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Last Updated on April 6, 2023 by bluefuze
In this post we’re going to discuss building a garage pulley system from ceiling. This will include the 4 point pulley lift system, as well as a couple of other styles. While this post will focus on making your own pulley system, I’ll cut right to the chase – the most popular thing in this post is the option that’s already manufactured for you! This is the “Racor PHL-1R Pro HeavyLift 4-by-4-Foot Cable-Lifted Storage Rack” and it’s an engineered solution for those that just prefer installing something ready to go. It extremely well rated on Amazon, and is very easy on the walet.
Racor – PHL-1R, Garage Ceiling Storage Rack Lift
- Adjustable - Mounts to any ceiling, adjust to angle ceilings with the built in nylon rings
- Durable - High strength steel allows you to lift up to 250 pounds
- Efficient - Raises and lowers by crank and includes all installation accessories
- Reliable - Steel cables allow for 8ft of vertical lift and securely locks into place
- Reclaim Your Garage - 16 sq feet of additional overhead storage space with the 4 ft X 4 ft design, making more room for the things you want to do
Now, onto the DIY version. In most residential garages, you’ll often find a lot of unused items that use up space and are hazards waiting to happen. Are you tired of tripping over these items, and want to reorganize your garage in a way more useful way?
Setting up a simple platform pulley system is one way to solve this and other garage issues, allowing you to conveniently access storage within the rafters. It’s another great storage option that you may not have thought of!
With a few readily available tools, you can set up a garage pulley system from the ceiling in a few short hours. Most of the construction happens entirely on the ground before being installed for use, and while the way it works is ingenious, it’s really quite simple to install!
Building Your Garage Pulley System from Ceiling
To start off, you will require:
- Wood for 2 wall pieces (1)
- Wood for platform (if doing platform style)
- Bundles of rope (2)
- Small Pulleys (3)
- Chain Connectors (screw together link joiners) (4)
- Rope Cleat Hooks (5)
- Wood screws (to screw in Cleat Hooks) (6)
- Eye bolts (you might want the ones that screw in, so pointy tipped ones) (7)
- Screw Bolts (8)
- Washers to use with Screw Bolts (9)
Tools:
- Saw to cut 2×4’s
- Measuring tape
- Pencil
- Stepladder
NOTE:
The images used below in this article are screen-grabs from YouTube user “hamstergraphics” video below.
While some of the items in this checklist might be found in your garage, a good chunk will have to be sourced exclusively from hardware stores.
NOTE:
The strength of the ropes is one area you will want to pay special attention to; even as you work towards keeping the overall payload weight down, you will still need some basic assurance that the equipment will be up to the task. DO be sure to use ropes and other materials (pulleys) that are strong enough!
Before we start, here’s a great video primer we found. You should watch this video for this tutorial, as I will be referencing it throughout:
Getting Started
Once all the tools are set, start by measuring the plank(s) of lumber, then using a wood cutter of your choice, trim down the wood to an appropriate size.
The length of lumber depends on your intended storage platform, but in the video above I would estimate about 4 feet for each piece of wood (2). So an 8’ piece of 2×4 lumber could be cut in half for example. Whatever length, it will be times 2, so in this case, 2 pieces of 4’ 2×4 lumber.
If building a platform style system, you will need a some wood for your platform. A simple 4 x 8 rectangular sheet could be sufficient to serve basic needs. It depends on what size will work for you.
Then mark the areas where eye bolts will be attached. Eye bolts are lined up in two parallel rows, each at an alternating position to the other, like a zig-zag pattern.
An average of 12 eye bolts in the plank wood will do. Each eye bolt supports a pulley.
On the remaining plank of wood, fasten the appropriate number of rope supports around which the ropes will be wound. The supports correspond to the number of items or hoists you wish to store in the unused garage space.
Wall Mounting
The two planks of lumber are now ready to be mounted horizontally on the wall. Perhaps the easiest part of the entire procedure, you only need to screw them firmly into place after ensuring they are levelled off. Try to ensure that you are fastening them onto studs or solid supporting structure so that you can be confident they will be secure.
The plank of wood with fastened eye bolts is first up on the wall, preferably attached at the joint between the wall and the ceiling. The remaining piece, onto which the ropes will be tied, can be screwed at a comfortable operating height.
Pulleys can then be attached on the hooks hanging from the eye bolts. You can test the strength of the eye bolts at this juncture to ascertain that they won’t fail and cause harm.
Adding the Rope
Once construction is completed, it is time to weave the ropes through the pulleys. If you will be hoisting several items using independent ropes, consider using different colors to avoid confusion. Some of the eye hooks can be left without pulleys for later installation.
This system makes your storage so much more straightforward, taking all the clutter out of the way. Just be sure to carefully go through the tutorial, and observe the safety precautions, before hoisting your first item(s).
Setting Up a 4 Point Pulley Lift System (Optional Setup)
Everything so far has created the basics for a simple pulley system like the one seen in the video.
Like anything, there can be even more fancy or elaborate systems.
Below, I’ll discuss another style which is a “platform” style, supported by 4 points.
Here is a great video that shows the general idea. Now, in the case of the video they are supporting a Kayak on bars… but in our case, we would be attaching the rope to a flat platform instead of bars. The principals are all the same.
Dimensions guiding this 4 point lift system are dependent on your intended use. As they grow larger, so should the materials used to fasten the four pulleys. There are weight stipulations detailing how far they should be spaced for the best safety, and also pay attention to the weight ratings for each of the parts from the ropes, to the pulleys, to the support structures.
Here’s another really cool implementation that’s a bit unique, but great for inspiration!
NOTE:
When screwing the pulley lift system into place, avoid laminated rafters at all costs. They may be weakened severely and potentially lead to property damage or worse still, serious personal injury. Some common sense, and following the stipulated restrictions of the materials needs to be taken into account.
Storing Medium and Lightweight Items
Most items can be stored in high plastic bins or totes which should be labelled for easy organization.
If you’re using the platform method, you should create corner braces on the plywood, or a ridge border around the platform. In the event that items shift
For many domestic items (not too big or heavy), you could choose to dedicate a rope for each item without having to build an underlying platform for it. It depends a lot on the item. For example, in the main video you can see the child’s toy (which is light enough in weight) being held by one dedicated rope.
Prefer a Manufactured Solution?
Now, perhaps you’re not a big DIY person. Perhaps, you just want something that’s much easier, and ready to go out of the box (sure, with a bit of assembly required).
If that’s you, then you just might absolutely love this product:
Racor – PHL-1R, Garage Ceiling Storage Rack Lift
- Adjustable - Mounts to any ceiling, adjust to angle ceilings with the built in nylon rings
- Durable - High strength steel allows you to lift up to 250 pounds
- Efficient - Raises and lowers by crank and includes all installation accessories
- Reliable - Steel cables allow for 8ft of vertical lift and securely locks into place
- Reclaim Your Garage - 16 sq feet of additional overhead storage space with the 4 ft X 4 ft design, making more room for the things you want to do
This is the “Racor PHL-1R Pro HeavyLift 4-by-4-Foot Cable-Lifted Storage Rack” and it’s an engineered solution for those that just prefer installing something ready to go. It quite well rated on Amazon, and is very easy on the walet.
Safety During Installation and Use
- During installation and use, automatic garage door operation should absolutely be terminated.
- It is extremely dangerous to try and hoist a person using this home-built pulley system.
- At all times, stick to the recommended weight limit.
- Be sure that the ropes are in good condition, with no signs of fraying which could weaken the strength and integrity.
- Use of any type of lift/hoist/pulley system, should never be done (lowered or raised) when a person it standing underneath the objects being moved, in case of any accidental falling objects or the platform itself.
- Make sure all equipment used is rated for the weights they will be subject to as a minimum, but it’s suggested to “overdo it” and get rope and other parts that well EXCEED the intended usage weight.
Before You Leave
Setting up your own garage storage system can be fun! You only have to source the right equipment and follow the easy installation procedure.
Are there any questions you still have regarding garage pulley systems? Leave a comment below.
Have you tried it out? Let us know about your pulley system!
You might enjoy one of our other most popular posts, How to Build a Workbench
Be sure to check out my other post on Organization:
- How to Organize a Garage on a Tight Budget
- How to Organize Tools In Workshop or Garage
Other Popular Posts:
- What Weed Wacker Is the Best?
- Best Lawn Mowers for Small Yards
- The Top Rated Garage Workbenches You Can Find in the Market
FAQs
The mechanical advantage M is equal to number of ropes present at the weight end. The force needed to raise the weight is W/M. In order to lift the weight a distance H you will have to pull a corresponding longer length of rope L = H x M.
Do more pulleys make lifting easier? ›
How do pulleys make it easier to lift? Pulleys are simple machines that can change the direction of force, making it much simpler for us to move objects. They also increase mechanical advantage when we use multiple pulleys together. This process decreases the amount of force required to lift something up.
How much force is needed to lift 18 lbs? ›
Answer. To lift the weight 18 lbs we require 36lbs force.
How do you calculate the load of a pulley? ›
Pulley Weight Formula
To calculate the pulley weight effort, multiply the mass by the acceleration from gravity, then divide by the product of the friction factor times the number of ropes between pulley sets.
Can you lift anything with enough pulleys? ›
A block and tackle is an example of a pulley system that can be attached to anything. It may take a lot of cable or rope, but a human using enough pulleys could lift several tons.
How much more can you lift with a pulley? ›
With a two-wheel pulley, you reduce the effort you exert to lift the same amount of weight. You lift the weight with half the force. This is called the mechanical advantage (ME) and your two-wheeled pulley gives you an ME of two. The larger your ME, the less force you need to lift a weight.
Are bigger pulleys better? ›
Because of the larger diameter the pulley wheels do not spin as fast which extrapolates to less wear. Better shift quality- Most report better shift quality but this may also be due to less drivetrain suck. Adjustable spring tension- means you don't need to have as much tension on the chain further reducing friction.
Why are two pulleys better than one? ›
One pulley doesn't make a mechanical advantage, as the same amount of force is needed. However, if additional pulleys are added, a mechanical advantage is created. Using two pulleys together means you need half the force to lift.
Can a pulley lift heavy loads? ›
Pulleys are used to lift heavy objects. Our muscles can apply only a little force. With the help of a pulley, we can lift heavy objects by increasing the force applied.
Can you lift more weight with a pulley? ›
A pulley is just a set of one or more wheels over which is a rope is looped(or sturdy chain, for heavier objects). They are called as “simple machines” because they allow humans to multiply the forces that allow us to lift a heavy weight. Using a pulley greatly multiplies the force of your physical efforts.
PSI is a unit of pressure not of force. As the name says it is "pounds of force per square inch", if you have a piston of the area of 1 square inch, with a pressure of one PSI a force of 1 pound will be exerted on the piston.
How much torque is needed to lift a weight? ›
To calculate load torque, multiply the force (F) by the distance away from the rotational axis, which is the radius of the pulley (r). If the mass of the load (blue box) is 20 Newtons, and the radius of the pulley is 5 cm away, then the required torque for the application is 20 N x 0.05 m = 1 Nm.
How much force does it take to lift 100 pounds? ›
The 100 lb weight is equivalent to 445 newtons.
What is pulley power formula? ›
According to the pulley formula, it is because they are designed to interchange bike chain speed by force but generate the same power: Power = Force × Chain velocity .
How to calculate effort required to lift a load in a pulley system? ›
In the case of single movable pulley:
- In single movable pulley. A ) = W P = 2 P P = 2 i . e . W = 2 P .
- So , E f f o r t P = W 2 = 50 2 = 25 k g w t .
- Hence, if we use a single moving pulley, the effort will be 25 k g w t .
You could say, in general, that the pulley load reduction is the reciprocal of the number of ropes supporting the load, but few practical pulley systems have more than four ropes. Consequently, the maximum pulley load reduction you can realize is one-quarter the actual weight of the load.
How much weight can you lift with a finger? ›
The heaviest deadlift with one finger is 121.70 kg (268.30 lb) by Benik Israelyan with his right middle finger in Yerevan, Armenia.
How much weight does each pulley reduce? ›
Pulley FAQ
Similarly, a two-wheel pulley splits the weight equally so that each holds only half the weight, allowing you to lift the same weight with half of the force.
Does the length of a pulley matter? ›
A larger diameter pulley wheel (aka sheave) is technically more efficient than a smaller diameter pulley. But it's a trade off: a larger pulley has increased bulk, weight and cost. For example, in a 1:1 haul, you gain about 7% efficiency going from a 1.5” pulley to a 3.75” pulley.
What happens when you increase pulley size? ›
The bigger your driven pulley (vs the driver), the slower it will turn but the more torque it will produce. The smaller your driven pulley (vs the driver), the faster it will turn but the less torque it will produce.
Our Picks for the Best Pulley System:
- Best Overall Pulley System: Titan Fitness Short Wall Mounted Pulley Tower V3.
- Best Pulley System for Full-Body Training: Force USA MyRack Cable Crossover.
- Best Heavy Duty Pulley System: REP Fitness FT-5000 Functional Trainer.
- Best Pulley System for Your Home Gym: Tonal.
A 2:1 ratio gives the best overall benefits without sacrificing in other areas. 4:1 can be good for speed work but has the downside of making a 200 pound weight stack only equal to 50 pounds of resistance, a problem if you intend to do lat pulldowns for example.
What is a disadvantage of using more pulleys? ›
The main disadvantage of pulleys is that they require large space to increase their mechanical advantage. The risk of slipping and breaking ropes, belts, or chains is high when they move over wheels without grooves. Ropes get weaker with continuous use and break anytime.
Do smaller pulleys increase horsepower? ›
Horsepower gains from underdrive pulleys can vary by vehicle, engine, number of accessories and the amount of underdrive (improvements of up to 5–15 HP at the wheels have been seen). Additional and significant performance improvements can be seen by reducing the weight of the pulley versus the original pulley.
What are the 4 types of pulleys? ›
What are the 4 types of pulleys? The four types of pulleys are fixed, moveable, compound, and complex. Compound pulleys consist of a fixed and moveable pulley.
What is the mechanical advantage of 4 pulleys? ›
A: With four rope segments, the ideal mechanical advantage is 4. This means that the compound pulley multiplies the force applied to it by a factor of 4. For example if 400 Newtons of force were applied to the pulley, the pulley would apply 1600 Newtons of force to the load.
What does doubling the number of pulleys do? ›
Double pulleys are useful for lifting objects whose mass might be too much for one person on a single pulley, or even if the mass to be lifted exceeds that of the person.
What causes a pulley to fail? ›
“This can also be due to a missing or wrong diamond wheel disc being fitted. “Another way a pulley can fail is during the fitting process there has been an interruption with the assembly press or the friction bearing has been incorrectly pressed in.
Why do pulleys fail? ›
If the belt tension is too strong or the auxiliary equipment has failed, the pulley will also fail. The cause is linked to the coupling having made contact with the flywheel rim. When removing the pulley you will be able to see visible abrasions in the Poly-V and residue from the belt in the ribs.
How do pulleys fail? ›
While synchronous belt failures can occur in many forms, pulleys generally fail in one of two ways: tooth wear or flange failure. Abnormal or excessive pulley tooth wear is typically due to use in an abrasive environment, although pulley misalignment, excessive loading, and improper tension can also be causes.
A static pulley is the most simple and has a stationary axle. In other words, it uses this axle and a wheel to redirect the force of a rope. Next, a moveable pulley has an axle that has the liberty to move and is also used to redirect forces.
How does a pulley work for dummies? ›
A pulley is a wheel that you loop a rope over. The key scientific concept for pulleys is that they redirect force. For example, instead of PUSHING a load UP, you can attach it to a rope, run the rope through a pulley above you and then PULL DOWN on the rope to move it up. All pulley systems re-direct force.
What is a pulley explained for dummies? ›
A pulley is a wheel that carries a flexible rope, cord, cable, chain, or belt on its rim. Pulleys are used singly or in combination to transmit energy and motion. Pulleys with grooved rims are called sheaves.
Which pulley needs less effort to lift a load? ›
A movable pulley needs less effort to lift a load BUT requires it to be pulled a longer distance.
Which pulley is used to lift heavy load? ›
A simple pulley has a single pulley and when there are two or more pulley they are called compound pulley. But a simple pulley does not reduce the effort required to lift a heavy object as it has only one pulley, instead of a simple pulley if we have compound pulley it will reduce the effort.
Which pulley can lift a load faster? ›
A fixed pulley can only provide you a better direction to lift an object. But a movable pulley helps you to lift an object with half of the effort than the load. Thus, using a movable pulley for the same load effort can be reduced, but this can not happen with a fixed pulley.
Should you keep your back straight when lifting? ›
Keep good posture.
Look straight ahead, and keep your back straight, your chest out, and your shoulders back. This helps keep your upper back straight while having a slight arch in your lower back. Slowly lift by straightening your hips and knees (not your back). Keep your back straight, and don't twist as you lift.
What is the simplest machine for lifting heavy objects? ›
An inclined plane is a simple machine used to lift heavy objects by applying less amount of force.
Is it better to lift more or lift heavier? ›
The truth is, there's no correct strategy -- both are valid choices. Lifting heavy dumbbells, kettlebells and barbells will certainly make you stronger. But lighter weights can help you get stronger too -- it just may take you a bit longer. It all comes down to one important factor: muscle fatigue.
What happens if lift is greater than weight? ›
If lift is greater than your weight, the plane shifts upward. If thrust is greater than drag, the aircraft will speed up, and subsequently, if drag is greater than the thrust, you'll slow down. Lift is the force that counteracts the weight of an object in order to keep it in the air.
It is proportional. To 32 tooth would be half the torque of the 16 tooth. Even the 20T is going to be losing 25% torque over the 16T. The larger pulleys can go faster, so at some speed it might be close to the same torque (steppers drop torque as they speed up).
How do you calculate the force required to lift something? ›
Multiply mass times acceleration.
The force (F) required to move an object of mass (m) with an acceleration (a) is given by the formula F = m x a. So, force = mass multiplied by acceleration.
What force is required to lift a 50 N load with this pulley system? ›
6. Calculate the result: F_input = 25 N So, the force required to lift a 50-N load with this pulley system is $\boxed{25\text{ N}}$.
How do you calculate lift load capacity? ›
To calculate the crane capacity index, use this formula: (Average (radius x max (lifting height x capacity))) / 100.
How do you calculate maximum load that can be lifted? ›
To calculate the capacity load ratio you must divide the required hours on a project by the amount of time available to complete it and multiply it by 100. For instance, if a project designer requires 80 hours to complete a project but they only have 60 hours available, they are at 133% — meaning they are overloaded.
What is the efficiency of 4 pulley system? ›
A pulley system consisting of four pulleys has efficiency as 90%.
What is the formula for lifting work? ›
In order to lift an object of mass m so that its height increases by a distance h, you have to exert an average force mg through a distance h. The work you have to do lifting the object is W = mgh.
How many Newtons would it take to lift 100 pounds? ›
The 100 lb weight is equivalent to 445 newtons.
How do you calculate percentage of lift? ›
First: work out the difference (increase) between the two numbers you are comparing. Then: divide the increase by the original number and multiply the answer by 100. % increase = Increase ÷ Original Number × 100.
What are the force equations for pulleys? ›
Work is done to pull the pulleys upward, as a student s hand creates an upward force that lifts the weight. This can be quantified in the formula: Work = Force x Distance (W= Fd).
The distance the rope (attached to the wood) moves toward the pulley is the load distance. The length of rope or string from the pulley to where the effort is applied is called the effort distance.
