Need help creating a winch and pulley system to pull a component up the robot

[TikiTech]

How about an actual spool?

You can use a left over 3d filament spool, old fishing rod parts, wire spool, auto winch parts from the junk yard, plumbing parts. I have even seen lathed down wooden 4x4..

So many spools and spool simulants

Try the hardware store, they might have something they can donate

Now when you get a spool the trick is .... interfacing it with your motor/transmission.

Good luck this season.

Aloha!