Pallet rack loft?

[vlocci]

I started planning a wood 12x30 loft for my garage when I stumbled into some pallet racking for sale.

The pallet racking is 4 foot wide uprights with 14 foot beams. I am toying with only installing beams in the topmost position (to form an upside down u) and stacking 4 foot width against each other to essentially form two 14 x 12platforms.

The uprights would be bolted to the floor, but would only have cross beams on the topmost level. The cross beams for each adjoining section of rack would be bolted to each other as well. I would skin the top level with some 5/8 plywood.

Would pallet racking with cross beams only in the uppermost position be stable, or are they destined to wobble?

Anyone ever try something like this or am I nuts for considering it?

 

[Charles (in GA)]

Can you brace it to the building structure? or possibly add diagonal braces to it. Is it just for storage? or are you planning on having parties up there?

Charles

 

[vlocci]

I can likely add some bracing to the building and some angled supports as well.

No dance parties up top, but I was planning on moving some of my wood shop up there.

Anyone ever assemble pallet racking with only one shelf?

Vin

 

[darkk]

You will need some lateral support so it doesn't slip sideways. The support should be able to hold the load you will place on the rack plus the weight of the rack system itself.

 

[dirttracker18]

Fill in the remaining 6 feet (if I am understanding correctly) to the other wall and it cannot move laterally then.

In other words if your shop is 30 feet across and the racking will be 24 feet wide (two sections of 12 feet) then you just need to build across the last six feet and use the walls to stabilize the whole thing.

 

[wolflrv]

In addition to the lateral support, I'd also consider some cross-bracing on each 4x14 section for the flooring. I'd also use 3/4" not 5/8". I had a 3x7 workbench with 5/8" plywood and no center supports that sagged badly after just a few years. I couldn't imagine what it would of been like used as a floor.

 

[fitz11]

At work we have a few sections 8' tall with only a top beam. it is bolted to the floor and is suprisingly sturdy. For extra stability you could bolt or weld the beams to the uprights. Also if you are going to be working up there I would build a 2x4 floor on top of the beams and then lay down the plywood. Good luck with the project!

 

[vlocci]

Fitz

Thanks for the first hand knowledge. I am going to give this a shot. If it fails miserably I will likely have some pallet racking for sale shortly

 

[rsanter]

you can do that but will want to limit the weight you put of there due to the lack of tortional stiffness

a friend did the same thing lining up 3 sections of palet racking (3deep) and made a work area below and storage above for fenders,hoods, and such

bob

 

[ridgebk995]

Did you ever wind up doing this loft? I’m thinking of something similar and wondering what your experience was.

 

[vlocci]

I did. It worked remarkably well and was fast and inexpensive.

Sadly no pictures at hand as I've since sold that shop.

Sent from my Pixel 4a using Tapatalk

 

[TractorJeff]

FWIW: I've seen this done in a couple of different places. Having it near a wall where the pass thru is not a requirement allows for the X bracing to be installed. I have 5 foot width Racking in my Shop. The first Shelf is 5 feet off the floor with Oil drums stored on it. The second Shelf is at 10 feet with smaller lighter Stuff stored on it.