Install A Garage Ceiling Hoist

Picture of Our Garage Hoist Installed in Our Attic

A garage ceiling hoist is a great tool to have if you regularly work with heavy objects in your garage, or if you are getting older and you just want an extra hand every now and then with something large or bulky. We installed a hoist in our last house, and it was an invaluable tool, because we used it to service the neighbors' generators. We would lift the generator off the ground with the hoist and lower it onto a raised platform we built onto a Baker scaffold. It was an easy way to gain access under the unit, and it made it easy to sit in a chair while changing the engine oil, or replacing wheels, or cleaning out a carburetor, etc.

Why Would I Install a Garage Hoist?

If you have a finished or unfinished garage, a hoist can be a great companion as you work on projects. The first thing you may wish to think about is your reason for installing a tool like this. Are you working with a lot of heavy or bulky items? Are you regularly twisting and forcing heavy things around, leading to a sore back? Or are you like Mary and me, and you just want to take care of yourself so that you can continue to work in your 60's and 70's without injury? It is always a good idea to figure out the "why" behind a project so that you know why you want to do something like this. It's even ok if you think it would just be a cool addition to your tool repertoire.

As for hurricane prep, we are prepping our bodies to handle the rigors of a storm, if necessary, by making sure that we take care of ourselves when no storms are in the area. It may sound a bit silly, but we are living smart and safe, and we need to be prepared, and sometimes the best way to prep is to take care of yourself. Think about it....

Will Your Hoist Be Manual or Electric-Powered, and How Would You Install It?

If you have a garage where you can attach a hoist securely and safely in many different parts of your ceiling, you are ahead of the game. You may consider installing a piece of Uni-Strut, which is a length of framing channel that is both light and strong. It can be equipped with rollers attached to your hoist, which then allows your hoist to travel along your garage ceiling.

Maybe you want to attach a hoist at a single point in your garage, using it as a single lifting location now and then for many different projects.

The next thought is how you would power the hoist. Do you want a manual, come-along type of hoist, or a chain fall hoist, or something that you can remove and relocate at different points on your ceiling? Or do you want an electric hoist that can be controlled remotely by a hand switch, or wirelessly, with a dongle in your hand?

If an electric hoist is your choice, then you need to plan your electrical run and decide if you want an on-off switch located downstairs, which we strongly suggest.

Do You Have Any Obstructions or A Garage Door in the Way of Your Intended Hookup Point(s)?

An overhead hoist needs to be free of any obstructions, so that you can operate it freely and without worrying about damaging other things in your garage along the hoist's lifting path. Can you attach the hoist such that you can open your garage door all the way? In our previous home, we had a super-strong hookup point in the ceiling that could accommodate in excess of 1,000 pounds of capacity, but we had to close the garage door a few inches in order to use the hoist. It was not a huge deal, as long as we understood what we needed to do in order to operate the hoist properly and safely.

Can Your Roof or Ceiling Handle a Hoist Load?

Here is where the important stuff comes into play. Do you have a roof or garage ceiling structure that can safely handle whatever you intend to lift? Do you have trusses, roof joists and stringers and braces, and do you understand how the lifting forces may affect your roof structure? In our case, our previous home had a massive beam just over the garage door and it provided a great location where we could easily attach a hoist in the attic and then drop the cable down through the ceiling. The truss work was 2x4 trusswork, but in the middle of the trusses was this heavy beam, and our attachment point was built into that beam.

In our new home, it was also built with trusses, but the construction is a lot weaker and therefore, although we took the same 1,100 lb. hoist with us when we moved, we can only lift a few hundred pounds tops in its current configuration. It is way more than Mary or I can lift by ourselves, so it is a huge help when we need to lift something. We know not to overdo it, and you should know your building's limitations too.

If you have any questions about the limits of your intended lifting point, consult a knowledgeable friend, or a contractor, or even a structural engineer, in order to keep safe. They can advise you on the best course of action.

Use Rated Hardware When Installing Your Hoist

You may have the choice to mount your hoist in your attic, like we did, or onto your garage ceiling. Regardless of where you choose to mount your hoist, use proper mounting hardware like structural screws (not deck or drywall screws). Use Grade 8 nuts and bolts to ensure that these items will not shear off when in use. It all depends on how many bolts and nuts go into the construction and how much strength you need to build into the lifting point or points. This stuff is easy for Mary and for me because we have been around construction and cranes and lifting mechanisms all our lives, but not everyone has that experience, so it is good to reach out to get the correct information, answers and assurance.

There have been many stories where a person using a hoist exceeded the lifting capacity of their garage roof and they actually pulled the roof down on themselves, causing thousands of dollars in damage. You need to be mindful and very careful.

Provide Good Ballast for the Hoist Hook

Most hoists are nothing more than a cable wound on a drum, which is turned by an electric motor, that, through planetary gearing, converts electrical energy into rotational mechanical motion which allows the small electric motor to lift a large load. The key to a smooth lift is keeping the cable properly wound on the cable drum. To do that, put some weight on the end of your hook. Check out our video on YouTube that shows how we put extra weight onto our hook using a small lifting chain. Check out other videos and take this easy step, so you can have your hoist work be error-free every time, instead of winding the cable onto itself and messing up your hoist and your lifts.

If You Are Using A Through-Ceiling Hoist, Protect the Ceiling Where the Cable Goes Through the Drywall or Wood

In our case, our hoist is installed above our finished garage, and the only thing you see is the hook and headache ball coming through the ceiling. We used a winch fairlead to protect the ceiling opening. A fairlead is a series of four rollers that surround the hoist cable and prevent it from rubbing against the ceiling. Be sure to lift straight up and down, or you run the risk of the powerful winch damaging your ceiling in that spot where the cable runs through the ceiling material. It's a simple solution with big long-term benefits.

This is All You See in Our Garage, and We Have an Awesome Hoist System!

Set Up an Appropriate Hoist Securement Point or Points

When setting up your hoist, make sure it won't pull down your ceiling or roof, and make sure that it is securely attached. In our case, as you will see when you watch the video, we reinforced the trusswork to spread the hoist load over multiple points, which reduces the chance of ceiling damage. However, we know that we can only lift about 300 pounds max, so we will never exceed that weight.

Important, if you move out of your house, take the hoist with you! Please do not let the new owner hurt themselves or the house by attempting to use a hoist that they know nothing about. Cover yourself and your family.

Keep the Controls Out of Reach of Children

One last thought regarding safety is very important to mention here, and that is to place your hoist controls high up and out of the reach of children. You do not need a young person who may not be versed in the operation of your hoist to possibly damage the building or hurt themselves or others. Keep those controls out of harm's way!

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Conclusion

By designing and installing your own hoist, you can add a very important implement to your garage toolbox. A hoist can increase your productivity and keep you from hurting yourself by "doing the heavy lifting" for you. Please let us know if you decide to install a hoist in your home!