NOTE -- This is one of the projects I did a decade ago and which was lost due to the old GG website crash. I managed to restore the thread from old backup text files and insert the pics as necessary.
I took a day off because my back is killing me, but for the last three days I've been busting hump in the garage attic to install a 24ft. double 2x6 load beam. I need that beam to support the expected loads from the 1300lb winch that I'm installing in my shop. Not finished yet, but decided to post up anyway.
This is the HF hoist that I plan to install.
Since I only have a standard 2'x3' attic trap, the load beam pieces needed to be prefabricated and matched up beforehand so that they could be assembled in the attic.
I had to move a lot of insulation to gain proper access to the rafters. The beam doesn't actually sit on the rafters (these 2x4 twigs couldn't handle it), but rather is anchored on the 2'x6' wall frames.
The beam will support two 18" x 3/4" pieces of threaded rod that will protrude through the ceiling. You can see the temporary rod supports across the beam so that I can measure the required length of the ceiling drop in order to mount a 10ft galvanized schedule 40 iron pipe as a rail for the hoist. I'll drill the pipe to accept the 3/4" threaded rod.
Still a lot of work to do to reinforce the ceiling drops and to get the rod properly anchored in the support beam, but I'm slowly getting there. My back is killing me since all the work was performed in the crouched position, but a few days rest will get me back in the attic to finish off the mounts.
In order to make it a movable hoist, I plan on using a pipe rail trolley to make the hoist easy to manipulate under load.