I did a quick search and didn't come across this one, so here goes: what ceiling height is needed for a lift, that with a full size truck on it, so a 6' guy can walk under the vehicle upright???? I've seen some mention of 12', but a local tire shop has 13' and he can't quite stand upright with the vehicle all the way up. A bad lower back insists that I do not spend alot of time bent over wrenching!! It's one of those details you wanna get right the first time because I don't get a chance to build many garages. Also, what considerations should be taken when pouring a slab for a lift??? A good brand and style lift????

 

Check the <SEARCH> function some more, there are many threads that discuss this topic here. One of them is: https://www.ford-trucks.com/dcforum/DCForumID75/384.html

I think the general consensus is 14'.

There are several discussions of concrete properties for lifts. Your best bet is contacting the maker of the lift you are considering and follow their specs. There are some general recommendations.

As for a brand of lift that is an open question.


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At home I have a 16' ceiling in my shop and have an old Steinhoj (sp) hoist. It's a good combination for trucks as long as you don't have a camper on the truck. When I poured my floor we made the concrete where the hoist's side columns sit on about 12 inches thick. I really dont know what they call for but the concrete guy figured that would be good. So far there are no cracks or anything. At work we have about ummm 20' ceilings and that gives lots of room. We have in-ground air hoists both single and 2 post and above-ground 2 and 4 post hoists. The drive on 4 posters are Rotary and Forward brands. Both seem about as good. I really dislike 4 post drive-on hoists for most jobs though. You are always crouching to get under the ramps and they seem to always be in the way. You also have to have air jacks that go in between the rails if you want to lift the tires off. The 2 posts hoists we have are Forward brand except for our 15,000 lb Mohawk. The Mohawk is good for F350s and up with decks, campers, big van bodies etc on the back but overkill for anything else. The arms, extensions etc are all very heavy which makes them hard to set up. My favorite hoists that we have are 9000lb Forward assymetrical 2 posters. They are totally open underneath with a beam across the top. Open underneath as opposed to having the "box" that runs from one side column to the other is the only way to go. Nothing is in the way when you're rolling a transmission jack or whatever around under the vehicle. We got the side column extensions which raise the overhead beam high enough that you can get anything that doesnt have a camper on it the whole way to the top. They are very easy to set up with pad extensions that fit together like sorta like socket extension...ones goes into the other. I dislike our hoists with the screw type pad adjusters...they arent as nice to use and the screws get hard to turn if they are dirty. I took a quick look for a website for Forward hoists but didn't find one. If you want I may be able to find something in the manuals we have at work for them.
A little bit off topic but when I poured my floor I also put "buckets" in the floor to pull frames etc. I took some 4 inch pipe, welded a bar across the top and some old big pieces of scrap steel at the bottom and put them in the ground. They are flush with the concrete floor. I have 5.....one in the middle a couple feet in front of where the vehicle would sit and then 4 others approximately where each wheel would sit. So far all I've used them for is to straighten the frame on my snowmobile (dont ask) and to anchor things down so they didnt move when working on them.
When it comes time to put lights in your shop make sure you dont have them right above the hoist. They did that at work and when the vehicle is up on the hoist it totally blocks all the light that you need under it.
Hope this helps.

 

I would get 12 foot doors too. I doesn't hurt to plan ahead. 30 feet or more for depth.

 

Go to www.autolifters.com and check their website in the 'helpful info' section. The measuring advice for their lifts will practically apply to any lift.

Cheers, George