Bike racks

There are bike racks that are designed to raise a bike up to the ceiling, that might be an off the shelf possibility.

https://www.walmart.com/c/kp/bike-ceiling-hoist

Here is a picture of the area

Here is a picture of the area in question:

The two walls are 6' 6" apart and the bed is 44" wide.  I'm thinking a 2'x6' module would fit nicely with allowances for any raising hardware on the ends.

The Bike lifts could work.

The Bike lifts could work. Thanks for the suggestion Dave!

T-slotted aluminum

Have you considered anything like this,....t-slotted alum beams?

many, many variations,...here is just one site that depicts the general look of these extrusions
https://eagle-aluminum.com/t-slot-aluminum-extrusions/

You might have 4 such verticals at the 4 corners of a 6' x 44" layout, with plastic slides that ride the slots. Beams could be screwed to the end walls (at studs), then easily removed and holes spackled over when you move.

Raising cane er lumber?

I helped a friend build the framework for a 10 x 6 meter (32' x 20') layout in his garage, he used 4" aluminium (correct spelling as it was in Australia) U channel with 2" U channel uprights fixed to the wall for small rubber wheels to guide the framework.

It was supported when down on steel brackets fitted to the wall and supported by ten ropes running through rollers to a bucket of sand in one corner as a counterbalance. you could raise and lower the layout with one hand. As construction continued we added more sand to the bucket to adjust the counterbalance.

It we needed to work under the layout for wiring or point motors we would raise it just enough to give head clearance and it would just sit there when balanced correctly.

Unfortunately he got married and moved so the layout never got far past the benchwork phase!

bed access?

  It might be easier to just build a removable 6 foot layout section that sits on cleats or other supports at each end then take it out and set it somewhere out of the way if you need to use the bed? ......DaveB

Unistrut beams & trolleys

You might have a look thru this video for some ideas to explore

I think these unistrut steel beams are available at home Depot, or Lowes, or ?,...for quick inspection.

I image some cheap casters from Harbor Freight might even fit inside these beams?

https://www.unistrut.us/products/1-5-8-metal-framing/trolleys

Access Issues

I'd be concerned about access issues.  44" is a long reach.  If you put a section that deep over the bed, it would be hard to reach everything past about 30", especially with a bed hitting you in the knees.  What about building just a 24" wide shelf that spans the bed.  It would sit on rails along the wall at the foot and head of the bed.  If you need to use the bed, just slide it backward along the rails to the back wall.  Less engineering.

Other Ways?

A. Subject to enough space in the room:

Can you put casters on the bed, so it can be rolled out from under the layout? Brakes on the wheels will keep the bed from moving when it's in use.

B. I once had cramped space, and put an air mattress on the floor under the layout. I was then young enough to get into and out of the bed.

DrJolS

Murphy (not the law guy)

Another path: move the bed not the layout... 

Make the bed a Murphy bed so it can fold up out of the way since it’s not needed most of the time. Then put a lift out or removable section across the folded up bed.  Store the lift out section under the bed when the bed is in use  

Rope and pulley system is feasible but sounds like a royal pain in the butt 

Jeff 

 Super solution. Maybe the

Super solution. Maybe the only way for me in my new flat. A rectangular shaped layout about 3x3m and 0,60m wide.The weight of frame of steel studs and 60mm xps foam  sheets is less than 20kg. With two hoist pairs I can lift 40kg.

 An option for sure.

An option for sure. I'd rather raise it but if that's to much of a pain it could happen.

What an annoying forum interface

What an annoying forum interface. I replied to a comment and my post ends up at the end with no connection to the post I'm replying to. Hmmm.

I'd be concerned about access

Yes, the section will be at most 24" wide for precisely the access issue.  The slide out idea could work if there is enough clearance. Thanks for the suggestion! 

Pull down shelf

If you want a 24” deep layout that when it’s down is out at (or past) the edge of the bed, and which goes up out of the way when not in use, then I think a simple parallel system could be set up pretty easily that would hook the layout up and back against the wall, about 2 feet higher than whatever it’s height is when pulled down.  Here’s a video that shows the general idea:

Or you can google “pull down shelf” and see some expensive examples for kitchen cabinets.  I think you could do it pretty simply a cheaply with some 1x2’s and 1/4” screws for pivots.

annoying forum interface

That is exactly why I use to utilize the QUOTE function so often. But that apparently annoyed a number of members. Lots of forums, trains, boats, cars, etc have the option to include a 'reply to quote' in their software. On this forum I found you need to use those  (" quote) marks in the second level of the icons above.

Lift bed?

Can you lift the bed instead of the layout? Build an upper-level-only bunk bed frame with the mattress close to the ceiling? (Don't sit up in bed suddenly). Removable ladder to get up into bed (laid on top of bed when not in use)?

Thanks for all the excellent

Thanks for all the excellent suggestions!  I can't do anything with the bed. It's a custom built gift to my son from my father in law. Quite nice and built to survive a 7+ earthquake.

That part of the layout will be the third installment so I have plenty of time to figure something out.  The simplest will be to go extra light weight so I can remove it easily by hand. Where is the engineering fun in that?  A lift of some sort using aluminum channel would be fun but a big challenge for me.  So would the pull down idea. That would be real cool though! We shall see what mood I'm in when it's time to build.  Once again thank you for the suggestions!