Garage Gator Compact 4 Bike Lift – 220 lb

My neighbor installed the hoist. At first it looked like we couldn’t install it, but after talking with customer service, we got the info we needed to install the hoist. It is so nice to have the bikes off the floor, and decrease the clutter in the garage. The space on the hoist is more than adequate for three e-bikes plus the storage cube. We’re very happy with this equipment.

Super solid. Everything feels bombproof. Really like that it comes with 8 hooks. This allowed me to take the front wheels off and hang them on hooks. This raised the ground clearance significantly. Which leads me to the one gotcha.

The marketing literature and all photos on the web don't accurately describe the height issue you will face if you have a low ceiling. The only way you can stand and work underneath it is with ceilings that are 10' tall AND you hang the front wheels on hooks. Otherwise you have to put it over where a car parks (have to move the car to lower!) or have enough space that you don't need to get underneath it, where you only store things on wheels underneath that you can roll away easily before lowering.

The motor spins fast. Which is great, but you have to time your release of the down button when you don't have the wheels on so you don't doink your forks. Ideally there would be a half press on the button to where the motor spins at quarter speed.

Finally: The shoe tree is cool, but with the compact unit, you can't fit four bikes and the tree. In the photos you see what you have to do when your joists run diagonally! In my case the weight of the bikes is quite divergent. I have to order the bikes so when I take an end bike off the bar doesn't pivot up and cause the bikes to slide into each other. I'm thinking of finding some thick rubber bands or some sort of grommet to place around the hooks.