Build a Bigger Grarage or Sell a couple cars ?

[Chevelle SS 396 L78]

Jeff,

Many of us have been there. I built my detached garage in 2004 when I was 54. I worked another 16 years until COVID-19 put the cabash on my position (Civil Engineer) so I retired taking unemployment...not my choice obviously.

I started out with three garage doors in my detached garage behind the house for the 3 cars I had planned to be in there, restoring my last vintage BMW in 2004 filled the garage up nicely with "3" cars. I had two 8ft wide doors and one 9ft wide door (I originally planned on a trailer going into that bay but it didn't happen, "yet".

Then, in 2008 we had a really bad house fire and I lost much of my vintage car parts in our basement. To make myself feel better I bought another car! Well, it did help and it was a great investment. My problem is I have a problem letting go of cars (been that way ever since selling my beloved '67 Chevelle L78 circa 1970 before going into the service during Vietnam). I found out that my garage was deep enough to turn one car sideways and put it against the front wall of the garage (on rollers), leaving 3 clear spots for other cars. So, I had 4 cars in a 3 car garage.

I have had a 2 post 9,000 lb lift in the garage from day one, but last summer I moved ahead with my next phase, which I had planned even before COVID (but it was delayed by it), and I bought two 4-post lifts.

So now I have 5 cars easily in the garage, and just enough space for that special '67 Chevelle SS 396 I'm looking for (when the time is right) to be built as a clone of my original '67 L78 Chevelle (which I haven't been able to find since starting the search in 2007). Yes, the prices are getting ridiculous!

I have never planned to use the 2-post lift as storage, but I know it will work just fine until I relinquish 1 or 2 of my cars.

The moral of this story is, plan BIG because you will never have enough space! Most of us just make do with the lot size we have, but I've always wanted some rural land where I could spread my wings and have more privacy out in the country. There's a lot to consider, but time passes quickly, and I swear it passes faster the older I get! LOL!

I designed my garage myself, putting together the plans and lot layout. I'd be happy to help you in any way once you get going with what you want to do. Remember to have more depth to the concrete if you get a 2-post lift, including rebar. Know your local building code also, so you don't run into any snags with permitting.

Best of luck with things,

John

[DougA]

Interesting, different situations for everyone. I have a decent garage, 3 old cars, one newer hot rod. I'm getting too close to 70, but just seem to have lost the motivation to do much with them anymore. Haven't had the covers off of them so far this season. Should probably thin the herd, let someone else enjoy them.
If you're still into the hobby, and can swing it, buy what you enjoy, life is way too short.
And boy does it go by fast when you get into the last quarter....

[Andy]

Would something like this work in your two car garage?

https://www.wildfirelifts.com/double-wide-car-lift

It's more economical than building an addition to your existing garage and solves the problem of storage for two other cars. It would allow you to save your funds to continue to invest for retirement while keeping your toys as well.

I built a 40x60 steel building in late 2019/early 2020 right before material prices skyrocketed. If I attempted to build that same building now I couldn't afford it. Prices have to come down eventually, and I would recommend trying to hold out until that happened. I had the foresight at the time to build my building with 14' walls so that I could add a few of those wildfire lifts in the future if needed. I'm almost out of floor space now so I know I'll be needing at least one before too long!

[Chevelle SS 396 L78]

Originally Posted by Andy

Would something like this work in your two car garage?

https://www.wildfirelifts.com/double-wide-car-lift

It's more economical than building an addition to your existing garage and solves the problem of storage for two other cars. It would allow you to save your funds to continue to invest for retirement while keeping your toys as well.

I built a 40x60 steel building in late 2019/early 2020 right before material prices skyrocketed. If I attempted to build that same building now I couldn't afford it. Prices have to come down eventually, and I would recommend trying to hold out until that happened. I had the foresight at the time to build my building with 14' walls so that I could add a few of those wildfire lifts in the future if needed. I'm almost out of floor space now so I know I'll be needing at least one before too long!

You were lucky to be able to build the inside ceiling height to 14ft. Typically, in detached garages anyway there will be a height limit in residential zoning districts, as I had to deal with. I tried getting a variance form 15ft to 18ft to have enough height clearance for my 2-post lift but it was denied because my wonderful neighbor next door complained. Everybody at the hearing liked my plans, but well so it goes. I ended up having a scissor truss roof designed with a 12ft peak inside the garage so my lift would clear. Scissor trusses work great if there is an overall height issue.

[DougA]

Scissor trusses worked great in my 10' garage for my lift. Plenty of room to get my cars up as high as needed.