Overhead snowmobile storage project completed

[Blk88GT]

Last summer I struggled to keep order in my 36x46 shop with 4 sleds, a racecar, my F250, Civic and misc other junk. With my recent purchase of an enclosed trailer and getting the racecar back on the track this year, I needed room to work on my stuff and I needed it fast.

I came up with this design on my own and had my dad and father in law give me some pointers along the way.

The Frankenshelf (as my kids call it) is 29' long and 4' wide.

Section 1:

Section 2:

Section 3:

Winch:

Top view before old sled tracks screwed down for traction:

Today:

I put the kids sled up there to get an idea how it would look. I have one more sled to put up, but I have a trip this weekend with it first.

This is my Garagejournal debut, go easy on me!

 

[Mtrhd0024]

Sweet idea, we did something similar to this in our motorbike shed, had a shelf about 4 ft off the ground about 4x12 that was big enough for a go-kart and a few minibikes, then we could back motorcycles in under the shelf as well. The only thing is there was no ramp, so all the bikes and the go-kart we put up had to be able to be lifted by hand. In this way we managed to fit almost 20 motorbikes in a 12x20ft shed!

 

[autoist]

Sweet!! That'd work great with my Norton!

 

[BigK600]

My Dad needs to do something like that in his pole barn. Theres 4 snowmobiles, 5 atvs, a 17' boat and a tractor(sometimes theres 2 tractors in there). Theres only one spot to work on cars because everything else is full with toys parked in the way.

 

[Jononon]

Slick !

How do you get the blue one into the corner ? Crouch behind it and drive it in ? More to the point, how do you get it out again

 

[BrokeEF]

Looks good, now lets see the race car!!!

Sean

 

[Blk88GT]

I just ducked down and drove it in. The blue one has reverse, so getting it out shouldn't be a big deal. The red one will come out the old fashioned way and the last one (not pictured on the shelf) will be on the ramp to begin with. It shouldn't be too bad considering it's only used once a year

 

[Krooney]

Looks great.....very well done. I built some 4' wide shelving in the back of my garage to put the vintage sleds on and the newer sleds were to go below. But, I ended up fulling the shelves with other junk. Maybe I'll have to organize again.

 

[35mastr]

Looks good,But be careful with all that fuel up there and that heater right next to them.

 

[Blk88GT]

Sleds are stored with next to zero fuel and the furnace isn't run all summer

 

[Blk88GT]

Krooney, you have more sleds than me!

 

[StealthM8]

Nice job on the sledshelves!

Is that a 2006 M7 I spy in the corner? Almost looks like it has a 2008 Nightfire Fox Float skid on it...

 

[bowanna03]

do you have any plans or a write up on how you did that I would like to make one like it but smaller for my riding mower and my atv.

 

[Tech Guy]

Nice job BLK. Wish I had the room for that type of storage. Ive always kept the sled on dollies and just moved it around when I needed space. And whats this about another trip, you still have snow out there-trails still open ?

 

[Blk88GT]

Stealth, that's my 05 M7 you see.

I redid the skid last summer and powdercoated everything black. Eventually I'll replace the tunnel with a black VA or CR setup. But I can't ride the thing well enough to put any more cash into it yet. I rode with Chris Burandt of Slednecks fame this winter and it was the reality check of a lifetime.

We have no snow left where I'm from, but a buddy and I are heading to Cooke City, Montana tonight. We're going to get 2 more days of riding before calling it a season.

I don't have any writeups on how I did this but I can answer any questions you have. Maybe this will help?

The entire thing is 2x4 construction.

I built it in 3 sections, mainly because I'm a fan of desinging as I build (lol)

First: 10' x 4'
Second: 7 x 4'
Third: 12 x 3' 46 1/2" (I had to set the ramp section off the wall by 1.5" to get around my air and telecommunications lines)

Total length is 29ft.

Everything is sheeted in 7/16 OSB. I primed and painted everything before cutting which took FOR FRIGGEN EVER. I used joist hangers, corner braces etc. I used 3 - 6" strap hinges for the main pivot point that I lagged into beefed up sections so as to not pull them out.

Gussets are 5" in length and cut on 45s. I used 1/2" rod in 6ft lengths from Home Depot for extra support. I made the brackets for the roof and rails myself (first time welding since high school!)

There is a header for the weight to sit on that's been lagged into the wall, and the top frame sections are screwed in. The gusset header on the wall is 2x6 to distribute the weight between studs.

I used 3 tracks to put down for traction. The last one hangs off the end so I get some traction when the sled is on the concrete. I can barely get the shorties to fit between the back wall and the ramp, so the long one should be fun to watch

If anyone has questions, let me know. It was a fun project but I'm glad it's done.

 

[GrantMLS]

Looks great!

 

[Tech Guy]

Nice as we havent seen snow for awhile and the sled was put away a few weeks ago. Have fun in the powder this weekend. Take some pics for your fellow sledders

 

[Hardware]

Good Idea ... may have to steal it...

 

[MNDucatiMan]

Great idea!