Four Post Auto Lift

jhv48 · #1 (**permalink**) 10-25-2007, 02:51 PM

I'm thinking of getting a Pro Park 7 four post lift and have a question for all those that have used these lifts.

I have a 112 inch high ceiling in my garage. One car is 58 inches tall, the cobra is 49 inches tall. Considering the 4 inch thickness of the side rails and the two inches required to lock and unlock the rails, will the two cars fit on this lift without hitting the ceiling? I know what the math says, but I see these cars on lifts all the time. Any secrets to making them fit? Am I over looking something? Or am I screwed!

John Martin · #2 (**permalink**) 10-25-2007, 05:15 PM

How long are the ramps ?

Kramer · #3 (**permalink**) 10-25-2007, 05:30 PM

short answer is it won't work...simply b/c you need the extra room to go over the lock, then let it back down..at least that is how mine works.....I have heard of folks cutting into the celing a bit to make room for the roll bar and/or winshield..perhaps that may work for you.

Kramer.

jwoodard · #4 (**permalink**) 10-25-2007, 05:40 PM

You mean like this? ProPark 7 with 8'6" ceiling height.

jhv48 · #5 (**permalink**) 10-25-2007, 05:46 PM

Thanks, Now I have to find an inch somewhere. I guess I could let the air out of the tires, but what a pain that is! Gotta think!

Austin_Snake · #6 (**permalink**) 10-26-2007, 05:51 AM

Even though you add up the car dimensions and it sounds like you are close you need to see where the dimensions the locked position on the lift. That will drive your final heights and clearances. Hang in there as there is nothign better to have in the garage!
Good luck,
Richard

Tugboat · #7 (**permalink**) 11-06-2007, 06:08 PM

JHV48

Just put in my Pro Park 7 lift and love it!!! It works fine with the GT40 and the Saturn Sky but probably not with anything taller. I am bringing the Lone Star Classic Cobra home from the paint shop this weekend and it's the same height as the Sky so it will work fine. The Cobra and the GT40 will share time on the lift and I will drive the GT40 on hot or cold days since it has A/C & Heat and the Cobra on those beautifull Texas Fall, Winter and Spring days.

BTW - The Pro Park 7 is very durable and very easy to install. Good price and built in Ft. Worth. There is quite a high pucker factor tho when you drive the bottom car under the lift the first time. LOL

Larry Boatner

jhv48 · #8 (**permalink**) 11-06-2007, 06:49 PM

Ceiling height 113 inches. Height of two cars plus 4 inches of ramp and 2 inches needed to lock ramp equals 113 inches. Just made it. Contacted a company to install higher garage rails and install a Liftmaster 3800 opener. Total cost of lift, del and installation, door mods and opener, under $3000.

Wife killed the deal as the lift would be against the side door to the garage and would make the door unusable as it opens in and the rails of the lift would keep it from ever opening. Can't re-hang the door to open out for security reasons.

I'm screwed!

hey,littlecobra · #9 (**permalink**) 11-06-2007, 08:42 PM

are you sure?? What cars are you stacking??
I have the mustang convertible, and the Cobra. 120" ceiling. (right at 10')

It is smoother with the mustang on top as i then don't have to worry about the rollbar. But the Cobra is ok up there. I just make sure i pull forward far enough on the ramp to clear the rollbar. i have a 'few' (but not much) more inches i could raise the lift.
I haven't tried to do it with the 500 on top; or any car with a hardtop. That could be a problem.
I didn't move rails, or change my door, or change the controller/motor.

There are MULTIPLE threads on this issue, have you tried a search?
Don't rule it out yet.
Kristen

ps. can the lift post not be positioned deeper in the garage, to clear the door?
SSSammy has just installed a lift a couple of weeks ago, and i think he has a 'door' issue, too.
Maybe he could post a picture of how he resolved it?

oh Sam.... pics of lift, please??

edit to add:
Mustang on top. I certainly can't stand up under the car and work on it, but my purpose was to store 3 in the garage. I can sit on a stool tho', and clean.

if i put the '65 Mustang on top with the top down, (or even the Cobra) i could probably get the 500 under it. The 500 isn't particularly tall.
Hope this helps!

FUNFER2 · #10 (**permalink**) 11-06-2007, 09:44 PM

Hey Larry- do you have yours in a single garage ?

I have just a single and have always thought of getting one but, I just don't how well it would be in such a small garage ? It would be great,.... to work on the cobra.

TButtrick · #11 (**permalink**) 11-07-2007, 05:27 AM

I had a carriage style door made up to match the conventional faux carriage door on the right to maximize head room inside the garage for the lift. I can raise the lift all the way to the top and walk under the car standing straight up. The windshield comes to within four inches of the lights you see on the angled bulkhead when raised to the top. It's 122" from the slab to the lights center.

Tugboat · #12 (**permalink**) 11-07-2007, 07:19 AM

Kevin,

I do have the lift in a single bay, BUT , I have a 4 car garage. It's 3 across and the middle bay is 2 cars deep. I put the lift in the single deep bay because I didn't have to deal with the garage door opener this way.. Go to this site and you can look at their tech. manual and get the exact dims.

It fits fine and if you slide the lift to the passenger side it still gives you alot of room to get out of the car. I had to move a ceiling fan w/light and put in T5's light fixtures.

http://www.derekweaver.com/html/propak7.shtml

Larry

FUNFER2 · #13 (**permalink**) 11-07-2007, 08:55 AM

I'll check them out.
Thanks Larry.

jhv48 · #14 (**permalink**) 11-07-2007, 02:25 PM

You guys are killing me here! Going to have to do some additional measuring. Maybe I can get the door open just enough to squeeze in and out.

SSSammy · #15 (**permalink**) 11-11-2007, 08:20 PM

Here's a pic of my new setup. I am only parking the Cobra in this garage for now, so I have not gone to the trouble to relocate the garage door opener to the side to get more overhead clearance. The ceiling is 10'3", the door casing is 7' tall by 9' wide. I had them replace the 7' door with a 9' door to get the tracks up as high as possible.

In this pic you can see I can't raise the car high enough to drive another one underneath. I am just using this thing for maintaining the Cobra right now. I can get it a foot or so higher if I shut the garage door.

If I want to park another car, I need to move the garage door opener, or just remove it and lift the door by hand. I can also back the Cobra in so that it's rollbar and windshield are to the rear of the raised door and get to the max extent of the lift.

Sam

Murphy · #16 (**permalink**) 11-12-2007, 06:03 AM

Wayne Dalton makes a direct drive motor opener that mounts on the wall above the garage door. It uses a torsion bar and spring to raise the door rather than the conventional chain and track. It saves alot of headroom and you can angle the door tracks upward for added height.

jhv48 · #17 (**permalink**) 11-12-2007, 07:50 PM

Sam, you gave me a good idea.

If I move the posts to the far left of the garage door opening, I can pick up about another foot of clearance on the right side, where the door is. Will have to do some measuring this weekend.

Might just be the answer.

Gene Gorman · #18 (**permalink**) 11-12-2007, 08:37 PM

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I had the garage door company change the 18" radi tracks for 32" radi tracks so the door would hug the ceiling. I can now open the door with the cars stacked on the lift.

Tugboat · #19 (**permalink**) 11-13-2007, 08:33 AM

Gene,

Feel free to throw a ford in the picture! Just kidding! Good looking garage.

I love my 4-post and it sure makes things easier. Is it me or does it just seem like you always want to drive the car thats on the lift?

Larry

Gene Gorman · #20 (**permalink**) 11-13-2007, 09:17 AM

The '67 Corvette was replaced with a Superformance Cobra. I just need to take some new pictures. I have been keeping the TT on the lift. It 6years old now and has 4000 miles on it. My wife wishes that I would put it on the ground. But if I did then she would drive it.She won't drive the Cobra or the supercharged Vette.

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