We’re in the process of redesigning our pit and plan to add upper storage, similar to that in the Super Pit design. We will not be using road cases; most of our frame will be build from aluminum extrusion (80/20). Our trailer door is only 5’7" so the upper structure will have to collapse down somehow for transport. For other teams doing this same thing, how did you do it? Do you like your design or not? We have done a lot of research but haven’t found anything we feel confident would be easy for a single person to move up and down. We’re looking for inspiration!
We use these 12v actuators, with potentiometer feedback, with these dual-actuator controllers. [Edit - looks like the potentiometer feedback controllers are no longer available, but hall-effect feedback models could work]. They’re guided by a welded steel frame incorporating these telescoping tubes.
The design works really well, although we did have one occasion where a feedback wire from one of the actuators was damaged, and as a result the two actuators got badly out of sync. Luckily it happened at home, but it was annoying to fix.
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We were strongly considering these motorcycle jacks, lifted by a cordless drill, but we wanted more travel. That could be an easy option for you though.
8020 is typically pretty weak in the corners, depending on what joints you use. Give the design some thought, because you would hate to have it fall apart or jam while lifting the upper shelf.
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We use similar tubes, lock pins, and muscle. Low-tech, but it can be done without power. Our overhead lighting slots into the upper structure as well. We add ~4ft (~2ft of lift + 2ft of lighting supports) between the travel and active configurations of the pit.
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The OG Super Pit from 973 uses gas springs to balance the weight of the upper shelf, and compressed air (from an onboard bottle) to lift and lower it.
I think 1114 has something similar, but they use a ratchet strap to pull down against the gas springs.
118’s Super Pit also has telescoping steel tubes for the upper structure, but they somehow lift it manually (definitely not a one person job)
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Here are some other lower cost options that require you unload the top shelf before raising it. (Can you tell we spent a bunch of time researching this? 
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Really like these options! Thanks
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The blue 2135 doesn’t require emptying, just muscle it as is.
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I’m sure that’s possible, but it wouldn’t meet the OP’s request for single-user setup. Even with extra bodies, I’d have the pit crew unload the shelf before flipping for safety reasons.
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As a team that has had a superpit since 2017. If you want a single person to be able to lift it, you will need an electric or pneumatic assist. Ours was based off of 973 and is gas shock only with pins. It takes two people to extend them. We have been investigation electric linear activities for years and may go that way eventually.
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Can’t copy that design as is then, as the there is no access to the bins once stowed.
I also did it solo once 
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Another thought - maybe you could use a (pretty cheap) long-stroke hydraulic bottle jack like this one, especially if you could figure out how to connect / synchronize two of them:
https://www.harborfreight.com/3-ton-super-heavy-duty-long-ram-round-bottom-hydraulic-jack-58867.html
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We used 12v Linear actuators from eBay on an aluminum square tube frame that we put together with water-jetted gussets and something like 800 rivets. We run it on a 3 position switch and an frc battery. We install safety pins in the tube when its up. Going on year 4 with it, its holding up well and after 3 trips to worlds, 5 regionals and 2 off season comps. I’d recommend putting some lighting that hang out over the main work area in the pit and hard mounting an air compressor depending on your work flow.
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Since you already have gas shocks, why not go to just a slightly bigger shock combination that gives you an upward force, and then put a rope on it to pull it down and hold it?
Engineering wise it would be much easier.
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We’ve been using the same setup as 5460 Strike Zone which is similar to the one @nuclearnerd posted just with different actuators off Amazon and paired with gas shocks from McMaster.
Highly recommended. Just press a switch and you can set the shelf to any height.
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Thanks to everyone who contributed ideas! We ended up getting lucky and the mentor who loans us his trailer was able to purchase one that’s just barely tall enough for us to travel with our pit fully extended.
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I would like to suggest an atwood RV jack with a very specific Motor XD