0

I have a converted carport to garage, with an unfinished but smooth concrete surface. I'm slowly building up my home gym, and I'm interested in options as far as flooring goes. I'd like to build a lifting platform, not unlike these:

Chris Duffin's Platforms

The challenge here lies in when I park the car-I'd have to run over the platform. My car would undoubtedly damage any normal platform. I could just make portable ones easily, but I'd like to entertain 'finished', permanent options.

I have a couple ideas:

  • Construct a metal frame that houses three different sections of material that can be removed or repaired easily. Before pulling my car in, I could remove and store the platform sections.
  • Create a strong 'cover', that the car drives over. When I pull my car out to train, I would remove the cover, revealing an in-ground platform. In ground platforms look like this: Flush Platform

Thoughts?

Improve this question
6
  • Your first link doesn't say what the platform is made of -- is it made of thin material so it's "springy", or is it make of something like 3/4" plywood that could be shored up with wood beams parallel to the wheels? My dad made a pair of work ramps years ago using 1/2" plywood and 3 2x6's parallel to to the wheels (with about 6" between them so the car wheel is always supported by at least 2 of the 2x6's), and he still uses them to change the oil on his 4000 lb pickup.
    – Johnny
    Commented Aug 7, 2015 at 17:05
  • Typically it's two layers of 3/4 plywood, then something fancier on top of that.
    – Ellocomotive
    Commented Aug 8, 2015 at 16:23
  • What specifically is your concert about driving the car over it? I don't see anything in that link that looks fragile.
    – Hank
    Commented Aug 8, 2015 at 16:54
  • Driving a car on top of the platform will eventually result in deformation of the rubber or wood.
    – Ellocomotive
    Commented Aug 8, 2015 at 19:42
  • Those platforms look pretty sturdy, I doubt a car will have any effect. Certainly not on a sheet of plywood. Frankly a full set of weights and a couple people lifting is probably a higher concentration of weight than a car.
    – Hank
    Commented Aug 11, 2015 at 3:00

1 Answer 1

Reset to default
1

Just build the platform as Chris Duffin did, make sure it is low enough so your auto's undercarriage will clear, and leave a couple channels/slots for your auto to pass through. You could make hinged lids that fold back down when the car is gone, giving you a continuous level platform surface. Keep it simple.

Improve this answer

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service and acknowledge you have read our privacy policy.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.