Lightweight ceiling track suggestion

[Tim M Barnes]

I have limited space in my garage - I am a fairly beginner woodworker with few power tools but slowly am using up what space I have.

I have a few bicycles that really are limiting being able to easily add more and I am considering the ceiling hoist approach that a lot of garage storage or sporting good stores sell. The only problem is that even though it gets the bike off the floor, you can't really use the floor space for something else without making getting the bike down easy. The rest of my garage wall are filled so the ceiling seems to be my only choice.

So, I find myself looking at ceiling tracks to hoist and re-position, but all I am finding is the heavy duty I-beams and hoists used for large items.

Does anyone have suggestions for light(er)weight tracks/slider mechanisms that would only need to hold <100lbs?

Thanks,
Tim

[John Coloccia]

Have you considered just putting up a small shed outside for the bikes. You can get the plastic or thin metal ones pretty cheaply.

[Tim M Barnes]

John - thanks for the suggestion, but we're basically hanging off a hill so that wouldn't be an option.

[Brad Bartley]

It's not a inexpensive solution, but I've seen this type of over-head track system available at McMaster-Carr:


600 lb Cap, Tan, 10'Length Straight Track for Curved & Straight Steel Roller Track: $95.24 Each



Four-Wheel Trolley, 5" W, for 1-3/4" W Inside: $129.73 Each


Tan, Support Bracket for 600lb Cap, 3-15/16" H Curved & Straight Steel Roller Track System: $13.16 Each

This link takes you to the catalog page at McMaster-Carr:
http://www.mcmaster.com/#overhead-co...-beams/=1k9lt9


Here's another track system for doors that you might consider adapting to other things:
http://www.mcmaster.com/#track-systems/=1k9qyy

Here's a lighter weight and less expensive track system made for curtains that you might be able to adapt to bicycles.
http://www.mcmaster.com/#curtain-tracks/=1k9zt2

[Tim M Barnes]

Brad - thanks those look like just what I was thinking!