Lift or mechanic's pit for new garage?

[Shawn T. W.]

I'll use a creeper at those prices ...

Hope you plan for a tall ceiling too!

 

[sandman2234]

Before I installed a pit, I would have a talk with a couple of insurance agents. They usually don't like pits.
David from jax

 

[Happy in NC]

That's why I got a 2 post

 

[cj7]

No pit. Lifts are so versatile.

If you raise something heavy on a 2 post lift. An additional safety measure is to have portable stands under each end of the vehical. They stop it from teetering while working on it.

 

[bradm64]

What do you mean by 'split' ?

As for parking underneath I thought about that. Would be great unless whatever is on the lift has a leak.

My 4 post Tuxedo lift included some light plastic trays that spanned the gap between the runners, that could be positioned to catch drips or leaks from vehicle parked on lift.

 

[Little Red Tractor]

Another problem with pits, other than the falling in concern, was the fact that they collect fumes. Gasoline, CO and a few other fumes are heavier than air and collect there. That can be both a fire and suffocation hazard.

 

[CoyPatton]

My son bought a house with a shop building. Tye house records show the house build in early 70’s. The shop and house brick match, so we assume it was build in the same time period. No records available on shop build that could be found by the realtor. The shop had a pit in one bay. My son lives in the foothills on the east side of the mountains in NC. He decided to fill the water hole in his shop, pour concrete and install a 2 post lift. Impossible to do tire work with a pit, as a full access pit prevents jacking up a full axle.
Another problem with pits is cleaning up spills—I’ve seen many many pits that have a coating of oily fluids on the floor.

 

[boatmoter]

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.

as a retired ASE master tech I would go with the lift over a pit anyday. but a 2 post lift, not a drive on

 

[Gord Baker]

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 Pit is likely against Building Code. Gasses can collect in it.

 

[AnotherBueller]

Most big truck stop shops have pits, I got pulled into the state of Mississippi weigh station on I-20 just east of Meridian, and they had me drive over there pit for my level one inspection ...

They're not working on anything just looking at the underside. Much faster than a creeper along with out of the weather.