Want to install a loft lift

[-=Alex=-]

Hello guys,

I have lots of space available on the loft, and thinking about making it a good storage place.
Could not find any electric loft lifts in the UK, there are few available in the US, but I really don’t want to pay £60-80 of import duty…
Do you have any experience with that? Anything I could possibly make from bits and pieces myself?

Few links to what I mean:
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Garage-Gator-Electric-Motorized-Storage-Lift-System-GGR220/202831515
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/125LB-Man...477?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2c5e009cd5
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/100LB-Ele...607?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2c57c990bf

 

[exosteve]

Just make one with rope and pullys

 

[rustic]

Aldi had one a single cable 125kg, electric hoist with control.
You could make a suitable tray with open sides and a central lift point above.
Machine mart have one too.

https://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/product/details/clarke-ch2500b-250kg-electric-power-hoist £90

However consider loading in the loft, even distribution is best, so depends on the structure of the ceiling/floor.


EDIT:-
Just thinking, don't let it, or any of the items on the tray, snag on the entrance hatch, it could bring your roof down, or tear up your ceiling / floor...
Rustic

 

[-=Alex=-]

Yes, that sounds like an idea... Hoists are pretty cheap, around 50-70 quid.
Ok what I need then:
- Perforated metal plate for the base (or even few 2-inch pieces of timber, I got plenty of it),
- Steel chain (got it somewhere in the shed too)
- Something (like metal plate or X-shaped thing) to keep chains more or less vertical (as here will be central lift point)
- Make hoist frame which will stand on the ceiling floor like on photo below.
- Guides which will direct platform in the middle of the opening

 

[solarman216]

Be very careful here, a loft lift implies heavy items, and chances your loft is not designed for more than the ceiling load plus maybe water tanks (which will usually be specifically placed over a partition wall for support, what is the design of your loft, trusses? in which case you are very limited as to what you put up there, empty suite cases and empty boxes are the limit, a cut roof (cut and fitted by a carpenter) will be stronger, but not by a great degree, check the size an span of the ceiling joists, most will be 4 x 2 floor joists that you walk on by contrast will be 8 x 2 or 3 for similar spans, Rick

 

[exosteve]

What you think ink of storing in your loft that's to heavy take up a ladder?.
Your bumpers:lol

 

[johnb5177]

I don`t think that this is `bumper` Alex somehow......:nenau

 

[rustic]

I don`t think that this is `bumper` Alex somehow......:nenau

It's not...
If it was, he could use that spare Tirfor winch...:lol

 

[Sweety]

It's not...
If it was, he could use that spare Tirfor winch...:lol

No AlexD333 is keeping the Tirfor so he can winch his truck up the stairs so he can take it to bed with him so he can play with the bondage bars in private:roflol::roflol::sly

 

[AlexD333]

Yoohoo :kissy

But yeah, be careful as Rick says, could be a disaster waiting to happen.

Is there a way to reinforce Rick?

 

[solarman216]

Yoohoo :kissy

But yeah, be careful as Rick says, could be a disaster waiting to happen.

Is there a way to reinforce Rick?

Of course but depends how deep your pockets are, in this case they need to be very deep indeed, without knowing the property and its size it is hard to say but it will be tens of thousands, Rick