you allready know the obvious tricks but one that I saw last year was really cool and a affordable option..the guy had grabbed a lift gate off the back of a delivery truck. Grandpa bolted the track system to the outside wall...he could load up the gate run it up slide the stuff off upstairs into a hole and back down for another load when done it would fold up against the wall and stick out maybe 8" or so I was impressed as on this last garage I spent the extra money for custom rafters to have a storage area above the garage but only have one of those silly folding ladders for access..
