Too much clutter in your garage? Build these mobile storage systems that stack 17 gallon tough totes.
When I found mouse droppings in our garage after a vacation, I knew I had to tackle the clutter everywhere in our garage. We simply had too much stuff all over the place and it stacked and piled on top of one another making a perfect new home for a mouse family.
So my idea was to create a mobile storage system with wheels so I could roll it out regularly and use a blower to blow out spider webs or any potential mouse houses. It has turned out to be an awesome addition to the garage, and since building them a year ago– no evidence of mice!
Designing Container Storage
There were a number of design iterations that I went through to find the right layout. Many hand-drawn sketches as you can see above. First, I was going to add a shelf in between to make it easier to pull out each storage tote, but it would take up too much valuable height space.
The main aspects I was solving for were:
- Sturdy – They must withstand 600 lbs of weight inside 6 bins
- Mobile – Easy to roll around without falling apart
- Easy to Make – Use standard 2×4 foot lumber and 4×8 foot sheets of plywood
| Dimensions (L x W x H) | 65 x 24 x 37-1/2 inches |
| Materials (for one cart) | QTY 1 – 4 x 8 foot sheet of finished plywood QTY 8 – 2 x 4 foot Douglas Fir construction lumber QTY 4 – 3 inch castors with locking brake QTY 6 – HDX Tough Tote (17 Gal – 27W x 18L x 12.5H) Pocket Hole Screws |
| Tools Needed | Table Saw Miter Saw Cordless Drill Pocket Hole Jig Orbital Sander Router with Flush Trim Bit |
| Build Time | 2 Days |
| Difficulty | Easy |
Building the Storage System
The build process took a weekend to complete. Take a look at the pictures below to get a closer look at the design and build.
Conclusion
This was an easy build (albeit with a rather lengthy design phase) and it has worked out really well in my workshop. It’s very sturdy which is great for heavy items in the totes plus it doubles as an extra workbench if needed. And the icing on the top: no more mice in the garage!
I hope this gives you some inspiration to create your own mobile tote storage system!