Service Pit

[BobSacco]

Wondering if anyone has built a pit for servicing their truck. I know they are not legal in a lot of places, but I'm out in the country and it won't be a problem. A lift would, of course, be better, but too much $$$. Would like to hear any specifics such as depth, how sides are made, etc...



Thanks, Bob

 

[snuff]

i do no t have one but seen them, if this is a pit in a garage, all walls and floor are poured reinforced concrete, the deeper you go the thicker the walls and floor need be, is there going to be aroom also down there that will change the thickness of the floor, like ajiffy lube. height also should take into acount if there is going to be a catwalk system.

 

[Champane Flight]

Made one years ago...

A good friend and I busted out the concrete of an old shop floor to build a pit, hand dug a 7'x8'x4' hole, poured a 6" floor, put a ladder in it and called it a pit. We were foolish and young, today I would not even get in something like that, the floor of the shop only had four inches, and we left dirt walls in the pit! Talk about a cave in hazard! I had nightmares of being buried by vehicle and dirt! For the cost of concrete and labor, I would put up a nice heavy two post lift, Auto and truck parking and storage lifts supplied and installed by Tool & Equipment Connection of North Attleboro, Massachusetts. , be safe. . By the time you dig out your pit, pay for steel, concrete, and time, you would have paid for a nice lift. .

 

[Matt400]

For the cost of concrete and labor, I would put up a nice heavy two post lift.

X2 on that. I use one of these at work and it does real well. You would want to check the concrete requirements for safety and get some instruction for loading. A 4 post drive on with ramps gives added safety but takes up lots of room.

 

[Troubleshooter]

I like the idea of a pit as well, and had always intended to build one, but the property I'm on has too much ground water, and it would be prone to flooding. Just another thing for you to consider, depending on the situation where you live.



Concur that a lift would be an ideal solution --- if the ceiling height allowed for it.

 

[BobSacco]

Thanks for the info, guys! The lifts are less expensive than I thought, although I'm still in the "planning" stage, not able ($$$) to do anything right yet.



Bob

 

[RHestand]

About 7-8 years ago, good friend of mine and I (a fellow gear-head) inst. one when we built his new detached garage. At the time he was very excited about it.

Two years ago, when I expanded my garage, I also was thinking about this.

I called my buddy, he said "Don't do it. " He's only used his a few times, and it's a real PITA to work out of.

He now uses it for storage, and is saving to buy a new two post lift.

 

[EdK]

Ol' guy's 2 cents

I have a lift in my shop and I would encourage you to also consider how many times you would need to climb in and out of the pit getting sockets, wrenches, drill bits, parts, screws, sealer, etc. etc. etc. It hurts my 61-year-old knees just thinking about it! The quick-change oil places need limited tools to do the job. I usually spend more time getting tools than using them!



Now a young and stupid story. Before the days of OSHA, I worked summers for an excavation company as a mechanic helper. When the time came to work under a power shovel or dozer, we simple dug a trench and drove the machine over the trench. Really gave us a lot of room to work and didn't get as dirty as laying under the machine. Sometimes used the same trench for different machines. HOW STUPID WAS THAT???

 

[cap-n-cray]

I have thought about a pit in my shop, but the chance of fire has always made me think twice. Welding in a pit on my truck and something catches fire... where are you going to run.



Cary

 

[JLEONARD]

FYI there are a lot of good used lifts on the market as well. My son has bought 2 or 3 for his shop that were used but in perfect shape.