SafeRacks,is a fast growing, quality focused, highly responsive product line of overhead storage and organizational products.
Installation Instructions
If you would like a printable version of the full instruction manual:
Overhead Storage Racks
Step 1 - Required Tools:
- Rubber Mallet or Hammer
- Drill with 3/16” Drill Bit
- Socket Set, Adjustable Crescent Wrench or Open
- End Wrench Set
- Flat Head Screwdriver
- Tape Measure
- Stud Finder (if installing on ceiling drywall)
- Sturdy Ladder
Step 2 - Identifiying Ceiling Location
- Identify the ceiling location where the overhead rack will be installed, remember you will be utilizing at least the same area on the ceiling as the size rack you are installing. Be sure to take into consideration objects that could come into contact with the racks such as, garage doors, garage access doors, overhead lights, automobiles or auto parts, etc.
- If your garage has a finished drywall ceiling, use a stud finder and locate the ceiling joists that are in the area of the intended unit. Determine the joist direction that applies to your installation. Your unit will either be installed parallel (Figure 1) or perpendicular (Figure 2) to the joist directions, unless your rack is a 4’ x 4’ unit in which case it is symmetrical in length and width.
- Regardless of the joist spacing in your ceiling (centers of 16”,18”, 24”, etc.), or the orientation of rack installation, you will anchor the supplied 27” ceiling brackets to at least 2 ceiling joists for each corner of the overhead rack as shown in figures 1 & 2. The vertical posts of your overhead rack need not be centered on the ceiling joists as shown in Figures 1 & 2.
- In some cases, such as a sloped ceiling, it may not be possible to attach the ceiling bracket to 2 separate ceiling joist. In these situations, it may be necessary to install your ceiling brackets along the ceiling joist, so that both lag bolts are in the same joist. Space your lag bolts as far apart as possible to help spread the load over a larger area of the ceiling joist.
- Regardless of whether you are installing your ceiling brackets on a single ceiling joist or between 2 joists, the vertical posts need to hang between 2 lag bolts anchored to your ceiling joist, or joists. DO NOT attach the vertical posts outside of the 2 lags in a cantilevered fashion.
- In rare cases, ceiling joist may be at odd intervals or greater than 24” cen- ters. If this is the case please contact us and we can supply longer ceiling brackets to suit your needs.
- Now that you have identified where your overhead rack will be located, mark the ceiling with the location of your first vertical post and then mark the location and direction of the ceiling joists on either side of it.
Figure 1 and 2
Step 3 - Setting Up The Workspace
After identifying the location of your first vertical post and the ceiling joists on either side of it, use a stud finder to locate the center of the ceiling joists by marking both sides with a pencil, then mark the center of the joist where the lag screw will go (Figure 3). The lag screws need to be placed in the exact center of the joist. Optionally, you can find the exact the center of the joist by hammering a small nail or punch along your pencil lines to find the true edges of the joist (Figure 4).
Figure 3 and 4
Mark Both Sides and Center of the Ceiling Joist. Hold the ceiling bracket up to the marks that you have just made and ensure that the marks will line up with existing holes in the bracket (Figure 5). The ceiling bracket can be installed with the long slotted holes on the ceiling, as shown in Figure 5, or with the slotted holes away from the ceiling as shown in Figure 7. The slotted holes help align the bracket, or the vertical post to your desired location.
Figure 5 - Marks for lag bolt location
Using a 3/16” drill bit, drill a pilot hole 3” deep at the marked locations. Ensure that the hole is in the center of each joist. Screw the 5/16” x 3” lag screw through the ceiling bracket into the drilled pilot holes using a washer under the head of each screw (Figure 6). IMPORTANT: Ensure that each lag screw has at least 2 inches of penetration, or “bite” depth, into each ceiling joist. Be careful not to strip out the wood by over tightening.
Figure 6
Step 4 - Preparing the Racks
Take the vertical posts and adjust them to the desired distance from the ceiling. Ensure the lower section of the vertical post is placed on the inside of the two post pieces. IMPORTANT: Ensure the teardrop holes are facing down, and that all vertical posts are adjusted to the exact same length. Use two nuts and bolts with washers to secure the posts together. Ideally put one nut and bolt assembly on each face of the vertical posts, with one at the top of the vertical post overlap and the other at the bottom (Figure 7).
Next, using a single bolt with washers on both sides, connect the first vertical post assembly to the ceiling bracket that you installed in Step 3. (See Figure 7). As stated previously, you may have the slotted holes mounted against the ceiling, as shown in figures 5 & 6, or you may have the slotted holes hanging down to attach the vertical posts, as shown in figure 7. NOTE: Figure 7 shows a vertical post attached to a ceiling bracket that is not anchored to the ceiling, this is for illustrative purposes only. Your ceiling bracket will already be an- chored to the ceiling from Step 3.
Figure 7 - Bolt connecting vertical post to ceiling bracket. Bolts connecting top and bottom of vertical post together. One bolt is on each face of the bracket
Step 5 - Mounting Posts
Use a tape measure and mark the remaining positions for the other three ceiling brackets. Add ½” to the length and width of your overhead rack to find the next location. In the examples below, a 4’ x 8’ overhead rack is shown in a perpendicular configuration. See the Illustrations on the following page.
For other rack sizes, measure out the bracket placements in the same way by adding ½” to your length and width dimensions.
Once you have marked the other three vertical post locations, repeat the process in Step 3 for anchoring the remaining 3 ceiling brackets.
Step 6 - Side Beams
Once all vertical posts are in place, install the side beams. Start on the short ends and finish with the long sides. WARNING: Opposite ends may come loose when hammering beams in place. Use a helper to ensure rivets do not come loose during the seating process.
Seat the rivets into the holes using a rubber mallet or hammer (Figure 8). Figure 9 shows a properly installed beam with the beam rivets completely seated at the bottom of the teardrop holes in the vertical posts. Continue seating the remaining beams until finished.
Figure 8 and 9
Step 7 - Center Support
Connect the center support (Models: 4x8, 4x6, 3x8, 3x6, 2x8, 2x6) using the remaining slot-head bolts and wing nuts (Figure 10). Use a flat head screw- driver to fully tighten the bolt to the wing nuts.
Figure 10
You are almost finished. Take the wire decking and place it on the racking unit. Wire decking remains in place by gravity and can slide freely side-to- side. There will be a small space between each deck (Figure 11).
Take one last look at all the rivets to make sure they have not backed out during the installation process. Look at the ceiling bracket lag screws to make sure that they have not pulled out during the beam seating process. If they have, it is an indication that the lag screws may not be in the center of the ceiling joist, or that they were not fully tightened when installed.
Figure 11
Congratulations! You are now ready to load your rack and enjoy the extra space that you have created.
Overhead Storage Racks Safety Nets (Sold Separately)
Step 1 - Required Tools
- Scissors
- Utility knife or wire cutters
- Sturdy Ladder
Step 2 - Attaching
- Hold the unrolled net up to the rack opening where you are going to install it. If for some rea- son your net is too large for the opening of the rack whether in height or width, you can cut it with a pair of sturdy scissors or kitchen shears. All the nets are cut to 2’ high, your rack may be less than this distance from the ceiling which would require cutting. (Fig 1)
- Begin by locating the 4 zip ties that were included with your net. You will tie the bottom corners of the net to the vertical posts where the horizontal beams connect. (Fig 2)
- Once the corners of your net are secured, take the other two zip ties and secure the net to the wire deck in two equally spaced locations along the bottom. (Fig. 3) Cut the excess zip tie flush with the fastening end. (Fig 4)
- Next, take the 4 “s” hooks and fasten the top two corners of the net, as well as the middle of the edges, to the vertical posts. For loading and unloading the rack, simply remove the “s” hooks and let the net hang below the rack for access. (Fig 5 & 6)
Figure 1 and 2
Figure 3 and 4
Figure 5 and 6
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