Attaching a gambrel to Garage ceiling?

[guywitha270]

Hey everyone. Just wondering if any of you have done this and how you did it. I am thinking of just attaching a heavy duty S hook to the piece of metal that my garage door opener is mounted to. It is attached to the above joists with a lag bolt on each end. I’m assuming that would be enough to lift a deer with my gambrel. My ceiling is 10’ tall. Thoughts?

[whitlers]

I personally wouldn't trust the motor bracket. Would be better off to drive a new hook or lag your own bracket into a joist and add a pulley.

[guywitha270]

I personally wouldn't trust the motor bracket. Would be better off to drive a new hook or lag your own bracket into a joist and add a pulley.

Ok thanks for the advice. Maybe I’ll just lag a length of unistrut onto the joist.

[Linksman313]

We have used the same engine puller bracket with 4 lag bolts screwed into ceiling joists in the shop (12ft ceiling), attached a snatch block to this and use the quad to lift up the heavy game (2 elk, countless deer) with no issue.

[srthomas75]

you could use the existing metal bracket but I'd add a few more screws/lags for piece of mind.

[Planer99]

Even better....if you get in the attic above the garage, lay a 8 foot 4x4 or a piece of 2x2 steel across several joists then put a eye bolt up though the ceiling to it. Should be plenty enough for a deer.

[guywitha270]

Even better....if you get in the attic above the garage, lay a 8 foot 4x4 or a piece of 2x2 steel across several joists then put a eye bolt up though the ceiling to it. Should be plenty enough for a deer.

Can’t do that. Our bedroom is directly above the garage.

[guywitha270]

you could use the existing metal bracket but I'd add a few more screws/lags for piece of mind.

No more room for extra bolts. The existing ones are already in the middle of the joists.

[srupp]

Hmm I put a 10 inch x 10 inch beam on each side of our garage then placed a 3rd 10 x10 beam on the top spanning the 14 feet width. 4 metal plates keep the top beam from sliding or twisting in the middle is a gRade 8 11/2 inch bolt that holds a 1 1/2 ton chain hoist..both side beams are lagged I to each garage wall.
Many times 2 moose are being hung..never a issue..for 31 years.
Better to be over engineered and over built than failure.
Cheers
Steven

[whitlers]

Ok thanks for the advice. Maybe I’ll just lag a length of unistrut onto the joist.

Are you a sparky? Lol sounds like something a sparky would do. That would work for sure.