Building a storage lift?

[87bob]

I have a loft in my barn I want to lift "stuff" up to. I thought I could put a square tube or an I beam up the wall and use a double trolley to run on the face with a platform. I have a 2,000 winch to pull the platform up with. The lift would only be used to lift about 300 pounds max at any time. My problem is that I can't find any trolleys to run on square tube or I beam in a vertical position, they are set up to run just horizontally. I'd hate to reinvent the wheel if there is some thing out there I can buy and put to use. Anyone got an idea? Thanks in advance!

 

[Ray916MN]

Garage door track and rollers?

 

[sublimate]

Most unistrut trolleys would work in a vertical position

 

[CNGsaves]

You've been on GJ a while . . . you know we LOVE pictures !!

Let's SEE the loft and distances you are talking about.

Wouldn't hurt to also be thinking about safety locks, so the whole load can come reeling down if a cable or something breaks.

Also, let's SEE the winch you want to use . . . . is it rated 2,000 lbs for VERTICAL lifting . . . . or just "2K horizontal rated" winch ??

 

[rburke65]

?? Did you try a search?

 

[bgarrett]

?? Did you try a search?

awww, that would take the fun out of it.

 

[Lippyp]

Old forklift mast!

 

[jgorm]

You can buy a 4 post car lift for ~$2000

 

[burnedzr2]

A guy I knew made a lift with a 5000 lb winch 4 pcs of angle and a cart with 8 casters. He cut a piece of 3/4 plywood placed it on the floor put the angle against the 4 corners and bolted them to the floor with L brackets that were welded to the angles. He made 2 steel frames that fit inside the and used the casters and made them fit into corner of the angle. He did this on the top frame and the bottom frame then bolted the top to the bottom. It sort of looks like a elevator. The winch is mounted above with a ****** block. He found some type of brake for the lift so if it fails ,these brakes wedge themselves and stop the lift. He puts motorcycles on it to bring to the second floor.

 

[LWW]

I'm guessing your winch is actually rated for 2000lbs rolling loads not a hoisting load. A 2000lb rated winch is probably rated for about 250lbs hoisting load and it won't have the brake on it that's necessary to keep the load from crashing to the ground if the motor fails.

 

[mdbeck1]

I did something similar in my woodshop (16x26 wood building). I put a loft in at a height of 6 feet. Later I put barn door hardware on the bottom side of the peak and put a block and tackle up there to lift the heavier stuff. I think the hardware is rated at around 300 lb and that's more than enough for what I use it for.

Additional note. I tied the rafters barn door hardware to steel angle iron I bolted to the rafters on both sides.

 

[SLYDIT]

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=233122

 

[Firebird 1]

Don't forget to contact your local elevator inspector for a final use certificate. jk