Raise the roof: The best bike hangers for garage ceiling

Reasons to buy a ceiling mount garage bike rack

1. Universal bike compatibility. One clear advantage of bicycle hanger is that they are not limited by the size of their holders, meaning that so long as you’re hoisting a bike (or bikes) within the weight limit, then you’re good to go; you won’t have to worry about it not being compatible with certain bike wheel types.
2. Unparalleled space-saving. Suspending your bike above, literally clears up floor space, allowing you to better organize your garage or room to be able to fit other important things. It also gives your bike added protection and security from being tampered with or stolen.

Before you buy a ceiling bike rack

Know your brands.

Being knowledgeable about the brand you wish to get will be advantageous as that will help you arrive at a more well-informed purchase. Because hanging anything from the ceiling or overhead poses a safety risk, a brand’s track record and credibility will be doubly important. Names like RAD Cycle and Racor are safe bets.

Check the durability.

Your chosen bike ceiling mount must be durable and stable. You wouldn’t want your bike suddenly falling, would you? Do careful research on the brand, its history, and some customer reviews to get an idea of what materials are used and about the rack’s overall design.

Mind the effort.

Ceiling racks are not the easiest to use as they do require effort to hoist the bike upwards. Most, if not all, bike hoist for garages work in the same way, but some designs are more efficient than others.

Depending on the results of your research, just keep in mind how much effort you’re willing to exert before deciding. Notice if any have a mechanism that works like a winch and reduces user effort. But after a day of working out your legs, and butt a small amount of arm-work-out won’t do you any harm.

Think about the price.

Ceiling racks are surprisingly simple and have little in terms of material cost. As such, even a premium rack should not cost you any more than $50. Despite being generally more affordable than other rack types, decide on which to get based on your preference and needs. Since they’re more budget-friendly, we suggest investing in a higher-end model.

Pulley with hooks vs hooks only: Which is better?

A pulley is a simple machine that makes pulling easier; with a properly oriented pulley, one can lift even heavier loads with relative ease on their own. To answer this question, it basically boils down to how much effort you’re actually willing and able to exert. If you have a higher ceiling, then a pulley is more convenient.

It’s also easier to hoist with the help of a pulley, especially for heavy bikes. Otherwise, a plain hook is enough for the job.

How much weight a ceiling bike rack should hold?

Designed mainly for single bikes, the average weight that a ceiling bike rack for garages can handle is at least 50lbs. This is not to say that you should not use it to hold lighter bikes, but rather that the minimum capacity should be around that range so as not to cause damage or make your bike a hanging accident that’s just waiting to happen. 

Top makers of ceiling-mounted garage bike racks

Some of the top manufacturers of bikes and bike-related equipment are actually rather young companies. RAD Cycle Products is one such example; incorporating ease of use with ease of installation in their rack resigns, RAD has provided many homes with reliable bike storage solutions that don’t require you to have a Ph.D. in order to set-it-up. Similar names with the same premise in their product line include Racor and Wallmaster.

Other ways to hang your bikes

If a ceiling mount doesn’t quite fit your taste, don’t worry, there are other options by which you can store or hang your bike. If you have the room and only look for the means, then you can opt to either get a floor-mounted stand or a wall-mounted rack. The real difference between those two is actually just the installation and space-saving requirements.

Choosing the top ceiling mount bike racks

Strongest ceiling mount bike rack

The best ceiling mount rack has to be the RAD Cycle. As mentioned earlier, RAD is known for its credible product line and simple installation; with this rack, they take their patented and innovative designs to the next level, featuring a flexible and fully adjustable hoist system.

You can align it either horizontally or parallel to ceiling joists, something that other ceiling racks are not able to do.

With a rust-proof, heavy-gauge aluminum build, this big boy can hold up to 75lbs without fraying thanks to its thick and patented ropes. Innovative lock designs on bike hooks also prevent accidental release and secure your bike with every pull.

Best value ceiling bike rack

The rack with the best value goes to the Racor PBH-1R for its clever blend of flexibility and affordability. With a rigid steel build, topped off with a nice layer of epoxy finish for longevity, this rack easily holds up to 50lbs. 

The locking mechanism keeps everything secured until release, while the design of the pulleys reduces weight by as much as 8 times. A plus – it comes with cord storage for a complete, neat finish. 

Should you hang your bike above a car?

If you choose to do so, yes, definitely, provided that there’s still at least a 3-inch gap between the bike’s wheel and the car’s roof. This is, however, something that we would not recommend as hanging above a car can potentially damage either it or the bike in the event of a rack malfunction. 

Tools you need to hang your bike on the ceiling

Installation of a ceiling-mounted bike rack is often simple and straightforward. To make things even smoother and easier, get ready your tools like a power-drill, or if you want to work your arms out even more get out a hand crank drill!

You’ll want to avoid hanging on hollow parts of your roof, so it’s a good idea to have something like a DeWalt stud finder to help you find roof purlins or; ceiling joists to find a solid anchoring point. 

If you want to save space and hang a bike from the ceiling; always have the essentials on standby too, like ruler/tape measure, screwdrivers, and wrenches. 

How to install a bike rack hoist on the ceiling?

1. Locate and mark the ceiling purlins or floor joists if there is a second story above you.
2. To center the mounting board, measure the handlebar of your bike to be mounted and divide what you get by 2 then add 2 inches to that measurement. 
3. Prep your mounting board for the brackets and drill in the pilot holes for the lag screws. 
4. Appropriate the spacing based on your calculations and bike measurements (unless the rack is adjustable). 
5. Install the brackets; center them as symmetrically with each other as possible based on where you space them along with the mounting board.
6. Knot the rope at the end bracket. Make sure it’s nice and tight.
7. Thread the pulley rope along with the brackets, follow the instructions if possible.
8. Attach cord manager/holder to a nearby wall. 
9. Test mount your bike, then give it a little hoist to test the stability of the setup. 

Safety tips for hanging bikes on the ceiling

• Always ensure that when hanging bikes in the garage that everything is secured and there are no loose knots and as little-to-no fraying as possible when the bike is fully hoisted. Never ignore any excess rope and always properly manage lines.
• Do not install unless the mounting board is firmly anchored on joists to avoid damages and accidents.
• Always have a minimum clearance of about 3-inches when hanging over anything. If possible, do not hang over other valuables or property to avoid unnecessary damage.
• Avoid using a ceiling-mount if the height of your roof is under 10ft as it can potentially cause you literal headaches.
• Have your tools ready within a safe reach or wear the handy tools with a leather carpenter toolbelt .

.Comparing ceiling-mounted garage bike racks

Conclusion

The name pretty much summarizes what you get with the RAD Cycle ceiling mount. Fully adjustable and flexible in terms of orientation, this versatile, heavy-weight mount is every cyclist’s dream at night-time, if they want to safely hoist their bikes.

The Racor PBH-1R is a good 1st-runner up and is a well-placed investment for those who want to give ceiling bike-mounting a try thanks to its safe locking and weight-reduction prowess. 

With that, we’ve pretty much covered all the possible places within a room to be able to mount a bike rack. If you don’t have a favorite yet, hopefully, this one gave you a heads up.

Check out our previous floor stand bike rack guide  and we’ll see you in the next one!