Garage HANGING storage DIY
 

Be very cautious of the Home Depot item Internet # 325204390,
Model # 744525561935, Store SKU # 1009683162, Karl Home 36 in. D x 72 in. W Black in Adjustable Height Overhead Ceiling Mount Garage Storage Rack, $145.89.
This item is intended to be mounted to CONCRETE ceilings!! The centerlines for the mounting are on 36 inch centers. The included hardware is for concrete installation. The vertical hanger MUST be cut so you can walk under the shelving, unless you are under 5' tall or have 9' ceiling. I had to spend additional money for new metal to attach to the rafters, as well as suitable lag bolts. The project took twice as long as it should have.
Feel free to send a PM if you would like to discuss or see pictures.

I bought this one on Amazon and installed last week:

FLEXIMOUNTS 4x8 Overhead Garage Storage Rack, Adjustable Garage Storage Organization System, Heavy Duty Metal Garage Ceiling Storage Racks, 600lbs Weight Capacity, Black

I paid $137, but it looks like it is up to $179 now. Most difficult part was get the ceiling mount angle iron square and the correct spacing. After that, pretty easy.

I only load large, lighter things on it, and I used some additional anchors so I could further support the rack with some ratchet straps, just in case something fails, to help prevent it from falling on my car.

So far, I really like it. I might get an additional, smaller one to store the Christmas tree at some point.

I may have looked at these, but the 4' by 8' units were too large, which is why i went with the 3' by 6' units. I just missed the mounting requirements, since it was not included in the ads.

That’s one of those few things I would probably not do DIY and hire it done, IMO. My philosophy, do as much DIY as I am able to do so I can save for those things I am a little uncomfortable with. I don’t need collapsed shelving on top of the car or worse yet a person.

I think I measured the space 50 times before I got it! Pretty much fills the available area, but it stores alot of that seasonal or rarely used lighter weight stuff that takes up space, but is easy to get up or down via a ladder. Clears the golf cart by about 1.5 inches.

I used these (link below) in various sizes. They MUST be installed either into rafters (studs) or a mounting board that IS installed into studs. I double bolted mine (ordered extra from the company that manufactures them). I have totes and ice chests and various boxes and patio cushions, etc. stored up there. I have three of the 4X8s and one of the 2X8's (goes over the space above the front of the garage where the door curves as it lowers. Been up about three years now without any issue. Hope this helps.

https://www.costco.com/saferacks-ove...100133736.html

A tinkerer never has enough storage space!

You're right!!!

This isn’t like you, Village Tinker. I’ve read your posts for five years, and I would expect you to see at a glance that you wouldn’t be able to screw a 36” wide unit directly into rafters 16” apart. And normally, you would see a couple easy solutions, such as screwing pieces of 2x4 wood across several rafters and screwing the unit into those, or screwing right angle steel into the rafters and hanging the unit from that. As for the height, you normally know in an instant that you can cut those uprights so they will be the height you want them to be, using your right angle grinder or your Sawzall with a metal cutting blade. This is your kind of project! Not like you at all.

Those look good, but I think I would stick with something two or three feet deep. One major improvement this year really worked. A big bag that covers the Christmas tree, assembled with lights, stored in the spare room. I only had to risk life and limb hauling garland, wreaths, and ornaments up the attic stairs.

Actually, I did what you suggested, except I had some left-over steel rails that I was able to lag bolt into the rafters, and the hang the storage from these. My post was a warning as others could easily miss some of the details (or lack of) on this item. I was also considering instead of installing in the 3' by 6' orientation using a 2' by 9' orientation, but this presented other problems.
There are several considerations that also need to be considered:
Clearence for people to walk under the storage
Clearence for the hatch on the SUV, especially if backed into the garage
Ability to get to the shelving with cars/golf cart(s) in the garage
Location of existing lighting and the garage door openers.