A rack lifting assembly for a dishwasher appliance is provided. The rack lifting assembly includes frame having rotatably mounted wheels to enable the frame to be rolled in and out of the wash chamber of the dishwasher appliance. A lower rack may be operably coupled to the frame by a pulley system including a rope winding between a first set of pulleys mounted to the frame and a second set of pulleys mounted to the lower rack. A retracting means, such as a motor, may wind and unwind a rope of the pulley system to move the lower rack vertically within the frame. Linear slides are mounted on the left and right sides of the frame to guide the lower rack, thereby keeping it in a horizontal orientation while lifting.