MGB Storage conundrum
Discussion
I have a 1971 MGB Roadster, I’m soon going to be having my Father in Law’s MGB roadster too living at my house. - he is driving less and lives approximately 100 miles away. (Sharing that as I don’t want it to stay unused 100 miles away).
To make matters interesting my garage is small, my MGB fits but over winter the Garage is unusable!
Garage size: 4.05 x 2.20m
I can’t make the garage wider, as it’s bordering my neighbour. As I’m on a corner I can’t really make a new standalone garage due to space.
My current plan is I can raise my garage roof higher quite easily as my neighbours garage is higher, (subject to planning).
Equipment for Garages do a single post lift, I can get that fitted then one MGB can be on top of the other. As the MGB doesn’t weigh that much / the single post lifts have locks this seems the best idea.
This will still mean the garage is unusable over winter but I can stand and admire two B’s inside.
I have a Transporter T6 campervan and a Skoda Octavia VRS on the drive too, so was keen to come up with a good solution that maybe I hadn’t considered.
A normal person would sell one of the B’s but I can’t sell my FIL’s 1978 one and as mine is a chrome bumper mk2 I love it and would rather not sell… plus the PH solution of having a working one whilst one is inevitably broken.
Hopefully that wasn’t too long and boring, but wanted to see the PH thoughts.
To make matters interesting my garage is small, my MGB fits but over winter the Garage is unusable!
Garage size: 4.05 x 2.20m
I can’t make the garage wider, as it’s bordering my neighbour. As I’m on a corner I can’t really make a new standalone garage due to space.
My current plan is I can raise my garage roof higher quite easily as my neighbours garage is higher, (subject to planning).
Equipment for Garages do a single post lift, I can get that fitted then one MGB can be on top of the other. As the MGB doesn’t weigh that much / the single post lifts have locks this seems the best idea.
This will still mean the garage is unusable over winter but I can stand and admire two B’s inside.
I have a Transporter T6 campervan and a Skoda Octavia VRS on the drive too, so was keen to come up with a good solution that maybe I hadn’t considered.
A normal person would sell one of the B’s but I can’t sell my FIL’s 1978 one and as mine is a chrome bumper mk2 I love it and would rather not sell… plus the PH solution of having a working one whilst one is inevitably broken.
Hopefully that wasn’t too long and boring, but wanted to see the PH thoughts.
The only problem may be due to the narrowness of the garage. Will you be able to get past the car to put the "arms" out underneath it to lift it? Looking at that website it looks like the posts of a two post lift take up around 50cm width leaving 1.7m between them. Doesn't leave much room to get the car in, walk past and get the arms under the car.
You also probably need to do substantial work to your footings too, so it would be worth getting the specs for that to make sure that you're happy to dig out under the walls both sides. An unstable lift is the last thing anyone needs!
It seems feasible but may not give the ease of use you want. By the time you've done planning, building work, lift purchase you may be better off hiring another garage/renting storage....
You also probably need to do substantial work to your footings too, so it would be worth getting the specs for that to make sure that you're happy to dig out under the walls both sides. An unstable lift is the last thing anyone needs!
It seems feasible but may not give the ease of use you want. By the time you've done planning, building work, lift purchase you may be better off hiring another garage/renting storage....
Your left side floor fixings (as pictured in the website planform diagram) are likely going to be too close to the edge of your garage base slab. It would certainly be wise to check with the manufacturer.
A much better solution would be a (mobile) 4 post, but finding one that would work with your garage width is going to be a challenge. The 1 and 2 post lift styles are not a great solution for winter storage as the top cars suspension will be dangling at full travel all winter.
A much better solution would be a (mobile) 4 post, but finding one that would work with your garage width is going to be a challenge. The 1 and 2 post lift styles are not a great solution for winter storage as the top cars suspension will be dangling at full travel all winter.
Have you instead considered getting a construction company in to drop the floor 4ft and put a pit lift in? Sounds like you have the ceiling height so you'd electrically hoist the lift, drive one onto it, lower into the ground then drive the other one on top.
They have solid metal floors so stuff don't drip/drop below and it could be a sound investment...just saying ;-)
They have solid metal floors so stuff don't drip/drop below and it could be a sound investment...just saying ;-)
stang65 said:
The only problem may be due to the narrowness of the garage. Will you be able to get past the car to put the "arms" out underneath it to lift it? Looking at that website it looks like the posts of a two post lift take up around 50cm width leaving 1.7m between them. Doesn't leave much room to get the car in, walk past and get the arms under the car.
^This.I don't think you've got the room to get past the post side. You'd have to be able to get down the other side, and across the front of the car, and be able to get down past the nsf wheel to get position the arm.
The other things is leaving the car for any length of time on a single post lift, with the suspension hanging, do depends on how often you intend swapping them over etc.
As mentioned, check what the slab thickness is currently in garage for that single post lift.
As mentioned, the cost of the lift, install, updated electrics, plus raising the roof will pay for a lot of off-site storage instead.
uk66fastback said:
aeropilot said:
As mentioned, the cost of the lift, install, updated electrics, plus raising the roof will pay for a lot of off-site storage instead.
Does anyone want to put a ballpark figure on what all these things would cost to do?Hi all.
Many thanks for all the replies and suggestions. Apologies, I have been away for a week.
So the slab is thick enough as i have drilled several pilot holes to measure and check.
Lowering the garage floor would bring its own difficulties as the (non- shared) drain goes under the garage to the street.
I have contacted multiple lift companies including the example I shared earlier and even if the arm was against the wall the gap from the arm to the earliest area the car could pass is too small for even the most optimistic person! - that measurement is not included in their tech document.
The lift idea would have been ideal even with just one B as currently my garage is out of usage over the winter months unless I move the B out a bit. For the time being the other B will stay at my father in laws and I will borrow it for periods at a time keeping it under cover whilst here. I have set several alerts for garage rentals/ purchases near me in case some come up!
To assist with space I will be making my garden shed bigger and removing some of the need for ‘stuff’ storage in the garage.
Many thanks for all the replies and suggestions. Apologies, I have been away for a week.
So the slab is thick enough as i have drilled several pilot holes to measure and check.
Lowering the garage floor would bring its own difficulties as the (non- shared) drain goes under the garage to the street.
I have contacted multiple lift companies including the example I shared earlier and even if the arm was against the wall the gap from the arm to the earliest area the car could pass is too small for even the most optimistic person! - that measurement is not included in their tech document.
The lift idea would have been ideal even with just one B as currently my garage is out of usage over the winter months unless I move the B out a bit. For the time being the other B will stay at my father in laws and I will borrow it for periods at a time keeping it under cover whilst here. I have set several alerts for garage rentals/ purchases near me in case some come up!
To assist with space I will be making my garden shed bigger and removing some of the need for ‘stuff’ storage in the garage.
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