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This versatile storage system lets you easily store cargo boxes, kayaks, canoes, or ladders when not in use. Simple crank-and-pulley system lifts gear off your vehicle and stores it up and out of the way. Storage lift mounts to your garage ceiling.
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Average Customer Rating: 4.8 out of 5 stars (8 Customer Reviews)
This versatile storage system lets you easily store cargo boxes, kayaks, canoes, or ladders when not in use. Simple crank-and-pulley system lifts gear off your vehicle and stores it up and out of the way. Storage lift mounts to your garage ceiling.The product itself I would give 5 stars, but it took considerable effort before I could get it installed and tried out.
The first obstacle I ran into is that there were no screws included. After opening the box I discovered this, read through the manual, looked at the product listing on etrailer's website, and on Thule's website. I did not see any notice that screw were not included. Finally I did see on one end of the box such a notice, and etrailer's customer service confirmed this to be the case.
The second obstacle was how to install the product in my garage. The instructions were of marginal help. They are mostly devoid of words, but rather use pictures to instruct. Once I had a good idea of how all the parts were to fit together and be mounted I discovered my garage ceiling would not accommodate the parts. The ceiling rafters are installed on end, from one side of the garage to the other, and thus not wide enough for the screw holes in the pulleys or center rod mounting brackets. I improvised by installing in the garage attic two 2x8 boards perpendicular to the rafters, then three 2x4 boards snug under the garage ceiling, attached to the 2x8s by way of two 3/8 x 3.5" hex bolts on either end of the 2x4s. The 2x4s were 10', cut in half to allow room for the TH572 mounting hardware between the bolts.
With appropriate structure in place (a 12-hour one man job), I started on installing the product. I used eight 1/4 x 1.5" lag screws to attach the pulleys to the 2x4s, and six #10 1.5" wood screws for the center rod mounting brackets. This part of the job took only about an hour... maybe two... it was late.
Some suggestions:
- make sure your garage can hand the load of the box (What you see in most attics are designed to hold the roof, not have stuff suspended from them -- I got lucky and had access to reinforced headers in the right places)
- make sure your garage door can still open with whatever you are storing in place
- make sure you can get your car in position under the load (rooftop box, kayak, etc) where everything is installed
- make sure you can get your car out of the garage with the load attached
So, my main complaints with this product are two: no screws, and minimal instructions. But with a little determination and some help from etrailer customer support, I was able to get the job done.
Now I need to find someone who can make my garage door opening taller.
Overall I give this Thule Multilift Cargo Lift a five star rating; however installing this device takes some effort and skill. Maybe more effort and skill than the typical DYI'er can provide. The instructions provided do not have any words or dimensions, only pictures. Other than following the routing of the rope through the pullies it didn't provide me any benefit. Also, my system did not come with any screws or bolts. For me that was not a big deal as I have plenty of hardware I can use.
There is one center bracket and four pullies to install. The spacing does not line up with typical dimensions so I had to improvise to get the Multilift installed. My garage ceiling has joist spacing that is 16" on center. That is typical, although some may have 24" on center spacing. Either way the spacing for the screws to secure the various components does not match. I guess you could use toggle bolts to hold the components to the ceiling sheetrock but I didn't trust that idea. What I did was to span my ceiling joists with 1"x4" wood and then attach the components to them.
The kit comes with a template so getting the actual components set up on the 1"x4" wood strips was simple enough. Once all the components are installed then the rope is routed through the pullies.
As you can see in the pictures I had a close clearance between the roof box and my roll-up garage door. I think it is about 2". Since I don't have a tall roll-up garage door I cannot drive my car in or out with the roof box installed. That didn't matter to me since my only goal was to store the roof box out of harms way.
My last comment is that it takes two people to lift the roof box up and get the Multilift ropes in place. I tried to do it by myself but that did not work. I do like this Thule Multilift but it took some effort to install it. I really like the way it is raised and lowered by turning a mechanism with a handle. There is a less expensive lift sold on the internet but it did not use as many pullies to raise and lower the roof box and it relied on a rope to lift and lower it.
For our 3 grandkids we needed a way to carry camping stuff. This works great. It opens from either side, key locked on both. We have hung it from the garage ceiling for easy installation. All the stuff fits well.
One year later I am really happy with my Thule that has been to Lake of the Ozarks and Orlando from our Indiana home. It fits my Subaru perfectly and I ended up buying the Thule ceiling hanger from etrailer which was pricier than many alternatives but is so much sturdier which is important when your kids are walking under it, as well as my Jeep Rubicon which is parked under it. By using the Thule storage bags we have so much room in the car on our trips. My son ended up buying an XXL for his Toyota Sienna and I am looking towards etrailer for an accessory for our Jeep.
Buy everything from etrailer!! It shipped in a day and I could check my order on etrailers order site and see on a map where it was. you under promised and over delivered!!! Lift works. I am happy I didn’t deal with [online store] and my order was quickly processed and shipped!!! Buy from etrailer no matter what you are looking for
Etrailer is a great place. Fast, excellent service.
I love it. I use it to lift my camper top off of my truck.
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Paul S.
8/15/2021
Its PERFECT for my Subaru! Especially the ability to put on the garage ceiling then lower it down when needed. The garage door goes under carrier when the door opens.