[raelming]

Just about every forklift uses a 1/2:1 pulley system in the the chains that lift the fork carriage up the mast. The main lifting pistons push a pulley upwards with chains tied to the fork carriage and mast base routed through the pulley.

[araes]

Maybe I don't understand what you're describing. That sounds like a system where you'd prefer slow, and really heavy lift capacity?