To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!

Motorcycle "platform/elevator" help needed ...

M

Mr Mushman

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 7, 2009
Messages
113
I have been a garage "freak" for quite a while now, but as "they" say "it's never be big enough" and "they" were right ... so I am about to embark on leveling the one I have now and starting from scratch on my new garage ... It will be 20'x40' on 2 floors. I am planning to store a couple of cars on the bottom floor and eventually get a 4 post lift down the road, and bikes on the second floor. I have been toying with the idea of building a 6'x8' platform hanging from trusses or beams with either chain motors or winches to get the bikes down from the second floor to ground level. The reason I was thinking about doing it this way was that I would not waste any valuable space on the bottom floor when the platform is up, and it would work a little bit like a "trap door". This is the best I could come up with. If anybody has dealt with something like this, seen something or has a better idea I am definitely open to any suggestions. What a great site this is and what amazing source of information ! ! !

Thank you very much
 
To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!
R

redsky49

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 21, 2009
Messages
582
Location
near the coast in eastern North Carolina
I have absolutely no experience with this, sorry.

However, what an interesting idea. You would have to determine a size and a weight limit. You would need to keep the platform from swaying while it went up and down. I would guess that the controls would ride along with the platform.

Since you are only traveling a few feet vertically, the platform doesn't have to travel very fast. I still would put a grab bar around at least three sides. The open side left for loading and unloading.

You would have to frame around the upper floor opening, and provide some substantial overhead support for the cable/rope suspension system.

Have you ever seen the guts for a commercial elevator? The older style used to have a steel cable wrapping around a horizontal drum, sorta like a fishing reel. You can figure out the gearing and the drum size, and probably power the whole thing with a 5 hp motor.

I think it would be a fun project. Go for it!
 
S

Stuart in MN

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 8, 2005
Messages
23,009
Location
Minneapolis
I've thought about this same thing - if I were to do it I'd come up with something like this: http://www.aclifts.com/motorcycle/parkingLift.asp except have it run high enough to go up to the second floor.

TVlofitupanddown.gif


This has a 4x8 platform which should be plenty big for most bikes.
 
A

autoist

MEMBER EMERITUS
Joined
Aug 20, 2005
Messages
1,107
Location
Gurley, Alabama
I also am thinking about building the same thing...a mezzanine for bicycles & my old Norton...I could use my 4-post lift to get them up & down but I'd have to empty & move it everytime I wanted something.

So, I'll follow this thread and your build.
 
G

gunguy

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 2, 2007
Messages
730
Location
Currituck Co. NC
Don't what all your paramaters are, but maybe a forklift instead? Dual purpose; lift the bikes to the upper level, load/unload trucks, move heavy stuff around the shop, etc.

Just a thought.

Jim
 
R

Rte66Charlie

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 21, 2007
Messages
210
Location
Ozark Mountains
Find a forklift MAST - you don't need the whole forklift...............secure it to the wall, hook up the hydraulics, and you have an inexpensive bike elevator to the second floor. :)
 
E

eborcim

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 5, 2009
Messages
2,425
Location
Central, MO
Rte66Charlie has a good idea. You could hide the hydraulics behind a serviceable panel and make a permanent platform that would flush fit against the first floor ceiling..voila cheap freight elevator!
 
M

mechamunch

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 10, 2009
Messages
177
This is a really sweet idea. No one sells a specialty elevator for vehicles and xtra heavy equipment? You might have found yourself a niche market if you find a way to mass produce an adaptable solution. ;)
 
To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!
OP
M

Mr Mushman

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 7, 2009
Messages
113
Hello

Thanks to all for your ideas, I'll have to look into the forklift mast idea that Rte66Charlie had. I looked into the ac lifts that stuart is talking about but not sure if it'll be able to go high enough since it'll have to be at least a 12' lift to get to the second floor ... hey Cambuster, this is pretty much what I had in mind but instead of having 1 pick point I would have 4 for safety and stability, but a good idea also. I would not have the room to keep an actual fork lift in the garage gunguy too bad though ... I like you lift idea akdiesel and got to look into it a little closer even though I am trying to stay away form the wall otherwise I will be loosing shelf space ... I still have a month or so to decide on which way to go ...

Thank you again for all the ideas everything helps ! ! !
 
OP
M

Mr Mushman

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 7, 2009
Messages
113
Hello

Thanks for the link btgd, this is exactly what I had in mind ! ! It does not look though that I could use their lift to bring a motorcycle up to the next floor but I see that I was on the right track. I will be looking into 110 volt winches I think, rather than going with chain motors which could get expensive. Again if anyone has experience with winches in their garages to lift things up, let me know which brand I should look for in terms of rialiability and mainly safety since I'll be lifting bikes up and down.

Thanks again ! !
 
D

ddawg16

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 11, 2008
Messages
21,005
Location
S. California
Since you are planning on getting a 4 post lift....why not use it?

I'm going to assume the front of the garage will be full height to clear a car up on the lift...and the second floor will start on the back half of the garage....kinda like a loft?

So....make a platform that you can drop into place to reach the 4 post lift.

You will need a temp floor for the lift....roll the bike on it....raise the lift...drop the ramp into place and roll the bike onto the second floor....

In fact...if you build it right I can see where you could have platforms that move out and around a car that is up on the lift...that way you could work on the car with it up in the air...kinda like how they do it with rockets....
 
OP
M

Mr Mushman

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 7, 2009
Messages
113
Hello ddawg16

The loft idea is a pretty good idea, I did not even think about it, but what my plan is to "cut" in the floor of the first floor, a 6'x8' platform that will allow me to bring bikes up and down from the ground floor. Since I am starting from scratch, leveling the existing garage and building a brand new one, the platform will be framed into the first floor. I have found a couple lifting winch from Warn with enough lifting power, but my main concern is to be able to sync them together since it will have 4 pick point for safety, a 15' power cord that I can activate from the platform as I am going from one floor to the other. My first though was to built a ramp but it would take WAY too much room and waste valuable space ...

Still searching for the right way to do it, but it seems that I might have to go towards 220v chain motors, it might get a little more expensive than what I wanted to spend, but safety is a priority ... We are about to start the demolition of the ol' garage and start with the new construction. I'll keep you posted if I find anything that might interest anyone here. I still can't believe that no company has come up with such a piece of equipment ... Oh well ...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!
Top Bottom