Thinking about using the Racor PHL-1R Pro Heavy Lift to store my ice house. It’s basically a 4×4 ft platform on a pulley system to the garage ceiling. I have an Otter Lodge.
Anyone else use this before? Pros / cons?
I have one, used it for the last 5 or 6 years. It works good I think, I had one issue 3 years ago, but that was my own self inflicted issue, but Racor replaced the parts without question.
You will want to use the drill adaptor must likely to raise and lower because it does get a bit hard on the arms using the hand crank.
The vinyl is coming off the cables on mine, but it doesn’t affect performance at all. Really nice to get things up and out of the way, especially the fishhouse. when I take the house down, then I put other items on it so I can make room for the house on the floor in the garage for the winter.
The issue I had is that I have tall ceilings in my garage and the lift came down to about 2 feet above the floor. It makes it a bit more challenging loading and unloading the fish house from there and what happened is I was removing the fish house and the back lip on the sled slammed into the edge of the rack and that jolt busted one of the pulley wheels. It was SUPER cold out and I do not have a heated or fully insulated garage. It was like -25 so since these pulleys are nylon that is why it busted. Like I said, I called them and they replaced the pulley and cable no questions asked and even sent it next day!
Overall I would certainly buy it again, no issues. There are some other alternatives out there, but this is factory made and just involves mounting 4 bolts really so its easy without any fabrication.
I swapped out the cables for longer ones as I have 11′ ceiling in my garage, works great!
Otter-Ceiling-Mount.jpg
Do either of you that have them know what the distance between the cables is? I’ve been kicking around the idea of one, but I have a resort and thinking it won’t fit.
The platform is 4’x4′, a Resort is 44″ wide collapsed, so it will be tight but should fit. My photo shows an Otter Cabin up in the lift…
One thing i’ll say about these lifts is that you don’t want to go near or over it’s load limit (I believe it’s 250 lbs, but I wouldn’t trust that much weight in it) I store my Cabin pretty empty just to be on the safe side…
Lastly, I added separate safety chains with a caribiner clip on each corner (not pictured) that is anchored to the stud above just in case the cable system were to break/give way…it’s a good piece of mind to have…when lowering I just unclip the safety chain caribiner from each corner first and then lower it down with a power drill…
Lindy- glad you brought this topic up! Purchased a Otter Cabin this winter and been trying to figure out where/how I’m going to store it this winter. Some of the reviews aren’t really confidence inspiring, but I like JoeMX’s idea of attaching safety chains once I get it up…only downfall with that is having to get a ladder out every time.
JoeMX- would you buy one again or would you go another route or try to make your own? Just trying to gauge your confidence in the safety of their product.
I’d buy another one for sure, I just question the 250 max pound rating. I store my Otter Cabin in the summer and my lawn mower and golf bags over the winter. I’m probably hoisting 150-175 pounds on mine and I feel comfortable with that weight.
Keep in mind my cables are probably 4’ longer than stock because my garage ceiling is 11’ high, so this probably adds more torque on the cables and crossbar than stock.
Good to know, thanks! Probably will order one then as at least it gives me an option for storage this summer. Also like how you sling your sled under it. I have a medium pro tub I need to get out of the way as well.
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