Container based shop: 2 post lift placement advice?

[gut_wrench_garage]

Hey everyone, I am building my first ever home shop! I own 2/3 acres out in the desert and I have a 40 foot high cube container coming to serve as a workshop and storage. It'll have a 6 foot wide garage door on the right side, with the right side facing East on my lot. I'm going to put a concrete slab next to it so I have a nice place to work on my cars. It'll be uncovered, out in the wind. I like working outdoors, and we don't get enough crazy weather around here to worry about it.

Here's what the layout looks like. I've added numbers in the open area to make identification easier below.

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Big yellow = the land I've cleared and flattened. Red = 40ft container. Yellow on the red is the garage door. Orange is the 40x25 slab.

You can see where my driveway is, so cars will be driven up to it from the south side of the area near 11 and 12. Power will be coming to the container (240v 50A) at the SE corner by 10. I want to put the 2 post lift close enough to the container that access to tools will be easy, but not make the area around it useless either. There's also the question of orientation: North/South, or East/West? N/S would be easier to drive into but E/W would divide the space less.

The question of the day is: Where should I put the lift? I really want to get this right the first time. Thanks for any and all advice!

 

[Frankenchevy]

I’d offset and keep plenty of room on either side for tool carts, welders, etc.

Honestly, if I could do it over again, I might’ve popped for a Wildfire lift with the add ons. Yes there are some things they can’t do as well, but they are safer when working alone with no one to help if something goes awry, and the can be moved around.

 

[gut_wrench_garage]

safer when working alone... and they can be moved around.

Hmmmmm that's an interesting consideration. Thank you for that.

 

[gut_wrench_garage]

After some more research, I think I might end up with one of these instead:

QuickJack 8000TL Portable Car and Light Truck Lift - 8,000-lb. Capacity - Bendpak

The QuickJack 8000TL is our most powerful standard-length portable car lift, now rated for 8,000 lbs with a 24.25-inch lift height .

www.bendpak.com

That combined with a good creeper, chair, etc, will cover almost all of my needs, and stays out of the way. Does anybody have first hand experience with them?

 

[Rickf]

If you go with a Quick-jack type, place it where you can open both vehicle doors.

 

[GXPWeasel]

If it were me building from your plans, I'd also consider provisions to add a carport in some way above the lift in the future. You may not need to or want to, but that may make the difference in how thick you decide to go with your concrete slab.

 

[Radiohead]

Shade would be nice in the middle of summer....

 

[TotalyHucked]

If quick jacks will do everything you need, then it doesn't really matter too much. But for what those cost, I'd absolutely rather pony up the extra bit to have a real 2-post so I'm never limited on what I can or can't do. If you do go with a traditional 2 post, my vote would be putting the lift either #7 or 8. That way you're always in the shade, close enough to the tools but have enough room around for all kinds of work/tools/tables/carts/etc. And can get larger vehicles in/out if needed

 

[Grit dog]

The age old 2 post vs 4 post lift….been mulling this around in my brain for years… lol.
What I’d really rather have is a single post buried lift.
My buddy has, well, 2 of them. And he installed the “spare” one outside a couple years ago…because he can. And has only used it maybe 2x to pressure wash under a grease bomb….
As much as I love the ability to hang all the wheels in the air with a 2 post and virtually unlimited access up n down the drivetrain. (Like 90% of work happens at the wheels or down the gut), I really like the thought or ability to move or roll a 4 post easily and at will. And also the safety aspect.
After laying under the Charger on a towel for hours with the front on ramps this week, I fck near ordered a 4 post!
4 posts get more spendy when you add the (almost necessary) jack rack. And for tire rotations you’re back on the ground or have 2 jack/racks.

 

[Grit dog]

After some more research, I think I might end up with one of these instead:

QuickJack 8000TL Portable Car and Light Truck Lift - 8,000-lb. Capacity - Bendpak

The QuickJack 8000TL is our most powerful standard-length portable car lift, now rated for 8,000 lbs with a 24.25-inch lift height .

www.bendpak.com

That combined with a good creeper, chair, etc, will cover almost all of my needs, and stays out of the way. Does anybody have first hand experience with them?

Meh, I’m sure you can get a cheaper one than a Bendpak, but the cost of that quick jack ain’t a whole lot less than a hobby grade 2 or 4 post.
JMO.

 

[Grit dog]

@geocrasher, looks like a great setup coming together… but desert and uncovered work space just sounds painful to me. At a minimum I’d be thinking about a versa tube type carport or something for shade, not only for working but to park a vehicle or 2 under. The parking space is just me thinking about the sun cooking the chit out of the vehicles every day.
When we lived in Phoenix AZ, I parked our Sno machines on an open trailer outdoors in the sun for one season (April to like December). Sleds had nice canvas covers, then I covered with a blue tarp and then a double layer plastic tarp. When I went to check on them after about 6 months, both tarps were dust and the canvas covers were bleached out and useless because they would tear easily.

 

[Grit dog]

2 containers and some vaulted trusses in between with a tin roof would be the BOMB!

 

[gut_wrench_garage]

If it were me building from your plans, I'd also consider provisions to add a carport in some way above the lift in the future. You may not need to or want to, but that may make the difference in how thick you decide to go with your concrete slab.

Good thinking! I may indeed want a carport in the future. The concrete slab will already be 4", for the lift (if I go that route) it'll be 6" for that area.

2 containers and some vaulted trusses in between with a tin roof would be the BOMB!

It would! it would also require permitting. For my property size, only one container is allowed. If it were > 1 acre, I could have two. My place is visible from a main road, so I'm trying to keep it low key. I initially wanted to do a 25x40 metal building. Beyond being too expensive, there's reasons I don't want the inspectors on the property. Nothing illegal, but if they saw my house they might condemn it. The house will be replaced in a few years anyway. I'm focusing on getting my shop set up until that time.

 

[Sad Sack]

2 containers and some vaulted trusses in between with a tin roof would be the BOMB!

Now you're talking!

 

[TotalyHucked]

4 posts get more spendy when you add the (almost necessary) jack rack. And for tire rotations you’re back on the ground or have 2 jack/racks.

I would love a 4-post but this is why I won't ever have one unless I win the big jackpot. They're nearly 2-3 times a 2-poster by the time you add in all the accessories and I'd need them all. And if I win the big jackpot, I'll still have a 2-post along side the 4-poster just cuz they're so useful