So I need to get an air handler into my attic. It's larger than my attic ladder, but smaller than the truss width. Option one was to tear out the ladder and use that opening then put the ladder back up. That's a lot of work without a lot of benefit. So I started digging around on attic lifts. Decided if I had to do that much. work I'd build something useful even if mostly for coolers and Christmas decorations.
Materials, some I had already.
2x4 sections to build up the base on the truss
4x4 post
1.5" galvanized pipe
440 lb electric hoist
In it for roughly $300 currently. Figured I'd spend a hundred or so renting a lift to get it up. That will go up a bit when I finish the shelf.
This is just phase one. Getting the air handler up in the attic. Phase 2 I'll post when I'm finished. I'll build a floating shelf to lift stuff up and down. Going to use nicer wood for the exposed part, painted white to match the ceiling and slightly larger than the hole. Then build up a platform to raise it up closer to the floored part of the attic so we can slide stuff on and off easier. No more climbing up and down the ladder carrying things.
Building the frame for the lift.
Hung the hoist
Cut the hole in the ceiling.
I used slings and some webbing I keep around to tie up the air handler for the lift. It went up easy. Hit the host shutoff and had to drag it the last couple inches up and onto the floored part of my attic. Good thing I had help on that part. But success! Now to start building duct work to replace the old stuff.
Materials, some I had already.
2x4 sections to build up the base on the truss
4x4 post
1.5" galvanized pipe
440 lb electric hoist
In it for roughly $300 currently. Figured I'd spend a hundred or so renting a lift to get it up. That will go up a bit when I finish the shelf.
This is just phase one. Getting the air handler up in the attic. Phase 2 I'll post when I'm finished. I'll build a floating shelf to lift stuff up and down. Going to use nicer wood for the exposed part, painted white to match the ceiling and slightly larger than the hole. Then build up a platform to raise it up closer to the floored part of the attic so we can slide stuff on and off easier. No more climbing up and down the ladder carrying things.
Building the frame for the lift.
Hung the hoist
Cut the hole in the ceiling.
I used slings and some webbing I keep around to tie up the air handler for the lift. It went up easy. Hit the host shutoff and had to drag it the last couple inches up and onto the floored part of my attic. Good thing I had help on that part. But success! Now to start building duct work to replace the old stuff.
