Lift placement
 

I am just getting started on my shop and was wondering where to set a lift in it. It is 42x42 12'ceilings 2 overhead doors. Doors are 12x10 and 16x10, in the 12x10 I will keep my trailer which is 30' long and the rest will be open. I just want to rough in power for it for now so I was going to hardwire a so cord out of the ceiling and drop it down to it. Have no idea what lift I am going to purchase or when I am going to purchase it. Is the power hookup usually at the bottom or the top of the lifts? 120 or 240 volt? I want it out of the way so I don't have to work around it all the time. Thanks:whenitsdone:
Kevin

First you need to decide two or four post lift. Ceiling height restrictions?

Then draw yourself a floor plan with door openings and critical clearance measurements and start filling in the spaces with workbenches storage shelves and spaces, compressor, tool boxes, and power tools.

Then factor the minimum work/access space needed around the vehicle.

That's a decent start.

I'd suggest an American made two post asymetrical. Here's a pic of the Mohawk A-7 I just had installed in my garage. You can clearly see the electrical hookup. Its 220.

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c2...s/IMG_0637.jpg

:D

:lol: I resemble that vid.

Make that 2 of us. :lol:

One of my favorite lines! LoL! :lol:

With that size shop I would highly recommend a 4 post lift with optional caster wheels so you can move it around the shop as needed and even out doors if needed. A typical 4 post lift runs on 110 so you could run an extension cord as needed. A 4 post does not need to be permanently anchored and will work on any floor that will support the vehicle weight. My 4 post is not anchored and it survived a 6.8 earthquake here in VA a few years back with no ill effects to the lift or to Dust Off which was 6ft in the air at the time the quake struck. There are pros and cons to both styles of lift so take some time to decide which will work for your situation.

See my lift light post here for lighting ideas.

https://lateral-g.net/forums/showthread.php4?t=48550

Drop 220/240V from the ceiling on the passenger side - usually the controls are on the passenger side. So that's the shortest route - but you can always come across the top with power if the wall is on the driver side.

You have enough ceiling height for a nice two post asymmetrical lift. Don't cheap out here like I did the first time around. A lift is like the greatest tool EVER in your shop. You'll be shocked how much it's used.

Make sure your floor design will meet the two post lift requirements if you go that route.

Having worked on both, I would only recommend a four post for storage or light duty work. If you're serious about building a car in the shop and using the lift to help, go two post.