Spring garage cleaning is coming soon, and I need to find a good way to
store my ladders in our garage.

I currently have my two extension ladders hanging on wall hooks, but this
wastes a lot of wall space. And, I've got two large step ladders I need to
store now too. So, hanging them all on the walls like that simply isn't an
option. I need all four ladders for various purposes around here, so I
can't get rid of any of them.

I could put two or more ladders on each set of hooks, but it's a real
hassle having to pull the front ladders off when you need the one in the
back (Been there... Done that...).

My garage ceiling is just under 10' high, and all but one of my ladders is
taller than that. So, standing them up vertically is not an option either.

One idea I saw used overhead rollers to store the ladders up near the
ceiling, above the garage doors. Unfortunately, this would tend to block
the lighting in my garage and reduce overhead clearance for woodworking. A
couple of my ladders are also quite heavy to be lifting up into overhead
racks.

Now I'm starting to think about storing the ladders flat on "shelves", or
maybe on their sides in a cart that could roll under a work table?

Can anyone suggest other ladder storage options?

Thanks,

Anthony

"HerHusband" wrote in message
...
Spring garage cleaning is coming soon, and I need to find a good way to
store my ladders in our garage.

I currently have my two extension ladders hanging on wall hooks, but this
wastes a lot of wall space. And, I've got two large step ladders I need to
store now too. So, hanging them all on the walls like that simply isn't an
option. I need all four ladders for various purposes around here, so I
can't get rid of any of them.

I could put two or more ladders on each set of hooks, but it's a real
hassle having to pull the front ladders off when you need the one in the
back (Been there... Done that...).

My garage ceiling is just under 10' high, and all but one of my ladders is
taller than that. So, standing them up vertically is not an option either.

One idea I saw used overhead rollers to store the ladders up near the
ceiling, above the garage doors. Unfortunately, this would tend to block
the lighting in my garage and reduce overhead clearance for woodworking. A
couple of my ladders are also quite heavy to be lifting up into overhead
racks.

Now I'm starting to think about storing the ladders flat on "shelves", or
maybe on their sides in a cart that could roll under a work table?

Can anyone suggest other ladder storage options?


Heya Anthony,

I have 4 extention ladders like you, 2 I frequently use, 2 maybe once a
year. What I did with mine was to use 2 large bicycle hooks (2 per ladder, 8
total) on the ceiling, the other end uses a nylon cord and a small pulley (1
per ladder, 4 total), again mounted on the ceiling. I put one end up on the
hooks, wrap the cord around the other end (I use an "S" hook and just put it
around the cord), pull the cords and tie them off to cleats I mounted on
the wall. Gets the ladders up within 3 or 4 inches of the ceiling. Total
cost for all the hooks and pulleys was around 20$. Works awesome doesn't
block any light, they are secure and completely out of the way.

If you go this route, make sure the hooks and the pulley's are into the
ceiling joists.

-Brian

sell them all and buy the Little Giant...great ladder
"HerHusband" wrote in message
...
Spring garage cleaning is coming soon, and I need to find a good way to
store my ladders in our garage.

I currently have my two extension ladders hanging on wall hooks, but this
wastes a lot of wall space. And, I've got two large step ladders I need to
store now too. So, hanging them all on the walls like that simply isn't an
option. I need all four ladders for various purposes around here, so I
can't get rid of any of them.

I could put two or more ladders on each set of hooks, but it's a real
hassle having to pull the front ladders off when you need the one in the
back (Been there... Done that...).

My garage ceiling is just under 10' high, and all but one of my ladders is
taller than that. So, standing them up vertically is not an option either.

One idea I saw used overhead rollers to store the ladders up near the
ceiling, above the garage doors. Unfortunately, this would tend to block
the lighting in my garage and reduce overhead clearance for woodworking. A
couple of my ladders are also quite heavy to be lifting up into overhead
racks.

Now I'm starting to think about storing the ladders flat on "shelves", or
maybe on their sides in a cart that could roll under a work table?

Can anyone suggest other ladder storage options?

Thanks,

Anthony

HerHusband wrote:
Spring garage cleaning is coming soon, and I need to find a good way
to
store my ladders in our garage.


snip


Anthony

Thee is, of course, the option of storing them outside. Not good for
wood ladders but no harm I can see in aluminum ones. Mine hang from
hooks up under the eaves of my sheds.

Harry K

In article . com,
"Harry K" wrote:

HerHusband wrote:
Spring garage cleaning is coming soon, and I need to find a good way
to
store my ladders in our garage.


snip


Anthony

Thee is, of course, the option of storing them outside. Not good for
wood ladders but no harm I can see in aluminum ones. Mine hang from
hooks up under the eaves of my sheds.

You can also use your extension ladders as porch railings; saves buying
a railing and is real handy to use.

--
Free men own guns, slaves don't
www.geocities.com/CapitolHill/5357/

Nick Hull wrote:
You can also use your extension ladders as porch railings; saves buying
a railing and is real handy to use.

Sure, but should you need to put the extension ladder against the porch
railing, you'd have to twist the ladder into a Moebius loop. Then you'd
get lost climbing it, because there's no way to know which way is up.

--

In Memoriam: Julius the cat April 1, 1993 - February 3, 2005

"Brian V" wrote in message
...

"HerHusband" wrote in message
...
Spring garage cleaning is coming soon, and I need to find a good way to
store my ladders in our garage.

I currently have my two extension ladders hanging on wall hooks, but this
wastes a lot of wall space. And, I've got two large step ladders I need
to
store now too. So, hanging them all on the walls like that simply isn't
an
option. I need all four ladders for various purposes around here, so I
can't get rid of any of them.

I could put two or more ladders on each set of hooks, but it's a real
hassle having to pull the front ladders off when you need the one in the
back (Been there... Done that...).

My garage ceiling is just under 10' high, and all but one of my ladders
is
taller than that. So, standing them up vertically is not an option
either.

One idea I saw used overhead rollers to store the ladders up near the
ceiling, above the garage doors. Unfortunately, this would tend to block
the lighting in my garage and reduce overhead clearance for woodworking.
A
couple of my ladders are also quite heavy to be lifting up into overhead
racks.

Now I'm starting to think about storing the ladders flat on "shelves", or
maybe on their sides in a cart that could roll under a work table?

Can anyone suggest other ladder storage options?


Heya Anthony,

I have 4 extention ladders like you, 2 I frequently use, 2 maybe once a
year. What I did with mine was to use 2 large bicycle hooks (2 per ladder,
8 total) on the ceiling, the other end uses a nylon cord and a small
pulley (1 per ladder, 4 total), again mounted on the ceiling. I put one
end up on the hooks, wrap the cord around the other end (I use an "S" hook
and just put it around the cord), pull the cords and tie them off to
cleats I mounted on the wall. Gets the ladders up within 3 or 4 inches of
the ceiling. Total cost for all the hooks and pulleys was around 20$.
Works awesome doesn't block any light, they are secure and completely out
of the way.

If you go this route, make sure the hooks and the pulley's are into the
ceiling joists.

-Brian

I do the same thing, it works great, the biggest hassle is that they are
above the garage door, so the door has to be closed to get the ladders down,

I was out in the garage this morning, further pondering my ladder storage
situation...

I looked into the "Little Giant" ladders another poster mentioned, but I'm
still a bit skeptical and don't really have that kind of extra cash right
now anyway. It looks like a nice system though.

Brian,

I have 4 extention ladders like you, 2 I frequently use, 2 maybe once
a year. What I did with mine was to use 2 large bicycle hooks (2 per
ladder, 8 total) on the ceiling, the other end uses a nylon cord and
a small pulley (1 per ladder, 4 total), again mounted on the ceiling.
I put one end up on the hooks, wrap the cord around the other end (I
use an "S" hook and just put it around the cord), pull the cords and
tie them off to cleats I mounted on the wall. Gets the ladders up
within 3 or 4 inches of the ceiling.

JimmySchmitts,

I do the same thing, it works great, the biggest hassle is that they
are above the garage door, so the door has to be closed to get the
ladders down

If I'm understanding your description, your ladders essentially hang flat
up against the ceiling? I like this approach, but I forsee a few problems:

1. The garage door has to be closed to get the ladder down.
2. It would be difficult to take down the ladder if there was a car or
woodworking equipment in the garage. Not good if the car is up on jack
stands and I suddenly need a ladder!
3. My long ladders would extend out into the room, reducing headroom for
swinging boards and plywood around.

However, with an eye towards the ceiling, I "think" I have found solutions
to my ladder storage...

My two smallest ladders are short enough to stand vertically on the floor.
So, I think I'll just install a couple of vertical dividers and stand these
two ladders next to each other (with the edges against the wall). I use
these two ladders the most, and this would allow easy access to either of
them.

The two larger ladders should fit nicely above my side entry door between
the wall and the garage door track. Rather than hang them flat like you
have, I will probably hang them on edge from the ceiling. This will let me
take each one down individually. But, I need to investigate a few options
for hanging them. I may use one of those rope/pulley hoists systems made
for storing bikes. Or, I may just build something similar to your method.

I can't really use the space for anything else anyway because of the entry
door, an electrical panel, and the garage door tracks. The ladders would
utilize the space nicely, and would be accessable even if a car is in the
garage or the main door is open.

Thanks for the suggestions!

Anthony