So I'm looking for ideas on a snowmobile/dirt bike lift in the garage of a toy hauler. It needs to lift about 1500 pounds off the floor and about 5 feet into the air. I was thinking something like a Happijac bed lift system and called them to find out what the motor can handle for weight. Once they found out what it was for they said they needed to end the conversation and hung up on me. It must have been a liability issue. So I'm looking for some ideas on what others may have done or maybe you can think of a better idea than me. I'm basically looking for a weigh to haul 2 snowmobiles and 2 dirtbikes. I'd like to have 2 levels like you'd find in a stacker trailer for vehicles. Here is a pic of my garage. It is an 8 foot tall ceiling and I understand I have some things to work around such as the cabinets and folding couches. Post up any ideas you have and thank you for your help in advance.

That is definitely headed in the right direction.

I think the wheeled lift system would put too much weight on too small a "footprint" for the usual toyhauler floor. If you could put the lift in the trailer by itself, without the wheels, then you'd spread the weight around and be OK.

Yeah the wheels would have to come off. I'm trying to gather some ideas of what's out there and then will probably have to build my own system as it will need to fit perfectly into the trailer and wrap around the wheel wells. I'd also like a system that is electric as I will be putting it up and down quite regularly.

Have you tried to get 2 sleds & 2 bikes in the garage. I'm thinking you should be able to fit a bike between to sleds and a bike crossways either in front or rear. You TH is about as wide as most trailers which should be able to accommodate 3 sleds. (2 forward & middle backwards). How long are your sleds? May have trouble fitting last bike perpendicular.

Any Ideas For A Lift System In The Garage? | Good Sam Community

16 Replies

tlukasavige172
Explorer
Jul 19, 2013
That sounds like a pretty good idea. I am going to build it out of aluminum to save weight but that is something I need to pay attention to.
liberty2010
Explorer
Jul 19, 2013
We saw a trailer out of Colorado in Yuma one winter that had a lightweight 'stacker' setup. It had a pair of 1.5 sq. tubing made in a square with a round tube bottom to be the pivot across the car hauler trailer. One in the front and one the rear. They were bolted to the bottom of a sand rail. This could have a floor / deck that could rotate on the top tube. The unit laid down to the rear. the load added and was winched up using a small winch mounted forward of it all. then cross braces were added to hold it up there solid. Much like the wheeled unit show earlier here. What can your trailer handle for weight behind the axles? you do not want the tail wagging the head.
tlukasavige172
Explorer
Jul 18, 2013
I'd talk to the trailer manuf and see if they have any ideas, after all they do build trailers with stackers in them

I hadn't thought about that. Maybe I'll call them tomorrow and ask what ideas they have.
tlukasavige172
Explorer
Jul 18, 2013
This is what will be going on the top of the lift

They come in at about 12' long so I won't be able to put them on the front of the pickup.
tinner12002
Explorer
Jul 18, 2013
I'd talk to the trailer manuf and see if they have any ideas, after all they do build trailers with stackers in them...you just need a smaller version. You might even contact a stacker trailer manuf and see what they can do.
fly-boy
Explorer
Jul 18, 2013
Great trailer!
Still think a hitch mounted motorcycle carrier on the front would be easier-
If you are sure you want a lift of some sort I would have a floor designed between 4 posts that would raise and lower on a cable/pulley system. Simply drop the floor, drive onto it, tie everything down, and raise it up.
tlukasavige172
Explorer
Jul 18, 2013
Here's the trailer. I know it won't have a problem holding up to the stress once it's spread over the garage floor.
fly-boy
Explorer
Jul 18, 2013
I don't think there is a single recreational toy hauler out there that will stand up for long to the stresses such a system would put on it- if you can even successfully build and install one.

My suggestions-

Option One: Get a stacker and tow it with a motor home or get a smaller motor home and big single level trailer.

Option Two: Install a hitch on the front of your truck and haul the bikes on a hitch mounted motorcycle rack leaving the garage open for sleds.

Option Three: Buy a custom manufactured trailer with a large garage and smaller living quarters up front.
tlukasavige172
Explorer
Jul 18, 2013
You cannot put that weight on the frame outriggers which are only designed to support the trailer walls.

That's a good point and not something I thought about.
beemerphile1
Explorer
Jul 18, 2013
tlukasavige172 wrote:
...will probably have to build my own system as it will need to fit perfectly into the trailer and wrap around the wheel wells....

I wouldn't worry about the wheel wells of the trailer. You don't want that weight out there.

Your rigging framework will need to be inside the wheel wells directly over the trailer frame. You cannot put that weight on the frame outriggers which are only designed to support the trailer walls.