Do you think it's worth it to get a lift?

Jstas

Here's the deal.

A family member has vacated her house because she can no longer stay there by herself due to a worsening medical condition. I have already started the process of purchasing said house from her for a fair market value. No haggling at all and I am giving her the full appraised value of the house. In return, I get to start renovating what I need to before closing in a couple of months. Also, there is the matter of all her stuff that has to get gone through.

Anyway, I might lose out on the house cost initially but I don't care because it's in a good area, the price is half of what I can actually afford and a 1/3rd of what I can get a loan for. So I'm well under my means. Add to that the fact that I don't plan on going anywhere for a long time if I can help it.

So it has a garage, attached. It has a HUGE backyard for the area too. Large enough to put the eventual extension off the back and a large detached garage and still retain plenty of room for pool, garden, patio,deck,whatever. But I'm going to need to be well in to the equity of the house before I can get a loan for that stuff.

In the mean time, this garage has a 9 foot 11 inch ceiling. I can fit a low-rise lift in there. It's only about 20 feet deep at best so the largest car in the world won't fit but most of the vehicles I have will. The house also has a full basement with mucho room. One side is going to be bar/HT/pool table, the other side utilities and an exercise room. In the utility room, I have the space to fit a wheel balancer and tire changer with a workshop and still have too much room for a laundry room.

These tools are going to be about $6K in total. But with all the vehicles I own and the opportunity to do some side work, they will get used. Do you think it's worth it to get this "dream garage" setup or should I not worry about it?

I'm asking because people I know, except for a couple car guys (go figure) and my dad, think I'm nuts.

nadams

Hey, if you can afford it, I'd say go for it. Just beware that once you have it, people will want to borrow the garage for an "hour or two" which will then turn in to "oh, just one night so I can get the wheels back on", then, "well, I need a weekend because the tranny just fell out."

raidersrule76

A buddy of mine just put a lift in his garage and I'm so damn happy that he did now when I need something done even a easy as brakes its so nice to run over there and throw it up on the lift and be able to work on it rather than sitting or laying on the ground espically in the part of the country that im from in the winter all you do is lay in a puddle of melting snow. Anyway as far as side work he has more than he can handle his prices are fair and work is quick and good. So I say YES buy the lift im sure that you could always sell it if you dont use it that much but im sure that wont be a problem.

bruss

might as well be comfortable and have the stuff "you" think you need at your finger tips. screw everyone else

Jstas

nadams wrote: »

Hey, if you can afford it, I'd say go for it. Just beware that once you have it, people will want to borrow the garage for an "hour or two" which will then turn in to "oh, just one night so I can get the wheels back on", then, "well, I need a weekend because the tranny just fell out."

Oh, I'm not worried about that. I have no problem telling people "NO!" Besides, my Ranger will be an almost permanent occupant of the lift unless I deem it necessary for it to come down and be banished to the driveway for a short while.

BigMac

Since money is not an issue and you are a auto junkie I would say go for it. Who cares what anyone else thinks (not that you do,lol), it will be your place so make it how you like it. I would make sure though that a garage system is in the plans though. No garage system, no lift!!

brettw22

First of all, it's important to establish that you are in fact nuts (insert other verbage here if needed/required)........

If it's a long term thing and won't be a maintenance pain in the **** (fluids, etc) then go for it if you're gonna be there for a long period of time. I wouldn't be bringing my car there to work on it myself, but I could always swing by and have you do the work on my car so I'm all for you getting it........

pearsall001

Jstas wrote: »

Oh, I'm not worried about that. I have no problem telling people "NO!" Besides, my Ranger will be an almost permanent occupant of the lift unless I deem it necessary for it to come down and be banished to the driveway for a short while.

I hope you're pulling permits! Go for it, it sounds like an ideal situation for you & your car hobby.

Jstas

I don't need to pull permits to install a lift.

I'm not running a business either. But unless you're close friends or family, I don't work for free.

I'm not expanding the house either.

If anything I would be running power lines and maybe some piping for compressed air. But it's not new construction, just renovation and I don't need permits for adding that stuff unless it's new construction. But I'd need permits for the new construction (like an extension or detached garage) so that stuff would be included in that permit.

So what permits would I need?

NotaSuv

Jstas wrote: »

I don't need to pull permits to install a lift.

I'm not running a business either. But unless you're close friends or family, I don't work for free.

I'm not expanding the house either.

If anything I would be running power lines and maybe some piping for compressed air. But it's not new construction, just renovation and I don't need permits for adding that stuff unless it's new construction. But I'd need permits for the new construction (like an extension or detached garage) so that stuff would be included in that permit.

So what permits would I need?

probably none....neighbor installed a lift in his garage AND he dug out a 5 foot deep area under the lift complete with a neat oil drain for old tranny and engine oil to be drained into.........no permits needed.......almost better than having a friend with a boat is having a friend with a lift..

Jstas

NotaSuv wrote: »

probably none....neighbor installed a lift in his garage AND he dug out a 5 foot deep area under the lift complete with a neat oil drain for old tranny and engine oil to be drained into.........no permits needed.......almost better than having a friend with a boat is having a friend with a lift..

I went a looked for a few minutes on NJ Building Codes. If I am putting in a hoist or an elevator with an enclosed shaft/tunnel, I need permits but it says nothing about a lift. If it was a commercial building, I would have to specify all kinds of stuff including weights and what kind of business it was AND get the lifts inspected and approved for what they would be used for. But no such requirements for residential properties.

When I have more time, I'll check county and town level codes but I can't see them differing vastly from state code.

wizzy

The answer is no!

All spare money must go towards amplifiers, speakers, better components, and better cables!

madmax

If you get a two or four post lift you can always take it with you if you move. Should you have a lift? Of course!
madmax

ESavinon

Let me know when you're done with the garage. I need to do some maintenace on my xterra :D.

jcaut

If I had the space and could afford it I'd do it. I'd love to have that.

sucks2beme

I love the idea. My wife thought I was nuts when I got the compressor and
air/impact stuff, but it's paid for it's self many times over. And and some point,
your back will thank you for it.

Polkersince85

Life is shorter than you think. Do what you want to do, if it doesn't work out, do something else. Tools are good.:cool:

vlam

I thought these lift range from $1500-$3000? I thought about putting one in my garage (I have cathedral ceiling) but the problem was having to re-do the door setup. Most residental garage door goes requires clearance for the track and door opener.

I think it was close to $5K with all the required changes when I look into getting one a few years back.

If you have the space/money, it's worth it. The most important thing is whether you would use it. I concluded that I don't do enough to require both axle being off the ground enough to justify it.

Sherardp

Agreed with others, go for it. Good tools, air compressors, and a lift are priceless. You can always use it for something.

audiobliss

Yes, most definitely, get a lift. That'd be awesome.

And then I'm transferring to a college near you.

inspiredsports

lift = good

neighbors complaining if you are doing lots of fee for service work = bad

My neighbor does this, and then revs the engine for 5 to 10 minutes, sometimes on vehicles with open headers and at all hours between 10AM and midnight. This is an area of 500K plus homes on 2-10 acres (but naturally his is the proverbial "worst house on the block", actually a shithole). I've not called the police ever in the 12 years he's lived next door, but if he revs this Easter Sunday, it may be the straw that breaks the camel's back.

dorokusai

Where's the stripper pole going?

ohskigod

John,

your a car guy dude. if you want it, do it. especially if you know you will get the use out of it, and we all know you will.

I love cars, but I am not a car guy from a mechanical standpoint, so for someone like me it would be nutty, but you would actually use it.

not to mention I'd throw you cash if I needed help with a car without batting an eyelash

really though dude, your house is your house. it's your castle, your sanctum.....do with it as you damn well please. this doesnt seem ridiculous at all for someone with your particular skill set with cars

now if you said "I wanna build a midget gymnastics room in my garage", that might garner a "WTF?!?!" from me.

ohskigod

Polkersince85 wrote: »

Life is shorter than you think. Do what you want to do, if it doesn't work out, do something else. Tools are good.:cool:

this is pretty much spot on right here

BeRad

Go for it. Set up a couple fans/filters, appropriate plastic drapes on the walls to cover your tools, water on the floor, and some lights on the walls and you've got yourself a makeshift paint booth as well. Would work well for doors and fenders (not so well on the hoods and roofs though unless you LOVE wet-sanding!)

Jstas

wizzy wrote: »

The answer is no!

All spare money must go towards amplifiers, speakers, better components, and better cables!

I already have Carver Amazings powered by Silver 7t's. How much "better" do you want me to get?

dorokusai wrote: »

Where's the stripper pole going?

Don't be silly now! That's going in your room, sweetie!

ohskigod wrote: »

now if you said "I wanna build a midget gymnastics room in my garage", that might garner a "WTF?!?!" from me.

No, that I have no problem figuring out. That room is gonna be in the basement and the dwarf tossing rink will be out back near the shed. All the wee little folk will live in the attic since the ceiling is only about 4 and a half feet high. Doro's stripper pole will double as a fireman pole for the midgets and dwarves. I don't know if I will be able to stop them from singing the underpants gnome song but I don't have to worry about them stealing doro's underoos cause he doesn't wear underwear.

Jstas

inspiredsports wrote: »

lift = good

neighbors complaining if you are doing lots of fee for service work = bad

My neighbor does this, and then revs the engine for 5 to 10 minutes, sometimes on vehicles with open headers and at all hours between 10AM and midnight. This is an area of 500K plus homes on 2-10 acres (but naturally his is the proverbial "worst house on the block", actually a shithole). I've not called the police ever in the 12 years he's lived next door, but if he revs this Easter Sunday, it may be the straw that breaks the camel's back.

Right now, I don't need the money so I wouldn't be doing work. As long as I have a job I probably wouldn't be doing work. The lift and other equipment is more for me and my racing habit. But every monkey and his uncle will undoubtedly beat down my door asking to either use my tools or for me to do work. For one thing, I'm not insured. For another, everyone sees me with such equipment and thinks I'm loaded and they get offended when I give them a price tag.

Yeah, two rules I have. I DON'T lend tools and you make your boss pay you. I ain't free either. Don't like it? There's a good mechanic up on the corner trying to make a living. Pay him a visit.

comfortablycurt

Is this even a question? YES!! A lift is one of the most valuable, time saving things you can get if you work on your cars. I would absolutely love to have a lift...it would probably cut my wrenching time in half. I'm just lucky to be good buddies with a mechanic. He has 4 lifts in his shop, and I get free usage of them on the weekends when I need one. All it costs me is however much beer we go through.:) Not a bad deal.

I say go for it. It will pay for itself, and you'll be thanking yourself later on.

All you'll need after that is a respectable audio rig for the garage to listen to tunes while you're wrenching.

nooshinjohn

everybody in hollywood has a lift of one kind or another...

oh wait you mean a car lift... great idea and when I build my next house I will have one and a pit too.

fatchowmein

Screw the folks who think you're nuts. They're the ones who will be hitting you up for help.

Sounds like you've got a great plan. Go for it.

amulford

F#ckin A! Why are you asking opinions? It's gonna be YOUR house. Just make sure you get one you will like. I have all the **** you would need to install and run any kind of service you need. Just call...

Besides, it means I won't have to get one!!!