structural question

[Roman AB]

So I cut open my garage ceiling to put in an attic ladder. This is how the joists are set up. Should I be worried about having too much weight up there? I planned on decking an area about the size of 2 sheets of plywood to store camping stuff ect. Could the outside 2x4 on one side be removed and a vertical one be put in from where the old one was attached to the roof joist down to the ceiling joist so that I'll have a large open space to move around up there? Should I brace the center of the joists where they are joined with the metal piece? What are my options?

[mavrick]

If you did not cut the truss you are fine. Frame your opening, the ladder should fit the 24” truss just fine.

[Ironman]

Yeah, don't be cutting on your truss.

[Death from Above]

Was the truss designed for a storage load? Looking at its design i would say no. Make certain not to put alot of weight and that it is distributed. Adding strongbacks in the systemnwill also help with load distribution.

[Roman AB]

I’m definitely not going to cut the trusses. Just wondering if there was a way to modify them so that I would have more storage space. There is a lot of space up there past the garage area above my bathroom and above the mud room. After climbing up there I might see if there’s a way to deck it and enclose it in for upstairs storage through the back of a hall closet.