Ceiling Hoist

[The_General]

I’ve been reading all the past posts for overhead lifting, but I can’t seem to get the answer I’m searching for. I don’t need a gantry system cause the stuff I tinker with isn’t over 300 to 400 pounds. With that said I wanted something in the garage ceiling that I could life small projects to work on and then load into my pick up. There is a room over the garage, and the ceiling height is just shy of 10 feet, The beams are 2x12s every 16 inch. The garage is 20x22. Of course I really didn’t want a I beam over head unless there happened to be one hidden under this drywall section. I may cut some drywall away to just take a peek. What are your thoughts. ?

 

[PCMusicGuy]

If what you are doing isn't that heavy, I would hang some unistrut, and install some trolleys. You could attach an electric hoist to the hangers and get up and down and back and forth pretty easy.

 

[matt_i]

Where does the boxed section go in the building? Is it parallel to the ridge peak, just under the upper floor?

Also are you looking for a single point like an eye where you could hang a hoist or a trolley-rail where you can move along one axis?

 

[The_General]

Just basically need up and down. No sliders across the ceiling. Something centrally located so I can just back underneath it to load or unload

 

[The_General]

That boxed section in the garage is parallel to the ridge, but not centered under it. There is HVAC vents and returns in the room but they are not inline with that boxed section. So I'm not sure what in there, lol. May have to cut a small inspection hole

 

[bad_idea]

Fair chance that boxed section is wrapping a support beam. If so, you can poke a couple holes in the sheetrock and wrap a strap around it to hang a chain fall from.

 

[The_General]

Fair chance that boxed section is wrapping a support beam. If so, you can poke a couple holes in the sheetrock and wrap a strap around it to hang a chain fall from.[/QUOTE

What kind of straps I was think a high grade of chain , kind of like a loop? Then attach the hoist to that

 

[bad_idea]

Something like this: https://www.grainger.com/search/material-handling/rigging-and-lifting-slings/web-slings?sst=1&ts_optout=true&searchQuery=lifting+strap

A flat strap is easily passed through a slit in the sheetrock, then put a shackle in the eyes and hang the fall from that. The strap is going to squeeze the sheetrock and deform it, that can be minimized by wedging a piece of plywood around 1'x1' under the ******** each side.

First and foremost, figure out what is under that sheetrock. It's up to you to sort the load capacity of it.

 

[MushCreek]

I've been using an engine hoist (cherry picker) to pick up and move stuff up to a ton for the past 30 years. It breaks down to a pretty small footprint when not in use.

 

[CraigStu]

I'd pick my spot under one of those 2x12s. Cut a 12x15 or so hole in the drywall centered under the 2x12. Get an angle drill and reach up 9-10 inches from the bottom of the 2x12 and drill a 1/2 in hole through it. Get two pieces of steel flat 1/4x1.5 by about 12 inches long. Drill 1/2 in holes about 1 inch from all 4 ends. Slide them up either side of the 2x12 and run a 1/2 bolt through both steels and the 2x12 in between them. Install a nut. Run a 1/2 in bolt through the bottom 2 holes. Patch the drywall. Now you have a 1/2 in bolt about 1.5 inches below your ceiling to attach anything you want. A chain fall is the least expensive hoist. You just need to work out a couple of hooks at the wall to get the chain out of the way when you are not using it.

 

[The Tinkering Juggernaut]

I've been using an engine hoist (cherry picker) to pick up and move stuff up to a ton for the past 30 years. It breaks down to a pretty small footprint when not in use.

Yep, they work great for things in the weight range the OP is looking at lifting. Being able to roll in all directions is nice too!