Suspending loaded roof rack from a concrete ceiling

[kieranu Member Find all posts View Profile Close kieranu]

My garage has a concrete ceiling which also doubles as my lounge room floor. I am considering using it to suspend a roof top tent on an alloy roof rack along with a spare tyre off the rim (about 100 kg all up with the tent ladder, 90 kg without) when it is not in use as the Prado is also my daily driver. Is this doable without pulling out chunks of my ceiling or am I better off bolting an A frame to the garage floor and using that to lift the rack off (this will obviously reduce the amount of floor space available in my garage)? Cheers

[Dueler120 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Dueler120]

Mate I was also looking at doing the same thing to mine, but since the suspension upgrade I now need the constant weight on the vehicle. Another option is to have a frame that stands either side of your car so you can drive in, unbolt from roof to frame and dive out again. My mate has a similar system for changing his truck from a water cart back to an end tipper tray. He simply drives between the stands, slides a few polls through fittings welded to the water tank and back into the stand and then drives away.

There are similar systems on some camper domes that can be jacked on and off ute trays.

[kieranu Member Find all posts View Profile Close kieranu]

I am also looking at putting in Bilstein / King suspension so need to look how that will work out with and without weight of the roof top set up but realistically given that we are only planning one 4 week trip and a few weekenders over the next 12 months I don't really want to have tent up there full time.

[Dueler120 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Dueler120]

I am also looking at putting in Bilstein / King suspension so need to look how that will work out with and without weight of the roof top set up but realistically given that we are only planning one 4 week trip and a few weekenders over the next 12 months I don't really want to have tent up there full time.

Best bet is to speak with a suspension shop and work out your loaded and unloaded weights so that they can advise on a suitable spring setup for both your needs. Im guessing they will advise on some rear bags so you can pump up your back end to help out with the extra weight on those occasional trips with the tent on top.

[kieranu Member Find all posts View Profile Close kieranu]

Best bet is to speak with a suspension shop and work out your loaded and unloaded weights so that they can advise on a suitable spring setup for both your needs. Im guessing they will advise on some rear bags so you can pump up your back end to help out with the extra weight on those occasional trips with the tent on top.

Figured as much, I guess it depends on the relative position of everything on the rack. Anyway I sent out an email to WA Suspensions earlier, as it's between them and Bilstein / Kings from Wilkinson, while waiting for the wife to go in for ultrasound. It's going to be a boy so I won't be outnumbered

[awwricecracker Member Find all posts View Profile Close awwricecracker]

As someone who suspends a lot of equipment from concrete slabs, I would say you will be fine. If it were me, i would put 4 12mm locksons in the slab to drop 4 10mm rods at the height you want.. then just use big washers and wingnuts on the bottom of the rod through your roof rack once you've lifted the rack high enough.

[Dueler120 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Dueler120]

Figured as much, I guess it depends on the relative position of everything on the rack. Anyway I sent out an email to WA Suspensions earlier, as it's between them and Bilstein / Kings from Wilkinson, while waiting for the wife to go in for ultrasound. It's going to be a boy so I won't be outnumbered

Congrats on the new arrival!

[croozza Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close croozza]

If you spread the load out to cover a wide area, you will have no problem with the roof/floor holding the weight of the rack and tent, use plenty of pullies to cut down on friction on the rope.

[wastegate Member Find all posts View Profile Close wastegate]

Lift my Rhino Rack and assorted add-ons (50 odd kgs) off the truck and stow attached to the garage ceiling when not in use. To make it easier I went with a 12v electric boat winch thru a few pulleys to do the lifting.

[foxclan Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close foxclan]

Lift my Rhino Rack and assorted add-ons (50 odd kgs) off the truck and stow attached to the garage ceiling when not in use. To make it easier I went with a 12v electric boat winch thru a few pulleys to do the lifting.

Ok Tony you must post some pictures of your arrangment.
Got the carport roof height to do similar, and an electric device sounds like a winner to me.
Cheers
Troy

[wastegate Member Find all posts View Profile Close wastegate]

Not a feat of engineering marvel by any means but it does the job and a one man operation. Picked the winch up from a garage sale for $40 but new they are still around $100 come Sale time from Supercheap and such. You can also use a manual boat winch but I like the electric with the cable remote as you can use a bit more finesse to guide the rack on/off the truck. Will organise some pics this week.

[foxclan Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close foxclan]

Thanks Tony
I am sure it will give us some ideas to make life easier.

[paulyc Member Find all posts View Profile Close paulyc]

i was looking at getting a harken hoister to store my roof cage on the ceiling. they're probably not big enough for what your after though if you need to lift 100kg. And they are quite expensive from what i've seen.

http://www.thegarageorganisers.com.a...g_hoisters.htm

[kieranu Member Find all posts View Profile Close kieranu]

Thanks for the feedback guys. Don't worry, would be using plenty of pulleys to make life easier. Hopefully I can get weekend trips going regularly enough to justify splashing out $100 for the electric winch option. My brother-in-law is an engineer so can get help from him. I just wanted to know what people in the 4WD community had achieved (or what pitfalls they'd come across) in practice since they may have had to deal with relatively heavy loads.

[gantulga Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close gantulga]

I think its usually better to fit an oversized scafolding with plenty overhang so you could park your car while your rack is still suspending from the top. loaded rack would put uneven strains if you hang it from the cieling and it might collapse as one of the bolts fall off. well sorry for my english but you get my point right?