This is kinda a collection of things obtained from other posts but here goes.

For me the ultimate starter garage BEFORE your truck even goes in, the garage must be prepped properly in order to do decent work.

In no particular order:
-Walls and ceiling drywalled, taped and painted in white.
-Top quality floor paint LIGHT grey, go to a pro paint store and ask for something that gets HIGH traffic and solvents spilled on. They most likely will give you a epoxy paint. Prep floor according to the directions not once but twice. The quality and life of the paint depend on this.
-Overhead cupboard down at least one side, (mine has 2 and one half walls completely lined) This is for all your tools and light parts.
-H/D bench built at the front with closed storage for your heavy parts.
-Heat, in the northern states and Canada is almost a must unless you only work on your truck 6 months out of the year. I highly recommend one of the overhead furnaces as floor space is always at a premium.
-Air compressor. I got a 2 stage 80 gallon one in the far back corner with air lines running the whole perimeter with air ports every 4 feet.
-220 power is always nice. I have one breaker dedicated to the compressor and one plug in on each wall with 110 plugs every 6 feet on the walls.

Oh for those wondering, I have a 22x24 but next one when I move will have a 24x30 built.

Any others?

 

You forgot the HUGE toolbox filled with 2 of EVERY known tool made...2 for those times when your buddie borrows a tools that you need or if you need two of the same tool at the same time.

 

You also forgot the fridge for the soda,beer,etc



Wiz

[link:www.clubfte.com/users/thewiz427/index.html|"Wiz's Place"]

 

Down here in Texas, one of the most important things is AIR CONDITIONING !! I'll agree with everything else that was suggested.
Don

 

Edited BY Administration for content

 

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 16-Sep-02 AT 10:51 PM (EST)]8" I-beam overhead, with trolley and a chain hoist

And an adjoining covered area outside for messy stuff like painting, degreasing, sandblasting.

 

dont forget those oh so nice 12+ foot ceilings so that you can park a lifted truck in the garage, and use a car hoist to work on the undercarage while standing up.

1977 F250 460
C6 Hedman Headers
Dual 40 series
edelbrock performer
holley 4160
msd 6a and blaster coil

 

I can add a few things that my dad has in his garage..

1.two tv's on opposite corners so you can watch the "race","big game"...ect....

2.a nice surround sound stereo for when there is nothing on tv!!

 

We did our entire shop walls in plywood from floor up to 4', then above that another 4' peg board throughout. 2 shelves the lenghth of the building on both sides, 1st is 6' from floor, other is 2' higher. Both are only about 10" wide, but you wouldn't believe the stuff you can pile on them.

We had our concrete flood floated to as smooth a finish as possible. This way we didn't need to paint it. With the smooth finish, it's harder for stains to soak in.

No comment as to heating-we have enough heat in Florida.

Rather than running all the lines for the air compressor, we put up a retractable reel & hung it from above with 100' hose. Lucked out and got an old gas station compressor so it handles anything we could ever want to do.

We also put dedicated 220 power in for the air compressor and another outlet in at the front for the welders. Since the steel beams are all 4' apart, Steve put 110 outlets on every one of them. Most are already used up.

The shop we put up is a 16' x 40' steel building (actually 53' long, but the last 13' is my porch). The 16', even with as long as the shop is, is way too narrow. We wish we had the room to go 20' or wider. Even 20' would have made a world of difference.

A couple things you forgot and I didn't see mentioned by anyone else -1st is a large sink, 2nd is a bathroom, 3rd would be a parts washer.

Things already mentioned that I feel are a must - Fridge, TV & Stereo.

 

All good stuff, guys! I think I would build a concrete half-pit, the kind where you drive a vehicle out over rails, and you can work under it on exhaust, trans, etc. The enclosed pits are illegal here. If you are resourceful, an alignment rack can be built in! (and rich, too! LOL)
Yes, narrow garages are terrible. Sometimes there is nothing you can do about it when you live in town, as bylaws limit structures based on lot size. An acreage is the place to be!
30 X 60 would be a decent size shop, but add another 20 feet length for a separate paint booth.
Mark


https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gallery/displaythumbnail.php?&photoid=5362&.jpg
Ford started it; Ford will finish it!

 

you need a radio, icebox, ford truck clock, cherry picker, one of those roll carts for holding tools and parts, and a trash barrel filled with oil dry.

 

I put a plastic/fiberglass type of wall covering over the (5/8" plywood). This allows me to wash inside in the winter and not worry about getting the walls wet. Drywall doesn't like water and plywood doesn't do much better. Here in Wisconsin it's called milkhouse panels or something to that effect. They use it in the milkhouse where there are high levels of moisture. It's also easy to clean and stays nice and white. Not very expensive and it goes on the walls just as easy as any type of sheet or panel. I bought mine thru a building supply house for $8 a sheet I think.

 

>All good stuff, guys! I think I would build a concrete
>half-pit, the kind where you drive a vehicle out over rails,
>and you can work under it on exhaust, trans, etc. The
>enclosed pits are illegal here. If you are resourceful, an
>alignment rack can be built in! (and rich, too! LOL)
>Yes, narrow garages are terrible. Sometimes there is nothing
>you can do about it when you live in town, as bylaws limit
>structures based on lot size. An acreage is the place to be!
>30 X 60 would be a decent size shop, but add another 20 feet
>length for a separate paint booth.
>Mark


A pit is nice, but my buddy's garage has a hydraulic floor lift - just like a service station.
Definitely makes things a whole lot easier - I'll be up there today doing a shackle reversion on the rear of my 89 Bronco.
The garage is 40' X 40' with motorhome size roll up doors (and all the essentials - compressor, fridge, tv and tunes, bead blaster, lathe, milling machine, etc... you get the idea)
Today it'll have my Bronco, his 57 Chevy NAPCO 4X4 - blown small block-and his 356 Porsche in it with lots of room for all of them

If you can't have your own, it's good to have friends

msautry
89Bronco

 

Lots of good suggestions but the original post was for a STARTER garage - not the one I plan to build five years before I retire with everything I want. But, since everybody else put in their goodies I will too.

No forced air heat for me, I don't want to be lying on some cold concrete floor even if the air is warm - especially as I get older. In-floor hydronic heating is the way to go. Warm that slab and let it warm the shop. Can also be used with A/C if you put a forced-air condenser unit overhead to get rid of the humidity.

Overhead hoist was mentioned already and is an absolute MUST HAVE but I'm putting in an electric 3-ton unit instead of a chain unit. Can't tell you how many hours and aches I've saved using the one at work. Just hook up whatever you're lifting and its in the air. A two-axis beam system allows you to move it anywhere you want in the shop once it's off the ground.

Need the high ceilings as mentioned before but the space above the joists is not too useful without a little planning. A pitched roof with oversize, engineered joists and open trusses (not Fink or "W" trusses) allows you to use that area for storage. Use joists a couple sizes bigger than code and you can even store heavy stuff overhead. Leave about 1/4 of the ceiling open and you can use a small chain hoist to move stuff up and down without all the lifting.

Ahhh ... infinite money makes life so much easier.

George

 

Dont forget the intercom system hooked to the house so you can communicate with the wife when you need something ie: food, phone numbers or send her for parts. A half keg on tap with frosty mugs in the freezer, parts washer, bench grinder, dartboard, STIHL equipment calendar, and a chainsaw to chase the "tool borrowers" away! The surround sound stereo and cable TV are nice too. I'm even considering getting a couch.