Under-bed tool storage?

[ls1dreams]

Hi all,

I currently live in an apartment with very little storage space.

I have roughly an 11x10 bedroom, and have 1/2 of a closet to work with.

For these reasons, my room is filled with cardboard boxes of electronics and tools that I just don't know what to do with.

Any suggestions for some low-height (<5" or so) under-bed tool storage solutions?

I have some of the plastic bins from Target that I use to store paperwork, but would like something a little more substantial for some tools.

Thanks!

 

[454ragtop]

How about one of those boxes they sell to put in the bed of a pickup or floor of a van, with long slide out drawers. Recently saw a couple on the local CL too. http://www.toolboxes4less.com/truck-van-tool-storage-drawers.html#.UfaEIvfD9gQ
Jim

 

[PCO6]

Be careful with what you store under your bed. Years ago a friend of mine was restoring an MG TC and decided to store his freshly rechromed grille ($$$) under his bed. He and his wife were doing the horizantal momba one night and wouldn't you know it ... the bed broke. Fixing the bed was a LOT cheaper than redoing the grille.

 

[trout]

better to get a toolbox to put in your closet, and then put whatever you had in the closet under the bed.

 

[ls1dreams]

better to get a toolbox to put in your closet, and then put whatever you had in the closet under the bed.

Unfortunately not really an option because my closet is VERY shallow. It's basically just good for hanging up clothes, but that's it.

 

[4BT]

Toolbox on the apartment balcony?

 

[Bjkearns]

I am going to be having a similar situation real soon.
Thinking of getting bed risers. I have my tools stored in tool bags by category.

 

[willhollin]

Get rid of the bed and get two KRL boxes back to back with butcher block top, then put the mattress on top.

 

[fourjeepin]

Years ago I built under bed storage and it worked great. What I did was I built a bed frame which replaced the bed frame and box springs. Covered the frame with a piece of 3/4" plywood. I put a folding handle on the top of the plywood. Put hinges on the plywood at least a foot away from the back side. Mine was against a wall so I didn't have to worry about it sliding off the frame. Oh, and add a prop arm so you can dig around under there without holding up the mattress and plywood. It gets heavy quick.

 

[JerseyBoatBuilder]

At my G.f's I use these http://www.target.com/p/clearview-p...-box-60-qt/-/A-13794500#?lnk=sc_qi_detaillink

And a krsc46

 

[Stooge]

At my G.f's I use these http://www.target.com/p/clearview-p...-box-60-qt/-/A-13794500#?lnk=sc_qi_detaillink

get some of those bins and the little "stilt" cups they market for dorm rooms that sit under the bed frame feet to jack it up and get some more space underneath it. or a metal cabinet that a local business is tossing
http://www.dormsmart.com/Bed-Risers_c_710.html

 

[rsanter]

Buy a few mid chests, put the bed frame on them
Use the space between for hand carry boxes

Bob

 

[jameswood]

Hi all,

I currently live in an apartment with very little storage space.

I have roughly an 11x10 bedroom, and have 1/2 of a closet to work with.

For these reasons, my room is filled with cardboard boxes of electronics and tools that I just don't know what to do with.

Any suggestions for some low-height (<5" or so) under-bed tool storage solutions?

I have some of the plastic bins from Target that I use to store paperwork, but would like something a little more substantial for some tools.

Thanks!

5" is not enough to anything other than what you are already doing, so need to raise it up.

Few ideas:

I plan to build one for my daughter who is moving to dorm next month after I know measurements. Not hard to do just two sides and a back with a top and possibly a bottom to keep it square, then use full extension heavy duty slides. Make the drawer boxes and attach to slides. Basically just building a drawer base cabinet.

Another way is just buy some rubbermaids and slide them under there. Maybe make a frame and that frame could both raise bed and act as partitions for several rows of rubbermaids.

 

[Robbie UK]

5" is not enough to anything other than what you are already doing, so need to raise it up.

Few ideas:

Another way is just buy some rubbermaids and slide them under there.

Ok for the dumb British guy please tell me these are 'divided by a common language' moments.

 

[ChevyEFI]

Ok for the dumb British guy please tell me these are 'divided by a common language' moments.

Just a brand of plastic goods?

 

[Bouchard93]

Years ago I built under bed storage and it worked great. What I did was I built a bed frame which replaced the bed frame and box springs. Covered the frame with a piece of 3/4" plywood. I put a folding handle on the top of the plywood. Put hinges on the plywood at least a foot away from the back side. Mine was against a wall so I didn't have to worry about it sliding off the frame. Oh, and add a prop arm so you can dig around under there without holding up the mattress and plywood. It gets heavy quick.

Is there any chance u have pics??????

 

[Craptain]

At my G.f's I use these http://www.target.com/p/clearview-p...-box-60-qt/-/A-13794500#?lnk=sc_qi_detaillink

Those are what I use at home. There is not too much in the way of actual tools, except for a very small kit I carry when working, but the weight is still there and they work fine for me. Standard bed frame BTW is 7" (not 5") but bed risers can help. Especially if you do away with the box spring and just make a platform for the mattress.

 

[jakemac]

Ok for the dumb British guy please tell me these are 'divided by a common language' moments.

Rubbermaid™ is a brand of plastic products for the home. Rubbish bins, totes, storage containers, etc.

It is not, in fact, a latex encased domestic cleaning woman with a dominating personality.

 

[dcm223]

I had the same problem awhile back. I tossed the box spring and built a raised platform for the mattress to rest on. Mine had 16 inches of clearance underneath so I could put large storage totes under the bed.

 

[crewchief888]

Get rid of the bed and get two KRL boxes back to back with butcher block top, then put the mattress on top.

^^^ this

it's garage journal afterall

 

[atwageman]

We used cinder blocks to raise our bed. The cheap plastic bed risers break to easy, regardless if your having relations with your other half or not.

 

[4BT]

A nice 40" lower box would make a decent TV stand too

 

[CWP1616L]

Have you tried the Sterilite 41 quart under bed box?

 

[KSB]

My son has a mates bed, we were not using the mattress for much so I got rid of the second mattress and screwed some rubbermaid storage bins like the one pictured above to the pull out frame. It now serves as his toy box.

 

[SlappyWhite]

I built three wooden boxes that replaced my box spring. They are large enough to hold the standard rubbermade containers. This added tonnes of storage for stuff you do not commonly use (have to remove mattress for access, but that could be worked around with more design). That will free up some closet room for tools, did for me at the time.

 

[TAMPAGT07]

Is there any chance u have pics??????

Hey Bouchard93, the girl in your avitar is using the wrong tools for the job...She needs to be holding the smallest ignition wrenches you can find, instead of those large ajustables...Just sayin, always use the right tools for the job...

 

[Holt]

Im think strategically placed peg board around the apartment

 

[scw1991]

faced same situation a few months back. Had a 41" tool chest/cabinet cram packed full of tools. now all my tools reside under the bed in tupperware containers purchased at Home Depot and Target. Works out great and they are durable with latching lids.