Any engineers out there? Need a simple pallet-elevator

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Trevor B

Trevor B

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Are any of you folks engineers or physicists? Or smart in such things? I am not.

The garage I rent has lots of storage up top but no way to get anything there... just a ladder!
I need a plan to construct a small winch-operated elevator or the like: raise a wooden pallet/platform straight upward using an electric winch. Ideally simple and inexpensive - Harbor Freight has electric winches with 35' of cable for cheap.

This would not be used for really heavy items like engine blocks but I'd love to get the bulky stuff off the floor - extra wheels/tires, etc - without having to carry each item up the ladder in my teeth or some such.

I have the feeling that my simple plan may not be stable enough:
Rough pulley.png
 
The longer you make the 4 cables from the pallet corners, the more stable it will be--but the higher you'll have to put the pulley above the storage platform.
 
rich006 said:
The longer you make the 4 cables from the pallet corners, the more stable it will be--but the higher you'll have to put the pulley above the storage platform.
Click to expand...
I think there should be plenty of room above the storage platform - I can walk around up there.

Daves69 said:
Similar design used for barn lofts forever.......
Hoist for Barn Loft - Bing images
Click to expand...
Lots of pictures of the pulley but not so much on the platform end.

younggun2.0 said:
Two to one pulley system make much easier
Click to expand...
Good point. Doing some research and learning how this works - it appears that it also lessens the load on the mount point(s) above.

I'm still a little worried about balance. I'd rather do it once and be done than have to go the trial-and-error route.
 
you will want to spread the load as much as possible. you can do it very easily but you need to make sure your hanging points can handle the load.
 
I think you're on the right track with the platform.

I would be tempted to use a block and tackle attached to the pallet and above at the lifting point. Set the winch far enough away so you can use it, to operate the block and tackle.

I would think that would lift engines with ease.

Have you considered the weight you will be putting on the floor overhead? Is the structure going to handle it?
 
Trevor B said:
younggun2.0 said:
Two to one pulley system make much easier
Click to expand...
Good point. Doing some research and learning how this works - it appears that it also lessens the load on the mount point(s) above.
Click to expand...

A 2:1 pulley system will reduce the load on the winch because the winch only need apply half as much force (but over twice the distance). It may reduce side loading on the pulley mount, and it should reduce the transient load (starting and stopping), but it will not reduce the static vertical load on the mount (hanging or moving at constant speed). The static load will always be the weight of whatever is hanging from the mount (the cable, pulleys, pallet, and payload).

By transient load I mean the additional force (above and beyond the weight of the load) needed to accelerate upward or stop on the way down.
 
Keep an eye open for a used ladder lift .They are used to lift roofing materials.easy to use and you can rent it out when your not using it .
 
Multiple pulleys to reduce the work and you'd be able to hand-winch an engine block up there with ease.
 
Here is the space I'm working with.
The opening is 38" wide at its narrowest but I'd think that should be big enough. Ceiling is 10' high from concrete floor to bottom of beam. Then additional space above. The height from the storage space floor to the actual ceiling beams is 40" at one end of the opening ad 48" at the other.
Here are some pictures:
Garage ceiling 1.png
Garage ceiling 2.png
Garage ceiling 3.png
 
I feel the pulley system, your load distribution and your winch are the least of your concerns.

You need to figure out what the heaviest item you can safely store up there is. From that you can then go into attachment points for your pulley system. Your attachment points and methods also play a role in the weight you can lift and ultimately store above your space safely. Once those are figured out then you can get into the debate on winch, pulley system and your load distribution.
 
Actually, looking at you pix, your load lift limiting is going to be the roof rafters. They look to be maybe 2x8 or 2x10, 16" on-center and at least a 12' span; that is a medium weight bearing roof system. (But since you don't get real, if any, snow loads in Marin County, you don't need a heavy roof.) I would build a sandwich of maybe 3 - 2x8's and make that long enough to spread across 3 of the roof rafters to spread the load you are lifting, unless it is really light.

Plus the 'attic' load is all born on those long joists from the back wall to the center that look to be 32" apart; that is waaaay lighter than any floor type load rating. Wheels and interior parts and such would be fine, but as you say, not engine blocks and such.

I think I would open a panel up by the wall and build a pair of tracks up the wall with a platform on rollers and track, like barn door track and rollers.
 
Maybe collar-tie (red) several roof rafters (green) and disperse the load over 4 or 5 rafters with your pulley or winch hanger (blue).
loftlift.jpg
 
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