Super Easy DIY Tote Storage Rack | Free Plans

Free plans are available: www.builditmakeit.com/projects/totestoragerack
The video is about how to build a storage system for 27 gallon totes. The system is made of 2x4 or 2x3 lumber and consists of two ladder-like structures with cross pieces to hold the totes.
Materials:
30 - 2x4x8’ (or 2x3)
~240 - Screws 2.5” long: geni.us/7QgL0 (Amazon)
24 - 27 gallon totes: geni.us/bttoZ (Amazon)
sovrn.co/d0a81ri (Lowes)
Tools:
Hand Saw: geni.us/SCcN5 (Amazon)
Drill driver: geni.us/StcWUzI (Amazon)
Tape measure: geni.us/S54u4 (Amazon)
Optional
Miter saw: geni.us/qGKzHx4 (Amazon)
Pocket hole jig: geni.us/RgYqo (Amazon)
Pocket hole screws: geni.us/K0xi (Amazon)
Build It Make It Links:
----------------------------------------------------
Website: builditmakeit.com
Etsy Shop: etsy.com/shop/BuildItMakeIt
Instagram: builditmakeit
Printables: www.printables.com/social/459902-builditmakeit
Links may be affiliate links.
#storage #diy #garagestorage

[@samiam511]

Thank you SO much for this video and FREE plans! My husband and I built these this week end. We are not super experienced but your instructions were clear and EASY.

[@BuildItMakeIt]

You are so welcome and I am glad it went well.

[@buildersjourney]

Kress, I love your videos and I was looking for plans for this online and this was the first thing that came up. Hope things are going well my friend. -Voorhies

[@BuildItMakeIt]

Hey how are you! Glad you liked it and that is crazy you stumbled on the design. Take care.

[@Benjammin43]

dude you are a life saver this is awesome.

[@BuildItMakeIt]

Glad I could help!

[@earlylyte1]

Watched this two days ago, finished mine today!

[@BuildItMakeIt]

That is awesome!

[@austinclark3980]

Nice! That looks awesome

[@BuildItMakeIt]

Thanks!!!

[@user-fp9bf5qg9o]

Great ideal, simple/structurally sound design, and user friendly. What more could you want in a DIY project.

[@BuildItMakeIt]

Glad you like it!

[@jeffdrake869]

Worked out great! Thanks for keeping it simple!! Did it with 2x3’s. 👍🏼👍🏼

[@BuildItMakeIt]

Excellent! With lumber getting more expensive I am liking the 2x3s more and more. Glad it went well.

[@TowMan127]

Awesome!!! Love this, just subscribed. 💪💪

[@BuildItMakeIt]

Thanks! Glad you liked it.

[@TowMan127]

@@BuildItMakeIt heck yeah! Came out great! I’m going to attempt either the way you did it or similar cause I’m tired of having to move bins off each other to get the one on the bottom. 😂

[@CJ-ep7tg]

Great guide! You could also have added a lot of stability by screwing in a metal cross base on the back running diagonally.

[@BuildItMakeIt]

Yeah a diagonal cross brace would help it. I screwed mine into my ceiling joists so it is plenty strong and most people have been screwing it into the back wall, but it if was free standing it would need more bracing for sure.

[@user-qu2kx6ii5h]

I'd love these plans

[@BuildItMakeIt]

They are free on my website. There was a a link in the description.

[@marshawnlynch64]

“I’m Johnny Knoxville and welcome to DIY tote storage shelves!”

[@djmattplay]

I have some sunken floor joists in my old house. I’m thinking about building these in my basement and also using them to raise and straighten the sunken floor joists to help level out my floors.

[@BuildItMakeIt]

That sounds like a great idea.

[@ydnas77]

I’m def trying to do this. Way cheaper than buying the shelfs that only got like 6. Also totes are way cheaper at sams club

[@BuildItMakeIt]

Thanks for the info on samsclub that the totes are way cheaper!

[@LincolnHawk-bk5yr]

Oh, I've got to build me a hoagie storage system in the garage. I don't know how I've gotten along without one this long.

[@BuildItMakeIt]

Yeah it’s a real bummer when your hoagies are just scattered around. Real live changing once I got mine under control.

[@northjerseykevin409]

Nice build. Did you use Kreg screws for the entire project ? Fancy

[@KamakaziUnicorn]

Thanks for this! I was about to start spending hundreds on 5 tier storage shelves! if the boxes are heavier, do you recommend adding in something for under the boxes to help with stability?

[@BuildItMakeIt]

I think you are good up to 50 lbs without any more support. If you start to get a lot heavier than that then I think I would switch to bottom supported.

[@paulczerner3286]

diagonal cross braces to keep it from wobbling. Triangles, baby!

[@BuildItMakeIt]

Yeah that would make it more sturdy.

[@jessicarichardson1502]

Do you think it would work to add paneling to the back of it to make it a little sturdier and give it a more polished look? I'm thinking of making something like this for my bedroom since we dont have closets. ☺️

[@BuildItMakeIt]

That's a great idea! If you do that I would love to see how it turns out.

[@martinkuo9262]

Hey Build It! I'm thinking about doing this in our garage and have it attached to the wall. What would be the best way to secure it against our wall? What screws would I use?

[@BuildItMakeIt]

I think the easiest would be to pre attach a 2x4 to the back wall. Then you could use 3 or so lag bolts through the back at around eye level to screw to that 2x4. I have done that with heavy lumber racks in the past so it should be plenty strong.

[@TRapJumpin52]

you could actually put sum wheels on the bottom too so u don’t worry about it being super sturdy and it can move around the house too

[@BuildItMakeIt]

That's a great idea. I think if I make another one I would add some wheels.

[@AdventureOne]

Building a smaller (8 tote version) with 2x3s

[@BuildItMakeIt]

Nice!! I would love to see a picture after it’s done.

[@rastercaster]

I always wondered why 2x4 strips arent added to the back side to prevent the wobble so that its braced. It would be easy and cheap to do.

[@BuildItMakeIt]

Because later in the video I screwed it to the garage to get rid of the wobble. This was done to minimize wood and once screwed to the garage the cross pieces wouldn't add any more rigidity.

[@HandyChristopherWard]

I like this idea. I love how some of the comments are like: Can this be done with red totes? How about green ones? Does the wood have to be real? What's the difference between screws and nails? Please break down for my the exact weight capacity of storage totes I might buy from a random store. I are the new wood werker - I own only a single screw driver, can it be used for more than 1 screw? Keep up the good work man, be well.

[@BuildItMakeIt]

ha ha! Thanks. I really appreciate it. I try to be thorough in my descriptions but alas...

[@jmora2031]

How did you secure the ladders to the frames? Did you use a kreg jig?

[@BuildItMakeIt]

I screwed then into the bottom and then used the kreg jig on the top because I had to build it in place.

[@tmb163022]

Do have plans for a sideways configuration for this type of storage? I’d have to have them run the other way or be unable to park my car in my garage due to space limitations.

[@BuildItMakeIt]

Sorry just the one configuration.

[@INGRIDOLSON-vs3zc]

What kind of weight can those totes hold without breaking ? Also, is it possible to add brackets to the back to make it more sturdy then attaching to the ceiling or wall

[@BuildItMakeIt]

I am not sure on maximum weight but I have one with over 50 lbs of chemicals in it and another one with some steel parts. I don't think filling it with steel would be a good idea, but so far 50 lbs hasn't been to much. The point of attaching to the ceiling or wall is so it won't fall over. If you put a cross brace across the back diagonally then I think you would be pretty good for stabilizing it rocking back and forth.

[@TheRenpeg]

Really depends. The ones from lowes are thinner and flex alot. Costco ones are thicker with less flex

[@meganphillips9077]

Has anyone made this with doors? If so, how did you attach them?

[@BuildItMakeIt]

So far I haven't seen anyone make this setup with doors. I think face hinges would be the easiest. If your doors aren't to thick and heavy I think normal cabinet hinges would work (amzn.to/43N74E4). You may want something larger if your doors are heavy.

[@saveyorsol]

How do you think this will do with a cross bar and some wheels?

[@BuildItMakeIt]

Sadly, not good. I don't think this is a good design for mobility as it was really more focused on trying to use as little material as possible while still being really strong.

[@rslr]

Shout out to the 'subliminal' messaging on the tape measure :) (Thanks for the video, btw!)

[@BuildItMakeIt]

Thanks! Glad you enjoyed that.

[@jewittm]

People need to beware that not all black and yellow 27 gallon totes DO NOT have the same dimensions.

[@BuildItMakeIt]

Thanks. So far the confirmed ones are the ones linked on Amazon, Lowe’s, and Costco. Those from Home Depot do NOT fit. If anyone else has physically confirmed others that have these dimensions that would be great to know.

[@natto_4]

I know my Costco and Home Depot look very similar but have different different dimensions and lids

[@iDropRocks]

I gave a 3/8” leeway on the boxes to slide in and out. (Width wise) I bet I could’ve gone with a little tighter squeeze, so even if it’s lifted one side can’t fall down past the support. I’d lean to more support over ease of slide, my stuff sitting there more than moving. So 1/4” on each side, of the container would hold well and still slide fine

[@nsant]

2:58

[@tanyabrown1847]

Get your totes first before build the frame.

[@dogback6017]

What kind of screws you used and how many boxes.

[@BuildItMakeIt]

I used pan head screws but any 2 to 2.5 inch wood screws should be fine.

[@canes3985]

Why is the description does it say 30 2x4x8’s but in the video you say 48? I’m confused

[@BuildItMakeIt]

That can be a bit confusing. You need to cut 48 stretchers from the 2x4x8' boards.

[@ThePaulwarner]

When I stack these bins directly on the garage floor, they seem to become spider hotels … I wonder if your approach would combat that by raising them off the floor ?

[@BuildItMakeIt]

I haven't noticed any webs on the totes and I do think having them off the ground helps. I could be in a less spidery area than you though.

[@jonathancreaven2476]

This is awesome!!! Do you sell these?

[@BuildItMakeIt]

Thanks! I don’t sell them but there are free plans on my website www.builditmakeit.com

[@HH-bv7jg]

You should build one with wheels

[@BuildItMakeIt]

That's a really good idea. Maybe ill do one on wheels for my shop so I can move it around if I don't like the location.

[@robaustin8479]

Does anyone know if the Sam's Club totes fit?

[@JH-mo1nt]

I got some from Costco and some from Sam's Club a few months ago and both fit in the same spaces. They are slightly different designs but both have the thick edges that make them usable on rails.

[@mitchjr6518]

Are you using Kreg screws??

[@BuildItMakeIt]

Yep. I bought a 5 thousand pack around 14 years ago on sale and have still been going through them. They maybe aren’t the ideal screws for shear strength, but I’ve got a lot of them.

[@zachcrawford5530]

What’s the overall dimensions after built?

[@BuildItMakeIt]

about 8'3" tall and about 7 1/2' wide. It is variable if you want to add or drop a column.

[@udchandyman]

What would be the price for a rack like that ?

[@BuildItMakeIt]

About 70-100 dollars depending on local lumber prices.

[@patshipp9195]

💖💖👍👍🙏🙏👍👍💖💖

[@elishagiles9126]

Is there a tipping hazard with this?

[@BuildItMakeIt]

I haven’t heard of anyone having a tripping issue and we haven’t had any issues with it since I built it.

[@HandyChristopherWard]

Tipping hazard is mitigated by securing it to the wall and or the ceiling.

[@occthep]

Do you plans don't see

[@camerongeorge4246]

how much weight can each bin hold

[@BuildItMakeIt]

Oh, I’m not sure. I have one with over 75 lbs of powders in it. I would assume around 100 lbs. if it was high with a lot of weight it may be tricky to get it in and out.

[@justinjonbaugh]

@@BuildItMakeIt Do you have trouble with the tote bottoms stretching when loaded heavy?

[@BuildItMakeIt]

@@justinjonbaugh not these ones. I have other totes that I tried in the past to make something similar and they warped over time and fell out.

[@veganconservative1109]

Or start bowing out he bottom or the lip edges holding the whole thing in place.@@BuildItMakeIt

[@LindaBissell-cx5pq]

Can.you send me the plans

[@BuildItMakeIt]

Plans are linked in the description at my website.

[@angelasalvatore8878]

What is the estimated cost

[@BuildItMakeIt]

Really depends on wood prices in your area but mine was about 50 dollars.

[@Mapleaple]

Stacks boxes on each other instead. Yes I did it but eliminated the use of wood. Jk great project

[@BuildItMakeIt]

Nice! Good way to cut down on material ;)

[@caseymullins9561]

Hahaha, Hoagies.. hahaha😂

[@BuildItMakeIt]

Its always good to have a few on hand :)

[@jaydoe3707]

I loved this idea until I i thought about someone breaking into my garage and then having everything packed for them to load up... I know I'm being a little paranoid but my new plan will be to build less of this style and then some diy locker style shelves as well. 😅

[@BuildItMakeIt]

Oh yeah that is true it would be quick to unload the whole rack. That’s a cool idea to do locker style shelves.

[@melissaleppin6021]

You can make the slides a hair deeper. Drill a hole in the uprights across the front and thread a cable through - Padlock the ends if your concerned. @@BuildItMakeIt

[@BuildItMakeIt]

This is a great idea. Super simple and not very expensive.

[@nundisclosed7135]

If they get into your garage they WILL get into your home as well and I don't think they'd take totes over TVs, jewelry, etc etc. Just saying ;)

[@nundisclosed7135]

If they get into your garage they WILL get into your home as well and I don't think they'd take totes over TVs, jewelry, etc etc. Just saying ;)

[@tedandceciliamcglynn2623]

Why don't you just stack them?

[@BuildItMakeIt]

You can totally stack them, but then it is hard to get to the bottom one if you get in and out of them frequently.

[@ginajimenez2331]

So you can unstack them every time you need to get to something.. This is for people who actually get in and out of their storage bins. Not for horders who just have bins full of garbage they never use.

[@robertnorris1808]

Plan are not free if you consider all of your personal info that you have to give out and never knowing how secure your info will stay. IMHO

[@BuildItMakeIt]

Thanks! I really appreciate it.

[@newtybot]

You also don’t need plans to build this It’s an ingenious solution to a mundane problem, but any Joe should be able to just take a glance at it and figure out exactly how to make it

[@guysolis5843]

This is a re-make of "Dado Dad's" video from 2 years ago. Are you affiliated with him?

[@BuildItMakeIt]

No I haven’t seen the video. I’ll have to check it out. I’ve had similar tote storage for over a decade now. I had a neighbor when I was a kid have a rack sort of like this which is where I got the idea from when I first made it.

[@BuildItMakeIt]

Ok I checked out his video. He also has some plans and he has the rack shorter and with more spacing in between totes. I think that format is better if you don’t want totes up to the ceiling but I think mine is better from a wood efficient standpoint. Hopefully this helps people see there are multiple options. Thanks for pointing out his video.

[@guysolis5843]

@@BuildItMakeIt Ok, just curious...you made a great video, love the graphics etc..

[@guysolis5843]

@BuildItMakeIt and that's what's great about going public...people offering different points of view. My other channel is based on straight razor restoration, honing and rescaling using bone and other materials..people are amazing to offer their pov and thanks for allowing us your idea and carpentry skills!

[@user-cm8jr3ct3q]

Shout out to Dado Dad KZbin channel, who this guy stole the idea from

[@EvilDaveCanada]

This basic design is older than the Internet. Just like me.

[@galvanizedgnome]

Stolen

[@AlphaRay220]

Not a fan of you sending viewers through an entire purchase process for "free plans" 🙄. Seems like email/data harvesting to me.

[@BuildItMakeIt]

I can totally understand that. I didn't used to have it setup that way I give out a number of free plans and files (and sell a few too), but people keep stealing them and selling them as their own so I am trying to cut down on the scraping of my stuff for resale so I have some recourse. I used to get mad emails about people getting ripped off from some other person selling them the plans and then they would give them my files which wasn't what they were promised or some other issue. When I changed to going through the checkout prosses and then also put the plans on Etsy myself to protect my IP that fraud stuff went way down. Plus then people have an option to donate which is how I can pay for the website hosting and stuff for making the videos. I am a pretty small channel trying to navigate this all and haven't made a profit yet in over three years sharing stuff on KZbin. Hope that helps you understand somewhat why I have a checkout process for free plans.

[@dustinsiegert5561]

😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😂nl

[@bbb129]

Man getting free stuff is so horrible, Enough complaining!

[@AlphaRay220]

@@bbb129 Ok. Only for you tho!

[@bbb129]

@@AlphaRay220 somebody put hard work into getting you something you clearly want, for free. And you complain, we can do better.