Hello All,

I have been searching now for a couple of days on how to build
a counterweight/pulley system to easily raise and lower my bed
from/to the ceiling. I am not having very much luck and want to
know if anyone has any ideas as to where i could find this information
either in a book or on a website or maybe a better place to ask. Your
help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

 

It's nothing you can buy off the shelf. You will have to design it yourself. Block, tackle and pulleys are pretty simple so ask any questions if there is something you are having trouble with.

I see a lot of problems with using a simple rope and pulleys. I would do something more similar to a boat lift where cables are wound around a central shaft/pipe.

 

Google "bike hoist" and start with that concept!

 

Don't know why you need or want to raise a bed to the ceiling, but another alternative is to hinge the bed to the wall and fold it up out of the way. Many years ago when I was kid the guy who took us camping did this to the small cabin. It opened up the cabin interior in a big way. It also eliminated the need for our bunk bed frames. He used chain to hold the bunks steady in the down position so nothing was needed to touch the floor.

 

They are called Murphy Beds!

 

Not the same thing. A Murphy bed actually fold into a wall and the wall must be made to accommodate it. Or you frame around the bed to give it finished look. It also must have springs and mechanical lifting device. Hinged bunk beds lay against the wall and are hooked with a hasp or similar and support with a chain on each end. This is strictly makeshift and meant for a camping type cabin. I suggested it only because you don't need to use pulleys or any special devices to lift the unit. Assuming a small size bed.

 

My 2¢,

A) If you HAVE a winch on the truck, you can use that to lift the bed off.

Just be sure to avoid "The gods must be crazy" outcome though.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4RXV-p_Ec6Q

B) ALWAYS lay out the cables to pull directly in line to the load if you can. The cable should run in a direct line to the load. NEVER pull a cable from the perpendicular, it multiplies the strain on the cable several times, so that the cable will eventually snap.

I vaguely remember that it is tan or cos of the angle- E.g. if you use a cable at 45 degrees, it must be rated at 2x the weight lifted. If you lift a cable at 10 degrees, it should be rated 5-10x the load you're lifting. If