Racor - LDL-1B Ceiling Ladder Lift - Up to 150 lbs

This device offers a good way to get your ladder off the floor and out of the way. I have a very solid (read: relatively heavy) 24' type 1A ladder that I use very infrequently. For years I stored it near the garage ceiling, like the Racor Lifter does, only on a homemade hanger bar and hook. That arrangement worked fine for storage, but it was tough to get the ladder up on the hook and down again. I needed a step ladder to get to the extension ladder and it seemed I was always lifting at an awkward angle, further complicated by the usual garage stuff stored under the ladder along the wall it was closest too. One day I went to get the ladder down for a quick job without clearing the area around it as much as usual. The reaching and twisting required to get the ladder down without relocating other things on the floor took a toll. My back and shoulder were sore for months. While trying to design my own ladder lift assembly, I found this Racor unit. It was close to what I planned to do anyway, with good reviews and an acceptable price tag. The most challenging part of installing the Lifter was deciding where to put it. I have typical garage door tracks and openers hanging down. Those obstructions, some shelving and a bench I didn’t want to move, limited my options, especially considering one needs an open wall section reasonably near one end of the ladder for tying off the lift line. Next, I had to find usable structural members through the drywall ceiling. Finally, I had to come to grips with the concept that the ladder would be hanging much more into the center of the garage than it had been. It turns out the more exposed location was a good thing. It’s not any more unsightly than it was near the wall, and even though the lift is easier, open space below the ladder is still required. Keep in mind that the Lifter suspends the ladder several inches from the ceiling, not right up against it. This is necessary to allow you to get the ladder rungs hooked on the idle end bracket while the other end is still on the floor, and it is necessary for clearance of the pulley block assembly on the opposite end of the ladder. When hanging, my ladder is 8” from the ceiling and it’s a little over 14” from the lowest side of the ladder to the ceiling. The Lifter makes it a whole lot easier for one person to handle storing and retrieving an extension ladder.

I always hated using up so much wall space for hanging my fiberglass 28' ladder. Moreover, while it could be lifted on and off solo, is was quite easier with two people. I wanted a better way. This storage system is the perfect solution. It took only about 20 minutes to install on the garage ceiling and allows simple, one-person storage and removal of the ladder - plus I get my walls back for more storage!! Watch the video - it doesn't over exaggerate the ease of use. My only advice is to carefully read the instructions about locating the pulley system in the correct place (it does matter) and be prepared to place cross member supports if your joists don't align with your installation location. As noted in another review, be sure check for clearance with your garage doors if you are installing over the garage door. Seriously though, this is pretty darn foolproof. The components are made of steel and seem very solid. Using the pulley system couldn't be any easier. Honestly, they could have charged double and it would still be worth the money. Wish I would have found this years ago. J.

Much easier to install than anticipated... Then again, I opted to scrap the provided directions & compile feedback from the reviewers (i.e., replace the lag bolts & sheet metal screws) + watch some very helpful vids on YouTube (fave tagged "GoPro How to Install a Ladder Lift"), which happens to be specifically for the Racor LDL-1B. Tools needed: - Stud Finder (center finding) + Pencil - Power Drill + bits/Screwdriver That simple... A bulk of the install was assuring that my stud markings were accurate considering this was being mounted near an elliptical & hovering above the tail-end of my M5. As soon as I drilled the pilot holes & struck wood/resistance (& showered with burnt smelling sawdust), I knew I'd struck gold... J-Hook was mounted securely with my Home Depot, Galvanized Lag Bolts & though the sheet metal was a bit wobbly, it wasn't going anywhere... I laid the ladder flat & measured from the bottom step (step I planned to reverse mount to the J-Hook), to the top of the A-Frame ladder, then attached the tape measure to the hook (atop a step stool) to gauge how far back I had to mount the Pulley Assembly. Per the instructions; if the closest ceiling joist doesn't extend BEYOND the ladder, then assure that you position it so that it does. You DO NOT want the ladder to overlap the assembly for safety reasons. The amount of rope they provide for the doubled-up pulley system should be more than sufficient (with plenty of slack left for my 10ft A-Frame). Once the pulley assembly was mounted/secured, attaching/lifting the ladder was an absolute breeze... With the pulley assembly just beyond the top of the ladder, each pull has a safety latch that locks/secures the rope. A dozen or so pulls later, then ladder was practically level with the legs/J-Hook. I attached the rope cleat to the wall, just above reach for most hands (young children in the house) & wound the slack for what felt like an eternity. It may seem as if the rope slack is excess (tempting you to cut), but I can assure you, you'll need every bit of it... Job itself (for my paranoid, OCD self) took about 30 minutes, but I don't see this thing going anywhere. As I stated prior, it's hovering from the ceiling just above the trunk of my M5 & parallel to my Wife's elliptical (science behind the design minimized/silenced my trust issues). Though it does feel stable, the wobbly J-Hook is a bit "questionable," so I've secured the lower 1/2 of my ladder to the hook with carefully placed rubber bungee cords. The rubber wrapped around the metal J-Hook completely eliminates any movement (I can't even shift the ladder from side to side), without removing/maneuvering the cords. Peace of mind, particularly in earthquake prone California... In summary; a very simple/safe system (assuming you're bolting into ceiling joists, following the best practice guidance & replacing the provided hardware with some high-quality bolts/screws). I've included a bunch of pics as well, including the bungee cord wrap... Best part of the job? I no longer have a 10 ft bulky ladder on my floor, taking up an entire section of the wall! All-in-All, I felt quite accomplished considering I’m not much of a handyman/don't work much with my hands (outside of typing on a computer all day) & if "I" can do it, ANYONE can... Hope this helps! *** Update 12/2/2018 *** I still consider this a 4 star product, though (as reviewers have mentioned), am disappointed with some of the cheap/necessary components (when it comes to safety). DO purchase your own lag screws (set provided are far from sufficient). In addition, the rope cleat provided is laughable & fracture under the weight of the rope without any resistance. You would hope that the pulley system/lock would prevent the ladder from falling, but in the event of some fluke failure, the ladder could've fallen on my car (or worse). Though the $ is reasonable, you'll still need to invest in better screws/bolts & a better cleat (I had to get an 8" marine cleat to account for the slack). This isn't just for peace of mind either, this should be an absolute requirement from a safety perspective.

It works just perfect.

Easy to install and operate! Well worth it.

The latch is a little flimsy. Worries me when hooking in the ladder. Supported with extra bracing. However, love the system. Great storage to free up my garage space.

Product works great