I was watching a Youtube video on a channel I subscribe to and the content creator was discussing the subject of shelving and storage in a shipping container. He had several 44 foot containers in which he stored vehicle parts, tools and materials. For those who don’t have buildings in which to store materials, the shipping container offers a good alternative. The initial problem when loading them up with your valuable bits and pieces is vertical storage. Most items end up on the floor initially. It was a dilemma that I was faced with.
My problem was where to get information about bike storage etc, in a 20 foot shipping container?
Searches online at the time didn’t deal with the topic, so the solution had to be custom made. The first job was to measure the internal length and height of the container. I decided on building wooden shelving, 8 foot long by 2 foot wide, by 7 foot nine inches high. This would allow me to cut all the timber to size, build the shelves outside, but assemble them inside the container. I used 18mm OSB for the shelf surface and all shelves had cross member bracing, for corner uprights and one upright at the back of the shelving unit at 4 feet. I built two shelving units which gave 16 feet of shelving, the shelf spacing being determined by the size of the plastic storage boxes. These were placed along one side of the container. I did not finish the top shelf on the second unit as I intended using it for storing rims and some matters needed to be worked out.
I also had a small
space left between the shelving and the container door in which
wheels were piled. Not an ideal solution, so I again I gave this some
thought and decided to build a 3 shelf unit in which to store wheels
and tyres. I did this during the summer of 2021, so determined to use
as much spare/scrap timber as I had lying around. Any new timber
purchased would have to be the minimum because of the current very
high timber prices. I initially built one shelf to test and prove the
concept, before embarking on building more shelving and assembling
the shelving. Once the concept was shown to work, I finished the top
shelf of the 8
foot shelving for storing rims, before assembling the
wheel shelving.
My wood working skills are basic to say the least, but I am satisfied with the shelving. It will hold all of the weight entrusted to it and it is sturdy. I am pleased with the wheel storage unit and would like to build a bigger unit as it is a tidy way to store wheels and tyres. It does the job I want and also used up a lot of timber which was lying around. It has organised the container much better and has allowed me to get my work bench out of a damp shed into the dry container. The work bench will get a make over in the spring, with a new top and a machine vice fitted. All the necessary timber is in the container as well, so once spring arrives with drier weather and longer days I will get to work and get the job completed.
