hydraulic overhead bike racks Archives

Racks for All the Family Adventures

August 22, 2018 by Rick Scully

When taking the family to the cottage, to go exploring various parts of the country or to go on a camping trip, it often requires more space than we might have in the SUV or mini-van. To add more cargo space to our vehicles or bring our favourite toys to enjoy the outdoors, many of us might use vehicle racks and hitch mounted carriers.

Some of the typical vehicle add-ons include a roof rack with add on carriers or racks or hitch mounted carriers and racks. There are a wide variety of options to deck out vehicles with the space to carry our favourite toys to our favourite spots around the country. Being able to enjoy the outdoors and the serenity that these remote locations afford us while staying active together is the main motivation of many families to leverage vehicle rack systems.

Throughout the summer and even winter months, we’ll want to haul out these carriers and racks with us to our weekend adventures and then, store them away during the week. Finding a way to minimize the work of storing and mounting the rack systems to our vehicles helps us get away on short notice while keeping our garage storage system organized.

Combining Garage Storage Racks with Vehicle Racks

A great way to do this is to match up garage storage racks and slatwall organization systems with your vehicle’s racks and mountings systems. Matching them up and installing them in the appropriate places within the garage means we can make use these vehicle racks with more ease. If we plan it out, we can set it up so that we don’t need to be especially tall or overly strong to move these bulky carriers or return outdoor toys to where they should be stored.

Just because our weekends are packed with high energy activities doesn’t mean that putting things away needs to be just as challenging. A good garage renovation will provide a system where mounting these vehicle carriers will flow easily from the garage storage area to the vehicle itself.

Overhead Lift Racks for Bicycles and Other Sports Equipment

From a vehicle rack, bikes can be mounted easily onto hydraulic bike racks which can be lifted up and out of the way. While there are many types of bicycle racks including wall mount, floor mount or ceiling mount, the lift racks may be the best suited to work with vehicle racks or mounts.

Firstly, they can be placed to be located at the rear of the vehicle so it’s easy to transfer the bikes between the vehicle rack and the overhead lift racks for bikes, golf clubs, snowboads and other sports equipment. Next, if you have a hydraulic overhead lift, after you’ve loaded a few bikes and a couple of sets of golf clubs, it takes the mere push of a button to get the rack to lift up into the overhead storage space of the garage.

Canoe and Kayak Racks

For canoes and kayaks, they are often mounted on the vehicle with a J-rack or other roof rack system. With an overhead sling and pulley system in the garage which is positioned directly over the roof of the vehicle, the kayaks and canoes can be stored in the overhead space. By attaching the sling around each kayak or canoe and releasing the vehicle rack mechanisms, the kayaks can be lifted directly up into the rafters of the garage until it’s time to retrieve them for the next adventure on our favourite rivers, lakes or oceans.

Cargo Carriers for Roof or Hitch Racks

For cargo carriers located either on the roof of a vehicle or off the rear hitch of the vehicle, overhead systems similar to the bike or kayak storage lift systems make putting things away so much easier after a long trip. With slings and a hydraulic lift system, these carriers can be lifted up and away. Whether you intend to store them empty or pre-packed with some standard camping or adventure gear, the overhead cargo carrier storage makes it so much easier to prepare for the next driving trip.

Enjoying All Seasons with Storage Racks

Turning the garage into a storage system to ease the packing and unpacking of the vehicle racks means we can reduce the strain of moving larger awkwardly shaped carriers and outdoor toys. A little bit of planning and a garage renovation will make it easy to move items from the vehicle to its storage location in the garage and back again.

If you need assistance to create this handy system, a complimentary in-home consultation is available to guide you through a process to outfit your garage storage systems to your lifestyle.

Cargo Boxes, Roof Racks and Storage for an Active Family

August 8, 2017 by Rick Scully

Your family enjoys experiencing the outdoors or taking scenic road trip vacations. The next thoughts are that you have more things you need to haul on the vacation than you have space in the SUV or minivan. You’ll need a vehicle rack of some kind. Will it be a roof rack, hitch rack, trunk rack or spare tire rack? And, what about a carrier for loose items? There is a choice of cargo boxes, cargo carriers and cargo bags to carry loose items and make more room available for the family inside the vehicle.

The vehicle needs more storage space for all the stuff the family needs for that next outdoor adventure. All of this is fairly straightforward to accomplish with the help of a reputable service to help you install a system. And, you’ll probably end up using a system from one of the more reputable brands in the industry such as Thule vehicle rack and cargo systems or the Yakima vehicle rack and cargo systems. All of this you can discuss with your local service provider.

What I’d like to review are the challenges of getting your garage storage spaces to work well and make packing for that adventure weekend getaway or family vacation that much easier to do. Let’s take a look at how you might want to design and strategize your garage storage to work well with vehicle storage packing needs.

Roof Racks

This is one of the go to items when looking to find a method of hauling bikes, skis & snowboards, stand-up paddle boards are more for a fun and active getaway. Many SUVs today come with half racks as a standard feature. By adding cross bars, this easily converts the half rails to a full roof rack which can now mount a wide variety of options such as cargo carriers or boxes, bikes, skis or snowboards and much more.

During the off season, storing the cross-bar accessories in the overhead platform areas of the garage makes the most sense. And, if you’re off to an adventure often throughout the year, some slatwall storage basket options are available to easily store, access and swap or switch out accessories.

If you’re using your roof rack for bikes, consider a hydraulic lift storage system bike rack to lower bikes directly onto the roof rack directly from their storage location in the garage. These overhead storage systems can also accommodate a canoe, kayak or stand up paddleboards which lower watercrafts directly onto the roof rack of the vehicle making packing quick, easy and efficient preparation for that adventure weekend away.

Trunk Racks

For those who need a more portable rack system to carry a couple of bikes, the trunk rack is fairly universal and can mount onto many types of car trunks. They’re easily removable so it can be used for a single trip from time to time. One of the drawbacks is that people can’t get into the trunk from the back of the car. They may need to use the fold down seats to reach into items stored in the trunk.

It’s easier to get a bike onto a trunk rack than a roof rack system. Between trips, use the hydraulic overhead bike rack or wall mount racks to store the bikes. In addition, a space on the overhead platform to store the trunk rack itself is the likely spot for this portable vehicle rack.

Hitch Racks

Hitch racks are attached to the hitch of the vehicle. They’re sturdier and they are typically used to transport and secure mountain bikes, skis or snowboards. Many people keep the hitch in place until the end of the season. They can carry up to 5 bikes so they are great for a family of bikes. And, the bikes can be secured or locked to the rack. When driving, the bikes don’t bump or jostle because they can be fixed into place.

Combine the hitch rack with an overhead hydraulic bike storage rack in the garage or any number of wall mounted rack systems to make it convenient to mount bikes onto the back of the vehicle before the start of any trip.

Spare-Tire Rack

Some vehicles have a spare tire mounted on the back of the vehicle. If that’s the case, the spare-tire rack works similarly to the trunk rack. It typically carries a couple of bikes, wake boards or skis and while the spare-tire rack is removable, many people keep the rack in place. These racks don’t lock the bikes in place but because they sit behind the spare tire, the vehicle is protected from moving bicycle tires or handles.

Wall mounted storage options or overhead storage racks with hydraulic lifts would both work with this type of vehicle rack.

Basket Style Cargo Carriers

With a full rail roof rack, basket style cargo carriers can be mounted to help secure a large amount of camping or other gear to the top of the vehicle. There are also hitch style basket carriers to carry bikes or wakeboards and other gear safely and securely.

Some of the hitch carriers can fold up when not in use so that they are out of the way when not carrying items. During the off season, keep it in the overhead space of the garage for re-mounting the following season. Bikes, skis, wake boards and other sporting equipment can be stored on wall-mounted racks or overhead hydraulic lifts which makes it easier to pack.

Cargo Bags

Sometimes, people combine a cargo bag with the carrier basket so smaller items are easily secured within the bag and to the vehicle. Some bags are designed for the roof rack or a carrier basket intended for the roof of the vehicle. Many others are designed for the hitch style basket carriers. These make the most sense as the soft bag doesn’t protect the belongings within from dings and dents of fast flying debris. Situated behind the vehicle, the bag is minimally exposed to flying debris and anything which might cause dings to the belongings and sports gear contained within.

As long as your gear is clean and dry after each trip, the cargo bags make for a great way to store all the sports accessories in a single space. Carve out a space on the overhead storage platform of the garage for the bag and the full gear. If you have multiple outdoor past times with just as much gear, get a separate cargo bag for each type of outdoor adventure and you’ll be pre-packed for any adventure.

If you have multiple cargo bags each packed with its own adventure, you may also find an overhead sling system helpful in lifting them up and away or easily lowering them directly onto the basket carrier making for quick packing or preparation for any vacation.

Pick the correct cargo bag to pack onto the hitch style basket carrier and you can have a different adventure every weekend of the summer.

Cargo Boxes

Personal floatation devices, paddles and even the kids’ toys are smaller items that are not secured individually to the roof rack. Instead, a cargo box for the roof of the vehicle allows everyone in the family to just throw items into it and everything can be locked inside the cargo box for safety.

When the trip is done, smelly wet gear can be removed and the whole box is easily cleaned with a garden hose and some environmentally friendly soap. Then, leave the box open to dry for a short while to dry under the sun before driving it into the garage.

The best way to store a Thule or Yakima cargo box is with an overhead storage sling operated on a pulley as a hydraulic or manual lift. So, when your cargo box is clean, dry and ready to store, drive your vehicle under the overhead sling. Strap the cargo box into the sling and unhitch it from the vehicle’s roof rack system. With the single push of a button, your hydraulic cargo box sling will be lifted up and into the overhead area of the garage.

When you’re ready for your next trip, drive your vehicle directly under the cargo box sling and use the hydraulic switch to lower the Thule or Yakima directly onto the roof rack of your vehicle. Secure the cargo box and then unhook the overhead sling mechanism. Storing and mounting a large awkwardly shaped cargo box can be a breeze with the right garage storage system.

Match Your Garage Storage System to Your Vehicle Rack & Cargo System

Make the packing and unpacking of your family’s road trip vacation a breeze. Or, get on your way to a different and exciting outdoor weekend adventure every weekend in minutes with the right garage storage system to match your vehicle rack system including carriers, cargo boxes and bags.

The right storage system can help you spend less of your time packing and more time enjoying the outdoors and time with your family or friends. Get a complimentary in-home consultation to get a strategic garage storage system custom designed for your road trip vacation and outdoor adventure lifestyles.

Cycling Fits All in the Family

May 2, 2017 by Rick Scully

With an outlook to reduce our footprint and energy consumption, cycling has become a popular past time, a fun sport and a mode of commuting to work. Many of us might know someone who cycles to work every day as part of their lifestyle if we don’t do it ourselves. Drivers are often navigating bicycle lanes daily throughout the centre of town and along well travelled routes. Or, we have kids who just crazy about cycling either for play or for sport.

In fact, cycling has branched out to accommodate a wide range of terrain and purposes than ever before. During the typical garage renovation, homeowners often encounter the challenge of bike storage and how to accommodate an entire family of cycling requirements through the summer and during the winter or off-season for most cyclists.

A Wide Variety of Bicycle Types

These days there a wide variety of bikes to fit the different type of cycling that people do. Let’s review some of the more popular bicycle types and a variety of bicycle storage solutions to fit the entire family.

Mountain Bikes

Mountain bikes were designed for off-road terrain and trails. They have a low gear range to ride up steep trails and some have shock absorbers or suspensions for the front and / or rear to handle a much rougher terrain. A lot of younger riders enjoy the mountain bike style for riding around the neighbourhood, school or community centre.

Road Bikes

Road bikes were designed to be ridden on smooth paved surfaces. They have skinny tires for speed and drop down handle bars for the rider’s comfort. The frame is typically lighter than many of the other types of bikes. The skinny tires allows for great speeds in long distances of flat paved road. The bike was not designed for a lot of stop and go traffic, sandy or gravelly surfaces such as roads under construction or pot holes when roads have not yet been repaired.

Since the introduction of spin classes, a lot of people who would cycle for fitness indoors started to take the sport outdoors during the warm weather. These days, people who get into cycling for fitness or sport often tend to invest in a road bike, join cycling clubs and consider charity bike rides to set fitness goals for themselves.

Hybrid Bikes

These bikes were designed to leverage the advantages of a road bike with the advantages of mountain bikes. They have larger padded seats and upright handlebars for a more comfortable riding position. They have medium width tires with a semi-smooth tread for a smooth ride on pavement but an ability to ride on unpaved surfaces as well. They are heavier than road bikes but not quite as heavy as the mountain bike. It makes the bike ideal for riding around the neighbourhood or commuting to work or school with the smooth ride of a road bike and the confidence of stability that we might expect from a mountain bike.

City Bikes

The city bike was designed with the most upright sitting position of all these bike styles. The city bike was designed to ride in regular clothes such as a typical work outfit. The typical city bike will include fenders, a chain guard and a skirt guard around the rear wheel to protect the rider’s clothing from water, dirt or mud encountered along the path during a commute. The additional accessories add weight to the bike making it a heavier bike than the hybrid bike.

To make the bike easier to use, a city bike may have an internally-geared rear hub which has been used more throughout Europe where bikes are used more often for commuting than sport or leisure. This gear hub is easier to use and practically maintenance free and much more durable than the typical derailleurs which has been the typical gears of a North American bike. In addition, some city bikes come with a built-in generator to power lights for riding after dark. For the rider looking for comfort, this is the bike!

Bike Storage and Bicycle Racks

Regardless of the type of bikes we might each choose to ride, we need to store them. So, there are many options for bike storage.

Easy to Use Floor Racks for the Kids

With busy on the go kids playing all throughout the summer, they need an easy way to get into the house and then back out riding again. The “on the floor” bike rack makes it easy and more likely that kids will get into the habit of putting their bikes away in a safe spot within the garage. While building good habits, it also keeps their bicycles off the driveway where bikes often damage the family vehicles.

Wall Mount Bicycle Storage

When it comes to wall mount bike storage, there are a couple of ways to use wall mount racks. Most often, we’ll mount bicycles along the wall to maximize the space available for the vehicles to park inside the garage. When someone has many bikes and wall space is at a premium, we can mount bicycles perpendicular to the wall to maximize the number of bikes we can fit onto the wall.

For younger family members, the key is to assure that the wall mounts are low enough that young people can lift their bike onto the mounting hooks all on their own.

Hydraulic Overhead Bike Racks

The hydraulic overhead bike lift is an effective storage option for both summer and winter bicycle storage. Family members of all heights and strength can use this type of bike storage quite easily with a flip of a switch to lift the bicycles away. Often, if there are not enough bikes to fill the entire rack, people use it to store other sports equipment such as a bag full of golf clubs.

The Right Bicycle Storage

Every year, creative new ways to store bikes keep appearing in the marketplace. Based on the number of bikes you need to store and your family’s overall garage storage requirements, a little planning will make your bicycle rack storage options become apparent.

When reviewing your next garage renovation, consider the amount of space you have available and how you might need to use it for storage. If you’re looking for professional help, book our complimentary in-home consultation to give yourself adequate lead time on professional services .

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