Need to optimize some space in your garage? Why not build a ceiling mounted winch-assisted bicycle rack!
[Mathieu] already has a rather spacious garage, but wanted to make it even more organized. He built the bicycle rack out of 1″ square aluminum tubing, and it’s all bolted together (no welding required!). The bikes sit in aluminum U-channels to be secured in place. The entire rack is hinged off of the back wall, and a pulley system using a little ATV winch raises and lowers the rack for easy access to the bikes.
It’s currently powered off a 12V motorcycle battery, which he plans to add a trickle charger to — that being said, it has lasted for more than 6 months and he still hasn’t had to recharge it! He threw together a little control circuit featuring two relays (up and down) and a 2 channel remote control. The motor is a little slow, but it does the job quite well. If he wanted to get it going a bit faster, he could probably double the voltage to allow for a quicker movement — since it’s only on for short periods of time it should be okay. Seeing hacks like this has us wondering just how many winch-driven extras you could build into a single abode.
Check out the following video of it in action!
I don’t actually see how this optimizes very much space, as a lot of space is needed for winching the rack up and down.
You could park a car under it when it’s raised, so you could have it deploy into a walking space and then everything will get out of the way.
Counterweight?
I believe the winch has a locking gear mechanism, at least the one I have does. Mathieu tested its strength beforehand, and since its been working for at least 6 months, I think he’s safe!
Oh the counterweight idea was more about putting less stress on the motor, possibly making it quieter? or faster?
Ah yes! That would probably be a more efficient design…
The counterweight has to go somewhere…
Efficient for the motor, but twice the load on the cable pulleys etc. Bikes are light. I would prefer single hoist per bike in riding position, drips and runoff into sideways things. The single hoist makes a test stand for free as well.
30 seconds to lower and another 30 seconds to raise? I’d rather have the clutter and instant access.
Being that it mounted to the far wall, I believe the point is to move them out of the way only when needed or for long-term storage. No reason you couldn’t just leave it down and have a wall mounted bike rack.
However, bikes really don’t take up much space. Not a problem I could see spending the time, money, and effort on. I am all for utilizing dead space for storage, though.
I think this site has something like that ready to install: http://www.thegaragestore.ca/product.php?product_id=117
Is the video about how he fixed the motor?
I had taken the idea of a picture I had seen in google images. Did not knew they were selling those. pretty sure my setup was cheaper.
These http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J8UR-uFL0Cg can be had for $10-$20.
Of course those sit again the wall not the roof, but anyway.
I meant to motorize mine but couldn’t be bothered.
$8.99 at Harbor Freight, but the cord lock doesn’t work well for me so I will be bypassing that and adding a tubular motor that are used in roller shades and security shutters to motorize it and have the cord wind over a spool/tube as they have settable limits and remote controls ready to go.
I had it setup with pulley only, 2 x 90 degres and pulled by hand. Was ok but i’m a very lazy person.
Personally I’d have gone with retracting them into the ceiling via a garage door track (or something similar). Each bike mount section could be pivoted to allow it to rise up a gradual angle instead of the relatively small radius 90 degree the door goes up.
“Why not build a ceiling mounted winch-assisted bicycle rack!”
Why not? Because wall mounted racks are readily available and far cheaper. And as you said, he already had a excess of space.
Quite a high ceiling. Not suitable for typical Aussie garage – you would need to raise the bike into the ceiling or risk getting a peddle in the face.
Selling the car seems like a bigger space saver. It also means you free up at least $400 a month to do more productive stuff than sitting in a car.
But I never thought of this, a good way to keep the spare bikes out of way..
lol, nice build, it works!
I would probably just have hung the bikes off the wall, like that ladder, but this works as well :)
Getting rid of those glass daylight windows would be a great space saver, especially when you have things like lamps!
I’d just attach the cable to the garage door so they come down when the door is opened and go back up when it’s shut. This might actually go onto my ‘todo’ list.
Thanks!
Love this idea. We have an older design two stall garage without a lot of excess floor space. This design his re-inspired me to either find some designs, or create one. I love the winch/hoist idea as well. A manual lift cord Would work now, but I’d like to do this just once… My wife and I are not over the hill, we aren’t spring chickens either.