Getting Christmas decorations back in the attic.

[GH85Carrera]

Like many people, we store the Christmas decorations in the attic for 11 months of the year. Getting the boxes and the tree up and down is always a challenge.

Last year I added a 2x4 over the center of the hole in the attic access stairs, and rigged up a pulley on the top, and a second pulley a long rope. That makes getting items up and down easy, once we get the box, or object somehow attached to a stable way to hook to the Carabiner.

Much of the "stuff" my wife has that needs to be lowered down and back up is in the plastic storage tubs of 60 gallon size. The storage box needs to be somehow secured with a simple (I hope) strap system that will lift the storage box straight up, and not tilt to one side, and be secure.

I envision a x strap that is long enough to go on all the sides, and have a central connection. We have a cargo net, but it is too small to wrap around the large storage containers. The net is not really stable and lets boxes tilt and it is a real challenge to get it laid out, put an item on there, and then pull the sides up to connect.

An X shaped strap, with a ring or hook on the end to connect to the Carabiner and then pulled up would be easy, but I can't find anything like that.

None of the storage containers is very heavy, all are under 50 pounds and most are even 25 pounds or lighter, just storing oddly shaped items.

This is pretty much my setup.


What I really want to avoid is some complex tie down or rope attachment to a plastic storage container. I am up in the attic, my wife is on the floor of the garage, and she hooks it up, I pull it up and put it away. I want a way to strap it up, and lower it down again next year.

The tubs are 24x18x16 on average. Any ideas?

[Rot 911]

This is one of the many reasons why I like living in an older house. Ours was built in 1913.

[javadog]

Got a piece of plywood that will fit through the hole and that is big enough to support the containers. Drill four holes, one in each corner. Put two ropes through the holes, one rope per side, and knot the ropes under the holes. You want enough slack in the ropes that they form an inverted V, slightly taller than the tub when picked up in the middle. Attach a horizontal bar to your lifting rope that has something on the end to keep the ropes from slipping off and then slip the ropes over the bar and winch away.

When you get it into the attic, spin it 90° so that the long dimension of the plywood spans across the hole and remove the box.

Something similar to what’s illustrated in the top left of this picture:

[mattdavis11]

[javadog]

Or you can use some thing like what’s on this page:

https://www.mcmaster.com/slings/extra-wide-basket-slings/

If those are too spendy, you can make your own version of it.

Or, do what I did for 20+ years, just hump it up into the attic manually.

At some point, you’ll get smart like me and you sell all that crap off to somebody else.

[911 Rod]

So if it fails it drops the container on your wife? Or at least that would happen to me. lol
I bought a small scaffold that I could put my tires on and then got on the scaffold so I could put them up the rest of the way. Safe and easy.

[GH85Carrera]

Originally Posted by javadog

Or you can use some thing like what’s on this page:

https://www.mcmaster.com/slings/extra-wide-basket-slings/

If those are too spendy, you can make your own version of it.

Or, do what I did for 20+ years, just hump it up into the attic manually.

At some point, you’ll get smart like me and you sell all that crap off to somebody else.

That is the type of sling I have been looking for!

And one project for this winter it is fill up the wheelie bins with some of the crap in the attic. Lots of stuff it just going to the dump. The 15 inch Fuchs and some automotive parts will remain.

[stevej37]

I use one of these in my garage. Just pull a cord and the stairway opens up.

[astrochex]

Originally Posted by stevej37

I use one of these in my garage. Just pull a cord and the stairway opens up.

Oooh, nice. Do recall the brand you went with? Thanks.

[BK911]

My setup is similar but my wife is Philippina.
Xmas decorations are setup in Sep.
Taken down in Feb.
So 6 months with a fn tree in the middle of the living room!
Outside lights up all year.
Xmas lights in Dec, party lights the rest of the year!

Humbug!!

[stevej37]

^^^ Astrochex
I bought it at Menards and remember that it was sold by ceiling height.
My garage has a 10 ft ceiling so it was a little tricky installing it. I used a couple step ladders and my shoulder to frame it in. I don't remember the price but I think it was around $250

Very convenient because they disappear when closed.

[VINMAN]

Originally Posted by astrochex

Oooh, nice. Do recall the brand you went with? Thanks.

Werner is a common brand that I install. Have them in my own house also.

.

[stevej37]

^^^
Yes..now that you mention it....Werner.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by stevej37

I use one of these in my garage. Just pull a cord and the stairway opens up.

I added one of those to our old garage at our first home. It's the way to go.

I think if you head to whatever your local hardware store is, they'll have at least one if not a couple of options. You'll likely have to trim the bottom of the ladder a bit for your exact ceiling height.

[herr_oberst]

Build yourself an elevator.

[astrochex]

Thank-you Steve and Vinny.

[A930Rocket]

Originally Posted by stevej37

I use one of these in my garage. Just pull a cord and the stairway opens up.

Does it come with the helper?

[dw1]

About 1.5 years ago I installed a telescoping ladder (commonly referred to as a loft ladder across the pond) because the location and size of the opening to my upper attic could not accommodate a standard set of folding attic stairs. Best thing I ever did to make access to that storage area, and my Christmas decoration, much easier.

The installation includes a slam/pull flush latch with a small dangling loop so I can hook it and open the attic hatch.

[varmint]

[red 928]

This year, getting the decorations
down from the attic came with an
unexpected bonus:

cyclobenzaprine HCL 10mg
Prednisone 10mg
acetaminophen-codeine #3 300mg

not as young as we used to be