical ladder to get out of it, saves space, but...
If you go with a pit, I'd recommend power and air be in the plan. Ventilation and light are a couple of the uses for power.

2 or 4 post lift?

 

[gstrom99]

Get a lift. BUT, don’t think a $1995 dollar 10,000lb chicom imported lift is the same as a $13,000 dollar 10,000lb American Mohawk lift - they aren’t! A fellow did a test where he filmed 10,000lb imported lifts failing to lift 7-8,000 pounds, and catastrophically failing. I bought used Mohawk lifts and they’re built like what they are - the best lifts you can buy. The 3/4” American steel they are made of is mighty impressive and reassuring. Try not to buy on price, but on the image of what you will look like after the bargain basement lift has failed and the vehicle has come down on your head.

Yep. Mine is a 10k RotaryLift. Made in Indiana. Good rubber bumper on the drivers side post. The manual tells you where to put the front wheel location pad and where to park the vehicle according to the wheelbase. All require good concrete - mine is 6" thick where the posts are. I also had it installed. I could have drove an hour away, trailered it home, worked hard to get it in the shop, assembled and installed it, but the dealer brought it down from Minnesota and installed it for $750. No brainer.

 

[bdhsfz6]

To me anyway, working height is very important. With a lift, It's much easier to adjust. I can set the height of the vehicle and sit on a stool while working, instead of standing on my feet, a ladder or a stool in a pit.

Cleanup is another issue. I know from experience how difficult it is to clean water and leaking fluids from the floor of a pit. Back in my teens & 20's, my friends and I would work on our hot rods at a neighborhood gas station where the owner used to let us use his pit. The deal was, we could use it but we had to clean it out before and after. The floor of the pit was below the water table so there was no drain. Water would seep in after a rain and we often had to bail it out with buckets. Our clothes were always filthy from rubbing on the greasy walls while we cleaned the pit and worked on our cars.

Still, there is the cost issue. Lifts are expensive and getting more so every year. They also require periodic maintenance. In some cases, a pit might be a cheaper option.