Quick verdict
A 3 by 6 foot steel platform that hangs from the garage ceiling joists on adjustable brackets dropping 22 to 40 inches, rated to hold 450 pounds and evaluated to twice that, giving up to 60 cubic feet of storage above the car for seasonal gear, patio cushions, tarps, the frost cloth and the boxes that never get opened. Ceiling storage is the one space a full garage has left. Installation means finding joists and bolting through them; it is a two-person job.
Strengths
- Up to 60 cubic feet of storage above the car
- Rated 450 pounds, evaluated to 900
- Drop adjusts from 22 to 40 inches to clear the hood or the door
- Steel frame and wire deck
- Keeps seasonal gear off the floor and the shelves
Weaknesses
- Must bolt into ceiling joists; drywall ceilings need locating and a stud finder
- Two people and a ladder for assembly
- Items stored overhead need a step stool to reach
The overall YardToolLab Score is out of 100. Section scores are out of 10.
Look Up
A garage with full shelves, a full floor and a car still has the ceiling. An overhead rack turns it into storage for the things used twice a year. FLEXIMOUNTS’ 3 by 6 foot rack hangs from the joists on brackets that drop 22 to 40 inches, holds 450 pounds and is evaluated to 900, and puts up to 60 cubic feet of gear above the hood of the car.
This review is based on the maker’s specifications and on how overhead garage racks are installed and used generally. We have not installed this rack ourselves.
What Goes Up
Holiday boxes, camping gear, patio cushions and the pool toys in winter, frost cloth, netting and the hoop kit in summer, luggage, and the boxes that have not been opened since the move. The rule is seasonal and rarely needed; the rack is reached with a step stool and nobody wants to climb for the hedge trimmer.
Installation
Find the ceiling joists with a stud finder or by tapping, and mark where the four vertical brackets will bolt. Lag bolt the brackets into the joists, not the drywall between them. Assemble the frame on the floor, lift it with a helper onto the brackets and bolt it, then drop in the wire deck panels. Two hours with two people and a good ladder. The included hardware is for wood joists; a steel-framed or concrete ceiling needs different anchors.
Clearance
Measure the garage door in its open position and the height of the car’s hood or roof, then set the drop so the rack clears both. The adjustable brackets make that possible; a fixed-drop rack often does not.
Capacity
Four hundred and fifty pounds is a lot of cushions. The frame and deck carry it; the joists and the lag bolts are what matter, and bolts in sound joists are what the rating assumes.
Who Should Buy It
- Anyone with a full garage and an empty ceiling.
- Households with seasonal gear that moves in and out.
- Gardeners storing covers, netting and hoops through the off season.
Common Owner Complaints
Finding the joists and the two-person lift. Both are the price of 60 cubic feet.
Loading Tips
Put the heaviest items over the bracket positions rather than in the middle of the span, and keep the load even side to side. Store in uniform plastic totes with lids so they stack and slide; label the ends so they can be read from the floor. Keep the front edge for the totes used most and push the once-a-year boxes to the back.
Alternatives to Consider
A 4 by 8 foot FLEXIMOUNTS rack for more space. SafeRacks and HyLoft are comparable brands. Wall shelves if the ceiling is too low to clear the car.
Verdict
For a garage that has run out of floor and wall, this rack adds a loft above the car that holds a serious load. Find the joists, get a helper and set the drop to clear the door.
Full specifications
FLEXIMOUNTS 3 x 6 Foot Overhead Garage Storage Adjustable Ceiling Rack, 450 lb Rated, Black FAQs
Things used once or twice a year: holiday decorations, camping gear, patio cushions in winter, frost cloth and netting in summer, luggage, the boxes from the move. Not daily tools.
Locate the ceiling joists, mark the bracket positions, lag bolt the vertical brackets into joists, assemble the frame and lift it onto the brackets with a helper, then fit the wire deck. Allow two hours.
When bolted into sound joists, yes; the rack is evaluated to twice that. The joists are the limit, and the bolts must be in them, not in drywall.
Set the drop so the rack clears the hood or the open garage door. Measure the door in its open position first.
