How do I fit 3 cars into a 2 car garage?

[ArkShark]

Lets say I have a 1977 Vette, and 2000 FRC Vette, and a Toyota 4Runner.

All three want in my garage. I'd like to install a lift to stack the vettes, but most of the lifts I've seen require more headroom.

I only have an 8 foot ceiling.

Ok, so it may be possible to cut a hole in the ceiling for the the birdcage of the vette to stick thru. But I'd need to be careful that the hood doesn't hit the garage door when its open.

Anybody try this before? Anybody got some ideas? Am I on the right track?

TIA

 

[74bigblock]

I have the same idea every day. I got the '74, the '98 Trans Am, and the 4 Runner I'd like to fit.


I can't cut a hole though cause my bedroom is over the garage!!

 

[Mac]

A couple of years back, ChuckG raised the ceiling in his garage so he could accomodate a four post lift so it's possible. He posted pictures at the time. Maybe drop him a PM...

-Mac

 

[steelblue75]

I can't cut a hole though cause my bedroom is over the garage!!

Got a kick out of that!!!

 

[Grizzly]

Lets say I have a 1977 Vette, and 2000 FRC Vette, and a Toyota 4Runner.

All three want in my garage. I'd like to install a lift to stack the vettes, but most of the lifts I've seen require more headroom.

I only have an 8 foot ceiling.

Ok, so it may be possible to cut a hole in the ceiling for the the birdcage of the vette to stick thru. But I'd need to be careful that the hood doesn't hit the garage door when its open.

Anybody try this before? Anybody got some ideas? Am I on the right track?

TIA

I did a little measuring last night. My 92 is 46" to the roof and the deck on my lift is 4" thick. So that means if I push it right to the 8' ceiling, there will be 46" inches left under the deck of the lift - 96"-46"-4"= 46". Obviously you have to have some clearances, but it would be close depending on the heights of your cars. The door would probably fit between the hood and the ceiling.

My second thought would not be to cut out the ceiling, but lower the floor. I don't know about you, but the thought of rebuilding the ceiling so it was strong enough doesn't excite me. However, digging up the floor shouldn't be too bad, considering the kinds of tools you can rent these days.

......................Grizzly

 

[IH2LOSE]

I have a ranch hose with nothing above the garage area with the exception of attic area.

My original garage celing height was 8'4" I looked into my attic and realized I could remove the garage ceiling and install collar ties to hold the structure together. There was a ratio of how long the roof beams were,what size they were and what my roof pictch was and what the total span was and that told me how far down from the peak the collar ties had to be.I was able to fing this information in a home building text book that refrenced structual building with dimentional lumber. I think I am at 10'6" from the floor to the bottom of my collar ties. I had to install a special lift style gargage door ,I think it was called a roof rider it follow my roof line perfectly.

I am double stacking cars with great sucsess. Lowering the floor opens up other problems.

Let me know how I can help

 

[85vette]

I've seen it done but the garage was extra long

 

[89sleeper]

Here is how I modded my rafters to get the max lift with my 4post just to give you some ideas then I cut out the old 2X6 and removed the door opener

Now I can stand under the car to work on it and I am 6ft tall

I now put 3 cars in my two car garage

 

[ruby76]

That doesn't seem too bad. Wonder if it affects any of the load bearing qualities of that rafter.

 

[89sleeper]

That doesn't seem too bad. Wonder if it affects any of the load bearing qualities of that rafter.

I have a hip style roof the 2X6 I modded keeps the walls from kicking out it has not been a problem

 

[ruby76]

Well Im glad that worked. How high from the ground was the original board? My detached garage has a normal gable roof, but the wall ties are only 8' from the ground. My wife thinks it is great b/c I can't fit a lift in there - or at least can't fully extend one with the car on it. I'd only be able to get the car about 3-4' off the ground unless I did something similar.