Motorcycle "platform/elevator" help needed ...

[Mr Mushman]

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

 

[redsky49]

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!

 

[Stuart in MN]

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.

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

 

[autoist]

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.

 

[gunguy]

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

 

[Rte66Charlie]

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.

 

[eborcim]

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!

 

[mechamunch]

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.

 

[akdiesel]

I started a thread on this issue a while back. I am planning on storying my snowmachines on it with two seperate lift trays that can handle 1000lbs each according to Unistrut's calculations.
Here is the thread I started. I still need to finish the auto locks I came up with.
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=34840&highlight=diy+post+lift

 

[Cambuster]

Here's a couple of guys that made one for thier bikes.Be sure to read the respones for safety ideas. http://www.network54.com/Forum/13357/message/1230675052/What+to+do+when+you're+outta+room---

 

[Mr Mushman]

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 ! ! !

 

[akdiesel]

Just for reference the lift I made is a free standing lift that does not need to be attached to a wall.

 

[btgd]

Don't your budget but try this https://www.bpghome.com/

 

[Mr Mushman]

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 ! !

 

[ddawg16]

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....

 

[Mr Mushman]

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 ...