Attachments for Lift

[BSeyler]

When we built our shop at the farm a few years ago, I knew having a lift was at the top of my bucket list. Since I’m getting a little age on my old carcass, my wife thought it was a good idea. I was tired of crawling around to change blades on the Z-turn, so built this cradle to hold the back tires. If a lift is in your future, you will enjoy it!

 

[HPSimpson]

That's pretty neat sometime down the road will put in a lift.

 

[BSeyler]

I also found that a long bed extended cab rocks a little on a two post lift. This slides into the receiver and adjusts to make things rock solid. I put a red tag over the controls so I don’t try to lower the lift before removing this.

 

[BigPapa]

That lift looks a bit on the light side for that truck. What is it?

 

[BSeyler]

12,000 pound Challenger brand. Local Chevy dealer has three just like it that they’ve used for several years with no problems. USA made. I looked at quite a few different brands before deciding on it. And when I say it rocks with my pickup, that’s an overstatement. Very minor movement, but I like it really solid. The columns don’t show any movement. https://www.challengerlifts.com/products/e12/

 

[Wayne M.]

That’s a nice adapter, and a nice lil shop. Seems very well stocked too! Love the steel rack. What do you use for a welder, band saw, etc? What fire proofing measures have you taken?

 

[BSeyler]

Welders:
225 amp AC Lincoln I bought new when I was 16
120 volt Lincoln 140 mig
220 volt Lincoln 256 mig
Oxyacetylene setup
Bandsaw is a little Jet 1/2 horse that is a little workhorse
Ironton 14” dry cut saw
Lots of other stuff I’ve accumulated and made over the years - shop press, floor model drill press, 80 gal. Compressor, etc.
Walls and ceiling are white metal
ABC fire extinguisher mounted to lift and also in welding area
All benches fabbed from metal
Everything except drill press and shop press on wheels to facilitate cleaning, etc.
All oil, etc., stored in steel cabinet
No flammables (gas) stored in shop
Shop is 40’ deep and 42’ wide - I really wanted to go 40’X60’ but didn’t want to borrow money.
14’ sidewalls
Two 10’X10’ doors
One 14’ wide X 12’ high door to get tractors and equipment in - JD 4440, Oliver 1555, 20’ batwing mower, miscellaneous attachments - all kept in machine shed
And most importantly - heat and AC

 

[Wayne M.]

I am impressed! Thanks for sharing. I’m scouting my next home that will have a building like this. I’ve looked at a couple of properties that have something already, but nobody seems to have a high enough side. In your estimation, to get your truck max height in the lift, what would be the minimum wall height you could get by with?

 

[BSeyler]

I went with 14’ walls because the JD tractor is about 11’ tall and needed the 12’ high door. The Oliver will just clear on the 10’ doors. I’ll measure the next time I have my pickup on it, but 12’ might be enough. I have 10’ walls in my garage and that’s not high enough. I had a concern about all the heat going to the top and so have two ceiling fans. I’m really glad I have those.

 

[BSeyler]

Wayne,
I think your question about fireproofing is one of the most important things to consider. After spending a few years as a volunteer rural firefighter, I’m a little fanatical about being able to handle the initial response ourselves. We have a great fire department (volunteer), but being eight miles from town means ten minutes or so response time. I have ABC extinguishers in the kitchen and garage. Also, every vehicle, tractors, and gator have one. We had a guy putting hay up on shares a few years ago. One of his tractors caught fire and he called me. I grabbed my large extinguisher and headed over to put the fire out. He told me he had always thought about installing an extinguisher, but just hadn’t gotten around to it. He hadn’t gotten around to cleaning the tractor either and that’s why he had a fire. Tractor ended up being a total loss.
Bud

 

[Wayne M.]

Bud, many years ago I had a neighbor gearhead who didn’t have a shop or garage, but only a okay size shed in the yard. He was changing a engine mount- the type where you reuse the bracket and tack weld the insert. That’s exactly what he did- in the shed. I had just walked over as he was doing this (not knowing) and as I saw him get 10 feet from the shed, it ignited. Well it was well equipped with a small torch kit and all. FDNY came and put it out and never ratted on him but the chief kicked his butt all over the yard. Seeing this was a lesson I never forgot.
I do MIG a bit now n again. I have a fireproof concrete driveway but I do hose down when I’m done. You never know.

 

[BSeyler]

Fire is always a concern. One of son’s former classmates lost his life in a fire a few years ago. He had been using a storage unit as a shop and was heating it with some kind of space heater. I’m not sure exactly what happened, but there was a fire and he was trapped. Grisly way to go and can happen quickly.
In addition to the bay doors, I also have two entry doors. Hopefully, I’ll never have to rely on one as an escape route.

 

[jhenderson]

I’ve always thought a 275 gal tank, 1hp elect pump, and a 3/4 garden hose was cheap insurance til the fire Dept can get there. You’d be surprised what a simple air charged water type fire extinguisher can do in the early stages of a fire. Anything is better than nothing.

 

[BSeyler]

Wayne,
I forgot to mention there is water in the building. There is a hose spigot and a sink with hot and cold water. No crapper - have to walk over to the house.
Bud

 

[Timd32]

Great info. Have to up my game a bit.

We have a professional service come in annually to my business and does the FE service and an audit for any code updates and the exit signs.

I have a decent sized FE in the house, but lacking in the garage have a small FE, plus what's in my truck, but can for sure do better.

 

[BSeyler]

Wayne,
I haven’t needed to put the Dodge on the lift, but needed to rotate the tires on my wife’s F150 today. On the ground, both Dodge and Ferd measured roughly 6’ 5” to the top of the cab. With the lift fully up, it measured 11’7” from the ground to the top of the cab. There is 6’ under the lift arms. There was 2’ from the top of the cab to the safety bar. I talked to the guy who built my shop and he said he had modified an existing building with 12’ sidewalls to accommodate a 14’ lift. The door came in an end wall and they boxed a place between roof trusses to accommodate the lift. He said on a new building, he would recommend scissor trusses to get the needed height. I had to have a 12’ high door to accommodate my JD 4440, so needed 14’ sidewalls. Hopefully, this helps answer your questions.
Bud

 

[Wayne M.]

Thank you Bud. I used to park in a city garage that was about 7’ and it was awfully close so your 6’5 is right on. Thanks for remembering me.

 

[Dan_69GTX]

Bud - do you recall how many BTUs the heater and A/C are for your shop? What fuel is the heater?

 

[BSeyler]

Dan,
Furnace is 80,000 BTU, fired on propane. I’ll have to look at the AC. It was an afterthought and is a window unit. The windows are not tall enough, so I fabbed a stand and ducted it in. After all finished, I like it better. To winterize, unplug it and shut the window. I used bigger windows in my garage and have a window mount there, as well. The best thing is to not park hot vehicles inside, but wait until they cool down.
Bud

 

[BSeyler]

I will have to find the paperwork for the AC. Sorry about the small pictures - I’m using my phone and it about has me mastered...