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This was my adventure in setting up a lift.
I have a Rotary brand asymmetrical two post lift for working mostly on cars with their electric window doors open and access to under the dash work. For this room on the side is important.
Mine has a 9000 lb. lift capacity which means that it can pick up some mighty heavy pickups too.
I just center them more forward on the arms.
There is nothing crossing under the vehicles like hydraulics or electrical to impair removing transmissions and alike.
Four posts are good for holding tools under or at a level of your work area.
I have a roll around two shelf unit that I made with a hydraulic cylinder in the middle with attachments for lifting and transporting out from underneath. I use the shelves a lot.
The only reason that I know of to go wider is for something like motor homes of which I have one. It's an A class. Its their mirrors on these. I can just barely get through a ten foot wide door with an inch to spare on each side without having to fold them inwards.
Depending on the height of your posts that may not be a problem. I believe the max width on any vehicle is 105 inches, less mirrors.
I think an eight foot door width has told you what you are only going to get in there.
Some smaller class C Motor homes push close to 9000 lb. and be the width of vans.
It is the poundage that dictates width of vehicles.
On a four post it will be the dual wheeled rear ends you have to holdup or get through doors.
A lot of people buy lifts because they live in urban areas. Their use to store or to provide extra parking for more than one driver in their households. It sounds like you might be there, or like me, getting too much stuff.
When you setup for a lift you need decent height for tall vehicles and room in front for tool benches.
Room is needed on the sides as well to walk or move things around the posts if a car is on the ground while up under another car.
In my case, I can put two cars end to end under a car. If I store my full size pickup at the same time, in the same bay, since it's longer, it has to go up before the other two go in.
Right now, I store the pickup turned sideways in a corner in front of my motor home. I used four nice wheel dollies, I got "American made" out of Tennessee. I can easily push it around anywhere I want on the floor all by myself. I put it up stands for the long term as I might eventually rebuild the engine, if I live long enough! I do not need it and I do not know how much love I have for it anymore.
Anyway, that's where I went with my lift and storage decisions.
Phil
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