Requirements for installing a 2 post lift and the lift itself

[Michael_]

Just a little background:

I live in bavaria, near munich, germany, which basically is the german california.
This means rents and property prices are extremely expensive and as a result i have a serious lack of space.

I really tried to get away with specialised mechanic shops in the last couple years but i was not able to find one that does repairs the way i want them to. They do things like permanently remove the thermostat to solve overheating issues or after rebuilding an engine due to overheating don't install the new water pump i supplied them and then get mad if you dont like it... Of course they lie when ever they open their mouth... I really got enough of me and my cars being treated like a worthless piece of junk!

I had a few discussions about this with my dad the last couple weeks and would might get him onboard so we could rent something together for storage and being able to properly work on our cars. ( He's not really excited about the working part but of course would like to have indoor storage as well. )

The reason i'm telling this is that our budget will be relatively low (for the high prices in our area) but while driving around the last couple months i noticed there are TONS of barns in the 30 miles range.
While shiny new properties are way out of our range i figured i would might be able to get a deal on an older not so shiny looking barn...

What i imagine is something with space for 4 (at very least 3) mid/fullsize cars such as the possiblity to install a 2 post lift and then still being able to move freely. (Putting an engine hoist in front of the car etc.)

So this brings me to the question:

Before i start looking for a barn...

What are the requirements to install a 2 post lift?

Do i absolutely need (high voltage) electricity or might be able to get away with a power aggregate? (How much would this cost and how
much fuel would i burn?)
I fear a lot of barns probably dont have electricity and my budget is tight...
I would also love a barn that is not directly connected to a house so i could also be working on or running my cars later at night.

How much ceiling height do i need for being able to stand upright under the car?

What are the requirements on the floor of the barn?
Can i install a lift even on a earth ground? (If so will this be expensive?)

What are the requirements on the lift itself?

Currently i want to lift a 1969 Dodge Charger RT, 1972 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme & 1989 Mercedes Benz 560 SEC which are Mid & Pony Size cars.
But i would also like to have the ability to lift something like a 1971 Cadillac Eldorado (Fullsize) in the future...

I might want to seperate the body from the frame on our cutlass in the future.

So what do i have to look out for on a 2 post lift for these applications?

How much will it be going to cost?
Would you recommend used lifts or better stay away from them?

 

[MoparLeo]

All of the questions that you have about the lift specs would be specific to the lift you choose. The maker of the lift can supply you with all the specs and requirements that you want to know.
Lots of choices on line.

 

[tonysrt]

Hopefully somebody from your neck of the woods chimes in. A 2 lift post needs a better floor than a 4 post lift, usually both need a concrete slab for flooring and a 2 post needs it to be deeper to secure the posts. I plan on doing a 2 post in the future and I have about 15 feet for headroom which is adequate.

 

[Jerry Hall]

I don't know much about the electrical grid in Germany, but in the States there are 110V hydraulic systems available on 2 post lifts. Most lifts need 12 foot ceilings height, although there are some low profile ones available. Space will be your concern as you know more about your budget and the space you need. Good quality 2 post lifts run between $1800-$2500 US dollars the last time I looked.

 

[Michael_]

Hopefully somebody from your neck of the woods chimes in. A 2 lift post needs a better floor than a 4 post lift, usually both need a concrete slab for flooring and a 2 post needs it to be deeper to secure the posts. I plan on doing a 2 post in the future and I have about 15 feet for headroom which is adequate.

But i imagine it will be pretty uncomfortable to lift the body off the frame with a 4 post lift?
With the 2 post it looks to be pretty easy...


I also read somewhere that 4 post lifts are significantly more expensive than 2 post lifts.

That's why i was hoping to get away with a 2 post lift.
But i'm not sure a lot of affordable barns will have the required concrete floor.

 

[tonysrt]

I only mentioned the 4 post because flooring requirements are a little easier to meet.

 

[T2R9]

For a 2 post I would do a minimum of a 6” slab, or do deeper footers where the lift will mount. I did 3’ x 3’ x12” deep where my lift mounted. I bought a 9k direct lift and it was 3k US dollars installed. Safety first so ensure your base can support it fully loaded.

 

[Michael_]

I image you have to make the complete floor of the building solid and can't only set a foundation at the spot where the lift would be located?
And even if you could it would probably still be expensive? Especially if you have no concrete floor to begin with?

I will look a bit more into the floor requirements of 2 post lifts and look around what kind of floors the local barns have.
But i imagine this could be a problem at low budget estates. Hopefully not.

 

[gtx6970]

Neither can be set of dirt floors. thats an accident waiting to happen.


Flooring is concrete only, the thicker the better
4 post lifts can probably get away with a 4" thick slab.
2 post lift need 6" , minimum , 8" preferred thickness

ceiling TYPICALLY is 12 ft with either

Most are 110 volt

As far as lift capacity, IMO a 9000 lb is the minimum I would consider. again, bigger is better.

a 4 post is typically less expensive, but has a lot more limitations for use .

 

[Michael_]

I just checked the classifieds up to 65 miles range and it seems that about 30-50% of all barns have concrete floors.
Dont know about slab thickness but at least that gives me hope to find something suitable.

So it looks like i'm looking for a barn with:

- Space for at least 3 mid/fullsize cars (better 4) a lift and then still being able to move freely (Putting an engine hoist in front of a car etc.)

- 230 volt (we got different voltage) electricity
-- Would at least be very nice if i do not need a power generator
-- High Voltage being a plus but not required

- Concrete Floor with at least 6" Slab (better 8")
- At least 12 ft ceiling height

As far as the lift requirements

- 2 Posts
- At least 9000 lb capacity
- 230 volts (Non high voltage, except its there)

I guess i should choose a lift with long arms?

-----

I guess now is the time to watch the market and maybe driving around and talk to people with barns ^^
I really hope i'm being able to find something affordable that meets the requirements.

Edit:

If someone has a few more tips on what to look out on a 2 post lift for my application (in general) please let me know, thanks.

Also isn't 9000 lb pretty much?
I'm just allowed to drive cars up to 7716,18 lb with my license.

 

[Slap Stick]

Always get more lift than you need and much more than you THINK you need.
Remember you will be under it.

 

[OKDart]

In 2015, I paid about $3,000 for a Bendpak 2 post assymetrical extra tall clear floor 168" lift, 10,000 lb certified. Looks like a similar Bendpak lift is $4,500 now. I think the Chinese lifts start around $2500. If I remember right, the requirements were minimum 4" 3500 PSI concrete. Power is 240 VAC at 20 amps, maybe 30.

If you don't have the minimum concrete requirements, the instructions for the lift will tell you what to do. You will have to dig footers to a certain size which requires cutting into the existing concrete. And if you're going to do that, you might as well get a lift with a floorplate (hyd hoses and cables run along the floor instead of overhead) so you can pour the new concrete an inch or so below existing for the floor tray to sit in. Then you'll have the best of both and won't be limited with taller vehicles like vans (I've heard they're a lot more common in Europe), or have a speed bump in the way.

As far as ceiling height, here's a 9,000 lb lift designed for low ceilings for $2,700, columns are 9'3":

https://www.tooltopia.com/Atlas-Equipment-ATEXH9KBPX

Symmetrical lifts are more stable, but don't have as much room to open the car door. I chose asymmetrical. Some lifts come with fancy arms that let you achieve both.

 

[66 Sat]

The whole slab doesn't need to be 8" (200mm), but needs to be well constructed.
The lift supplier will have his own specs, but if not and working in metric (which I assume the German builders will), you should budget for:
- Plastic sheeting under the slab to stop damp coming up from the ground
- 100mm slab throughout (150mm better)
- Thickenings under the post bases - budget on 900 x 900 x 300mm
- 40 MPa concrete (maybe called C40 in Germany)
- Heavy mesh reinforcement (whatever is standard in Germany, probably 7.6mm wire, 100mm square) - 2 layers if 150mm slab
- Reinforcing cages in the thickenings

It will be expensive but needs to be done properly as your life may depend on it. Don't cheap out on the lift either - US made or European equivalent - no Chinese ****.