Sylmar Hang Gliding Association

Any ideas or experiences out there regarding garage storage pulley systems supporting a glider or two, in the garage over the car? Please critique the following plan: (3) pulley points, using a Harbor Freight Gambrel & Pulley Hoist and a sling at each point:

http://www.harborfreight.com/gambrel-an ... 1b2166c62d

Lag bolts must go into ceiling joists. Pulleys span about 13'. Each hoist is rated to 440#, so Harbor Freight hardware should be OK? Clearance over a tall SUV may be a problem? …

Thanks,
Bob

I'm sure that will work fine.

I store my glider up against the ceiling in the garage. I have a simple u-shape extending about a foot below the ceiling made from 2x4s screwed to the ceiling joists at the nose end. I walk in and slide the nose up into this u-shape.

Then at the mid point I have hung an adjustable strap from 2 hooks in the ceiling. I grab the strap with one hand and hook the remaining end under the middle of the glider where I'm holding it and hook it on to the ceiling hook. Then I just pull the adjusting end of the strap and it pulls the glider up level with the nose against the ceiling.

I have a second similar strap at the tips end to spread out the weight over three points.

This has worked great for me for years and it is less than 20 bucks total.

Your idea would work great as well, and be really easy to lift it up. Mine takes a little effort since you have to hold it up with one hand while you hook on the strap. But since you are already lifting the glider up by hand, it does not take much in the way of pullies to lift it up, once you have the first end up in the wooden U-shape.

Good luck

I use something like that. An 18 inch length of steel chain slung between two ceiling joists for the nose. Then I shoulder it up on two shelf brackets bolted to the wall studs, high up. The tail is somewhat lower than the nose to allow a 15 foot glider in a 14 foot garage. Don't laugh, it works.