[gbarrier]

Garage 101, plan to build as large as you can in the given space even if it means skimping on other parts of the garage. Allow room for a lift at some time down the road if you can't do it now. With age one will care less and less about climbing under, out from under, under, you get the idea. That ladder into the pit counts also. Let your finger do the walking (on the lift button).

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[flash]

i actually don't mind being on my back, as long as it's on a creeper (and i have a really good one). that isn't to say that i don't prefer sitting or standing.



the part i hate about working on jack stands and all that, is getting it up on stands, having to work around them, and worse, figuring out that you still aren't high enough and have to do it all over again.

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[Rap]

It is just plain easier with a lift. Granted everyone can't have one for a variety of reasons, but if you can fit it in your budget and space it should be a well thought out consideration. I am considering another because in my foolishness I built too small.

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[ds968]

Not sure about other states or countries where perhaps the regulatory domain is more relaxed, but I would expect digging anything into the ground in California ( and even here it varies from county to county ) requires a rather strict lengthy and costly process before obtaining the permit you need. The city authorities here barred the local Avis rental place from washing cars on their premises last year even if using bio-safe soap or detergents. And they are on concrete. So I can only imagine what restrictions one might face trying to build a pit where the EPA nazis ( sorry flash, I know you're a big tree hugger , lol ) think a single drop of oil or hazardous solvent, etc might penetrate into the soil somehow.

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[Bulti]

Permits I don't worry about, even the garage would be an "illegal" build. Special rules for our lotting. But the neigbours are ok with it and most people here built something they shouldn't have.



Thing is, in the worst case scenario, when I had to tear it all down again, a lift could be sold. You can't sell a pit.



But like I said, 99% chance I won't face any of that.



Sure hope the Dannmar people come up with a price I can afford because as far I can see, the only other kind of compact lifts on sale are those scissor lifts. And they suck.

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[WJH]

I like the pit idea. If I had thought about it when building my house there would be one in my garage. Unless you live in an area with extremely high ground water, a pit shouldn't be any more problem than a basement. If ground water is a concern, there are ways to deal with it.



We designed a fleet maintenance garage and they wanted a grease pit for their trucks. It works well for them. If designed properly, you could have a pit and still use the Dannmar lift. You would need to involve a structural engineer, but it is not that complicated.



Here is a guy that did it himself. If there was room, I'd opt for some stairs and put recesses in the walls for tools.



http://forums.pelica...ection-pit.html

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[flash]

lol - i can't dig down 3 feet without hitting ground water.

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[Inkedupfatboy]

That looks pretty wide...I hope he doesn't miss! Another reason for a lift, you don't forget where the posts are.



My favorite grease pit serves burger and fries...

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[Bulti]

Mmmm, grease.

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