Hi, I am in the planning stages of a garage and was looking for some input. Maybe things you wish you had done different or wish you had done. I know everyone says they should have gone bigger but there again there has to be some reason. Here is what I am thinking about at this moment. 40 x40 x12, attic style trusses with a 6/12 pitch to have attic storage space. 3 overhead doors 1- 10x10 and 2-8hx10w, 1 walk through door. Misc windows etc, I want to have the three bays so I don't have to stack vehicles a friend of mine has a 32wx48l which sounds nice but you only have 2 doors so it seems like you always are moving a vehicle. I know I will be opening a can of worms asking but hey what the hey everyones input has some good.
Thanks

I wish I had made my doors/ceiling higher. I bought a camper and can't get it in.

9 foot doors don't let a travel trailer in...I wish I'd have gone 11 foot doors with 12 foot ceilings...but not a big deal.

My dad and I just did a 50X80 and then enclosed and heated 30X30 of it. He decided on 10' doors after I told him to go 14'. I figured you will never need more than 14' but you may need more than 10'. I was right, we bought a camper the next summer. Not a big deal for us because we have a 12' door on the cold storage side. Other than that, these would be my suggestions.

We have heated floors = AWESOME!!
Wireless internet to check DP
Cable/sattelite TV
We plumed airlines in the wall every 8 feet plus a 100' reel in the center of the ceiling. I highly recommend it.
Slop sink
LOTS of lights, you can never have too much
Drain in each bay

If you want to install a lift at some time you will need 13' for a full lift.

Don't have the area to build some of the monsters you guys built but I can just add, build it bigger than you orignally plan! I built a 24'x32' Pole Barn with 10' walls, T1-11 siding, and a 4/12 pitch roof. Wish now I built a 30'x40', 14' walls, 6/12 pitch, and metal siding. For my area, the barn I have now is fine but oh if I had more room!!! I am residing it with metal so I am getting one wish...

I built 36x40x16 and it's to small. I should have gone 6' longer and 4' wider.
I guestimated how much space I would need but forgot to figure for bench space and a bathroom/mechanical room

We have heated floors = AWESOME!!

If you plan to install a two-post lift later on make sure you plan for it. Decide where it is going to go and leave the heat tubing out of that area. My father and I built a 40x100x16 with heated floors and did not plan for a two-post.:( We ended up going with a four-post, movable lift which is nice, but it is not as nice as a two-post.

I haven't gotten to installing concrete yet. I have a swing jib to install and would like to plan for a lift.
I will need a heavy duty lift. The truck weighs 8,600 lbs & I do not think I will want to spend a day unloading and loading it every time I want to put it on the lift.
A lift you could roll around would be nice but the only lift I saw an advertisement for that was movable showed lifting from all 4 wheels. That doesn't seem like it would be condusive to doing a brake job.
Also I wouldn't have to be concerned about the tubing layout with a moveable lift.
Any ideas?

Whenever we have in floor heat designed for our customers we figure out where and what type of hoists will be used then draw it into the plans. If you are going to be pouring mud before you decide on a 2 or 4 post hoist just prepare for it either way because they are not taking up a big enough footprint to screw up the tubing.