Attic lift...

[BellyUpFish]

Currently building a 36x48 shop and I'm planning on running a lift system to get into the attic.

I didn't want to use floor space for stairs, so I'm planning on a 12' pull down attic ladder to access the space and then constructing a lift to lower and raise whatever it is I might want to put up there.

I figured several here had tackled this and thought I'd get some brain storming ideas..

Anyone?

 

[PCMusicGuy]

Easiest way I've seen was to build a rack to hold what you want, attach it to some trolleys that follow a Unistrut track going up the wall. If you want it off the wall, you'll have to get creative.

 

[oldcpecdr]

Lots of threads about this

Do a search of the forum and you will be enlightened

 

[kwschumm]

This is the coolest lift I've seen. I talked to the guy and it will be released next month with UL approval. Lots of safety features and self checks.

http://thebuildingcenterinc.com/?option=com_content&view=article&id=83&Itemid=500

 

[BellyUpFish]

Lots of threads about this

Do a search of the forum and you will be enlightened

Read each of them before I posted this thread.

 

[astroracer]

I think you would be smart to also install a stairway. Just thinking about what would happen if power is lost to the lift and someone gets trapped up there. Just a concern is all. I see you plan on a pull down but those things are terrible for regular access.
I know floor space is a premium but the understair area can be used as a utility room for furnace, air compressor etc. Really not wasted space if you look at it for that usage.
Mark

 

[matt_i]

Its a tough question to answer not knowing exact intent. That said, I personally would go with an old school 1/2t or 1/4t chain fall on a short section of I-beam (S4) with a Jervis Webb trolley. Up the line in cost would be an electric hoist or an air operated piston air-motor hoist. The unit above looks nice but I am guessing not cheap. Likely the toughest project is not to overload the truss structure in total, once armed with the ability to place multiple heavy things up there.

One problem with a classic fold-down staircase is that its always going to be in the way. A framed opening accessed by a ladder would be better in my thinking, as you can get the "stairs" easily out of the way to make a vertical lift.

 

[BellyUpFish]

I think you would be smart to also install a stairway. Just thinking about what would happen if power is lost to the lift and someone gets trapped up there.

12' attic ladder will be installed as well. The lift will just be getting things up and down from the attic.

 

[BellyUpFish]

Likely the toughest project is not to overload the truss structure in total, once armed with the ability to place multiple heavy things up there.

Trusses were drawn up with this in mind, and have been doubled on either side of the "hole in the floor."

One problem with a classic fold-down staircase is that its always going to be in the way. A framed opening accessed by a ladder would be better in my thinking, as you can get the "stairs" easily out of the way to make a vertical lift.

I have been considering doing just this - skipping a traditional pull down and building a ladder somewhere on the wall to climb up.

Sounds like a great plan at 37 probably won't be as true at 68.. Maybe I'll bit the bullet and build some stairs by then. ;

 

[matt_i]

Trusses were drawn up with this in mind, and have been doubled on either side of the "hole in the floor."

Great idea I did the same thing, 2 "extra" trusses were installed with the side benefit of giving a nice place to attach the LVL ridge on a connector roof.

 

[kwschumm]

I think you would be smart to also install a stairway. Just thinking about what would happen if power is lost to the lift and someone gets trapped up there. Just a concern is all. I see you plan on a pull down but those things are terrible for regular access.
I know floor space is a premium but the understair area can be used as a utility room for furnace, air compressor etc. Really not wasted space if you look at it for that usage.
Mark

If your comments refer to the stowaway lift, the door can be manually opened from attic or garage and a ladder used to get in and out through the opening. Won't do much good if you are stuck upstairs and don't have a ladder handy though. I didn't ask if it could be lowered manually if the electronics are out. The basic mechanicals seem simple enough, I'd bet that they aren't likely to break. The unit also does self-diagnostics and sends emails when things are on the way out or broken. Still there are power outages (maybe UPS?) and such.

 

[Jackfre]

I have an 8/12 pitch in my 30x30-34' space. Attic trusses have an 8x7' storage area. Check the truss specs for load capability of course, which I am sure you have done. I use my area for light storage. I have a 350# 10' AL folding ladder (I cut two ft off the original 12' length). I have it set so it opens onto the deck upstairs. I double my trusses as you have done and have a 4' long opening to load through. I have a crossing double layer of plywood as a cover for the opening. I rigged up a couple shives up top to handle an electric winch and another to handle a 1/2" rope for lighter loads that I can belay on my own. The electric winch is mounted to a tongue that mounts into the receiver hitch on the back of my PU. When I need it I lower the winch out of the attic attach and lift the heavier loads. I welded up a 1" sq steel frame for my lift dolly, bolted plywood over it and use lifting eyes at the corners. I strap the lads onto the dolly. It has worked out well and hasn't taken any floor space. Now, if I am in the middle of a project and the bay is ******* I may have to wait until things clear to lift heavy articles, but I like the way it has worked out. Ladder is a Louisville model AL228P100

 

[dave*99]

The Stowaway Attic Lift 500

Safely transport yourself and your possessions
into and out of your attic above your home or garage
•Attic access without the stairs
•Opens in less than 30 seconds
•Requires no physical effort to operate
•Low cost safe convenient storage
•Occupies no residential floor space
•Large platform with a 500lb. payload
•Attic access in less than 30 seconds
•Safety features include a backup power supply
•Increase the value of your home
•Electronic memory to locate your belongings
•UL , TUV , CE safety and code compliance pending
•Price include professional installations

 

[pmiranda]

In the garage I'm planning, I'm thinking of positioning a 4-post lift near a storage loft, so that I can put a platform on it to lift things up to the loft level, and put a ramp that spans from the loft to inside the columns of the lift. The only sticking point so far has been that most 4-post lifts don't rise as far as the loft level I'd want to build.

 

[kingchevy]

I know it's a longshot,but if that Stowaway lift takes you into the attic, then malfunctions and catches fire, you would be screwed.

 

[36truck]

Built a lift in my dad's garage. We used a 1 ton electric chain hoist. Built a 4 post pipe frame for the carriage to ride on. Has worked good for more than 25 years.

 

[MushCreek]

I went really low rent, but it works. I built a 24 X48 platform with 2 ends made of plywood. I put a piece of pipe in between, with threaded rod running through the whole thing. I made a bridle of wire rope, then connected a cheap HF 1500 lb 120V winch to it in the middle. The winch is mounted in the attic to a couple 2X8's, with vertical 4X4's on each side to distribute the load. The one down side is that the elevator can spin, but I tied a rope to one end to control it. The ends have 45 degree angles on top, so once the elevator is in the opening, it is self-aligning. I load it, scamper up the ladder, and operate the winch with the controller, holding the guide rope in the other hand to keep it straight. I load-tested it with about 500 lbs., but I never haul up more than 200 lbs. at a time, no human riders, and no one is allowed underneath it when in operation.

Basically, I used it to haul all of my stuff up there, and now only use it once in a while when I need to get something down. There's a better design on here somewhere that uses two cables to keep it aligned, but it is a lot more complicated to build, and I needed it 'right now' as opposed to 'right'. I'm eventually going to build stairs, but a lot of our stuff is too heavy to carry up and down stairs.

 

[DonPowers]

Sounds like a great plan at 37 probably won't be as true at 68.. Maybe I'll bit the bullet and build some stairs by then. ;

I'm already in my 60s and I can tell you that stairs are way better than a ladder. In my 32 x 48, the second floor is 13 ft up. I built stairs with a landing at 12' and can roll my 4 post lift under the landing if I need to get something heavy upstairs. The lift won't get you all the way there but its close enough.

 

[BellyUpFish]

I'm already in my 60s and I can tell you that stairs are way better than a ladder. In my 32 x 48, the second floor is 13 ft up. I built stairs with a landing at 12' and can roll my 4 post lift under the landing if I need to get something heavy upstairs. The lift won't get you all the way there but its close enough.

Yeh, I don't doubt it one bit. I'm already looking into where I'd put the stairs.

 

[DonPowers]

Yeh, I don't doubt it one bit. I'm already looking into where I'd put the stairs.

I made them 4 ft wide so if needed, I can install a chair lift, which could also be used to get stuff up there.

 

[kwschumm]

In the garage I'm planning, I'm thinking of positioning a 4-post lift near a storage loft, so that I can put a platform on it to lift things up to the loft level, and put a ramp that spans from the loft to inside the columns of the lift. The only sticking point so far has been that most 4-post lifts don't rise as far as the loft level I'd want to build.

Probably true of any lift using electric motors.

 

[MushCreek]

Here's a couple pics of my rig. I didn't notice Bart Simpson lurking in the shadows when I took the picture, but it is appropriate. Disclaimer- I make no claims as to the efficacy or safety of this device!

 

[BellyUpFish]

I made them 4 ft wide so if needed, I can install a chair lift, which could also be used to get stuff up there.

Well the garage is mostly "finished." Just waiting on some brick and siding and I'm not even in it yet and wish I had put in stairs.

I guess that'll be one of my first projects. LOL

 

[huntnfsh]

Here is another option for ya. This is the lift I made for my garage. The platform is roughly 4' x 8'. It works great. Hopefully the pics explain most of it. I modified a Northern Tool Hoist for the winch part.

 

[Hometinkerer]

The Stowaway Attic Lift 500

Safely transport yourself and your possessions
into and out of your attic above your home or garage
•Attic access without the stairs
•Opens in less than 30 seconds
•Requires no physical effort to operate
•Low cost safe convenient storage
•Occupies no residential floor space
•Large platform with a 500lb. payload
•Attic access in less than 30 seconds
•Safety features include a backup power supply
•Increase the value of your home
•Electronic memory to locate your belongings
•UL , 4TUV , CE safety and code compliance pending
•Price include professional installations

I am looking for a Stow Away Attic Lift. Do you service SC?

 

[Hometinkerer]

I am looking for that lift. Company not responding. Do you service SC?

 

[glentre]

Here's my 3' x 3' lift in process, similar to what others have done and posted. It's mounted to the rails and tested to run smoothly up to the 14 ft 2nd floor attic. The U bolt for attaching the winch has been removed, ready to take it off the rails, paint and mount the ply platform. We have full attic stairs (under-stair door to the left) but at 78, I'm looking a few years ahead when it will be difficult to cary stuff up 21 stairs, let alone myself. I do plan to ride it but will have an independent retractable safety device which will stop the platform in case something fails.

Glen

 

[BukitCase]

Here's what I did; feel free to use any ideas or ask questions, I have lots more pics if needed.

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/build-yourself/389692-barn-winch-lift-design-question-2.html

HTh... Steve

 

[My Old Tools]

I installed an I-beam the full length of the shop dead center and hung a 1 ton HF hoist on a trolley. I can put just about anything up there.

 

[John T]

I installed an I-beam the full length of the shop dead center and hung a 1 ton HF hoist on a trolley. I can put just about anything up there.

Same here.



nothing like storing bikes on the second floor for winter. [emoji3]