I am building a mezzanine sometime in the near future and will be storing motorcycles, snowmobiles, etc up there. I have been contemplating a lift myself and looked at the type Kaisen posted but decided it was too much work to duplicate and they cost too much for my taste. I have been considering a cable operated lifting gizmo/platform using a Harbor Freight electric winch to power it. It will likely consist of two long drums made of pipe that will have each have a section of cable near each end. I will drive the drums using roller chain powered by the cheap winch.

I also briefly considered finding an old used fork lift mast section and mounting it to my wall at the end of the mezzanine. I would build a flat platform and mount it to the forks. I would then roll the bike onto the platform then raise the contraption using a hydraulic power source from a cheap car lift. Once the platform was raised flush with my mezzanine, I would roll the bike onto the overhead storage unit.

Garage is 9' tall. Bikes are approx 4'0" tall, so should be just enough for bikes stacked.

Eric, I did see those. Slick, but $2400 each!

I think the solutions is a freestanding 4 post lift in the middle of the garage, between the 2 doors. I have about 8' of width there, so it could be placed to not encroach on the garage doors. I could put 4 bikes up top, and 4 below. My main objective is to be able to see the bikes, so this would be a good solution.

I've got several designs in my head but it's hard for me to describe. I'd either use box tubing or channel iron frame and uprights with platform of box tubing with large sealed bearings bolted thru frame riding on uprights. it's easier for me to visualize than describe

Well, I think you could fabricate something similar as a one-length, three-bike deal. The Loft-It unit is rated to 1200 pounds. If your three bikes weigh 1200 pounds, then why not? 80% of the weight is distributed to the floor, and 20% to the wall. It's just an electric motor with a screw drive and two stainless braided cables. No reason you couldn't build something similar. Or build three of them that share middle uprights.

In any event, the cantilevered from the wall option is the best.

Kaisens loft it gives you the idea on how to do it. add in Jack Olsens fold out work benchs and a garage door opener motor to drive it. make it so it folds flush to your wall for space if you need it.


I would find some 8" wide C chanel and have cables that hold the bike on a slight angle from the wall \l to gain more room

Those Loft-Its fold flat to the wall, like Jack's tables. They just have screw drives to lift the whole thing vertically as well. I think they're a great idea if you could figure out how to build them.

Why not something like this but instead of a receiver hitch, just mounted into a channel that's lifted by a linear actuator, screw-drive, chain-drive (ala garage door opener), or cable with remote winch?

http://www.ducati.ms/forums/attachme...ddy-hauler.jpg


Just lift it up the wall. Kinda like the Loft-it without the platform or second upright.

Richard, when I bought my 4 post lift one of the options was a diamond plate section that would enable the lift to be used to store motorcycles/atv's etc. You could easily store three bikes parked at a 45 degree angle on my lift.

Also if you have two garage doors you could also raise one of them closer to the ceiling so that you wouldn't have to put the lift in the middle of the garage. Closed the doors would still look the same. My lift is currently on the single door side of my three car garage.

Bill

This one is only $1500ish

www.garagecargolift.com

http://www.garagecargolift.com/Lifttires1300.BMP

FWIW, moving 4 lower bikes every time you need to get to an upper would get to be old, I'd want the lower ones on dolly's...

Edit:Eric and I posted over each other-I like his solution

Four cables attached to another frame above to which the winch is attached. Lift each bike up and out of the way. You could hide them in the attic if you wanted to. :)

Garage lift - YouTube

Here's another vid showing the support in the attic:

Attic Elevator - YouTube

Saw this from Greg Smith, what I was thinking about but off the shelf.

Atlas Pro Floor 9 Plus