So, I just got my new baby: a 1 ton Savana. I’m trying to decide on DIY shelving layouts and curious what you all have found to be the most effective. I’d be especially grateful for pics showing layouts that have worked well for you.
(Of course, with my usual uncanny timing I bought this just as business seems to have slowwwwwwwwwwwwed downnnnnnnnnnnnnnn 😉 )
TIA
PaulB
Replies
Want to narrow it down a little? What kind of work do you do, what tools and materials will you be carrying (and how often of each)?
Jim Tolpin's "The Toolbox Book" has one or two uber-organized van layouts.
A year from now, we'll both be thinking "I wonder if one of us ever started that thread on van setups" :-)
I posted this before. You might have seen it. But just in case, here's a re-run.
It took me the better part of a day to design, buy the materials, cut, assemble and install. And it cost about $200 in materials. So it may look simple, but it was actually almost a real project.
Here is the rear view. Each drawer is about 24"W X 15"H X 48"D. There is a gap below the bottom shelf for carrying sheet goods. The gap is a little over 6" high. If I need more than 12 sheets of drywall (for example), I'm having it delivered. On top, I can still slide in a pre-hung door or molding up to 14'.
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The drawers pull open fairly easily since they slide on furniture glides. Especially considering that each drawer weighs about 75 lbs when loaded. They slide out 80% of the way and if I can't reach something in the back of the drawer from the outside, I can get it from the inside. The drawers are prevented from sliding all the way forward (in a panic stop or accident) by cleats screwed to the bottom of each drawer. Even if the cleat breaks, the top of the drawer will catch the cabinet after sliding a few more inches.
From the side you can see that it still leaves a nice size storage area for things that don't travel with me all of the time (like the table saw or my bicycle).
Here's the view of the drawers.
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We're in the same boat in a number of ways.
I bought a van way back in the beginning of the year before I was promoted to PM.
I bought it to be able to do my work more efficiently and get off my knees crawling in and out of my Ranger.
Having been promoted I had no immediate need for it so it has been sitting. I still intended to set it up so I can be ready for whatever working for who ever.
Of late I have been getting the ball rolling to some small degree. Designing the inside is a very perplexing task to me.
Retail metal bin systems are simply not suitable.
I have determined that I will build a partition with a sliding door between the cargo and cab area from 1/2" MDO. I must have a dust proof divider to the cab. i simply cannot exist in a dusty mees that will find it's way forward.
Inside the side doors to the left will be a space for several Stanley organizer trays stacked up as well as a spot for drop cloths.
Straight ahead from the doors will be all of my tool boxes on a shelf 6" from the floor.
Another shelf above for more stuff like power tools and nailguns.
Entering from the rear; shelf on the right for the new 745 and the 716. On the left a shelf for the Rigid vac and some space for shims and to hang up cords.
That's about as far as I have been able to figure this out in the brief periods of time I have been able to devote to designing this.
I intent to use 3/4" birch for most of the shelves and such and would like to at least brush a coule of coats of poly on everything.
What I need is a day or two of free time to go at it.
Good luck with your new truck Paul.
Let's swap pics. I'm sure you'll be way ahead of me :)
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Don't be too sure Eric... the curse of being German is that I'll undoubtedly tear it apart a few times ;) I already built a section of shelving and have decided to tear it out tomorrow. I'm using some really heavy duty Stanley shelf supports I found at HD. They are a good fit to the vertical "ribs" inside the van and very beefy. My biggest problem is that now that I have all this space deciding what I really must carry vs. what I'd like to carry and still have room for material.
BTW, mine does have a "headache rack" or bulkhead and I can tell you that being perforated makes it a lot nicer to be able to look back through it and out the side window. Just a thought if you're making that MDF divider...
Real nice design Don, you must be a German with that kind of organization ;) I think I need more space for bulky items, as well as fairly often having to move cabinets that we build in the shop. I appreciate the effort the post the pics, as well as giving me a bench mark to shoot for...
PaulB
Ford and GM are two way different animals inside. I have a bunch od skin and stuff designed to attatch panels to. You have tose nice ribs.
Work in progress for sure.
Partition will have a sliding door to open and look out the side window if I want. No big deal really loosing that ability. it's a truck after all.
I want to be able to carry sheet goods standing up and cabs as well when the need is there.
If you have a really big need to carry a lot of cabs and stuff, you might just want to toss your stuff inand go on a daily basis.
I'm tossed also about what I want in the truck at all times. i don't need to carry everything I own.
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I had an older Chevy 3/4 ton and wish I could switch back from my current pickup. The system I built inside was very functional for me. I took an 8' 4x4 and dadoed an 1 1/2 deep by 3 1/2" tall in two spots. I then cut a dado for 3/4" ply on the flat side of my 2x4's about an 1" from the bottom. I assembled the shelves with enough height to get the table saw and compressor underneath, saw and drill cases on top, and bulkier tool boxes in the middle. I ran them from the cargo cage in front to about 14" from the back so that I could hang my bags right inside the door. I was easily able to carry material and sheet goods, a fork truck could even get a pallet inside. All cords and hoses were hung up (most of the time) and most everything was visible. My design was very simple yet suited me perfect.
Good luck
Dustin
Any progress?
None on my end...............[email protected]
Knocked out one quick and dirty shelf, going to live (work) with it for a week or so to decide what I really need to accomodate and then build accordingly...
Oh yeah, I also won the Nigerian Lottery.
Hope your weekend was as good :)PaulB
Oh yeah, I also won the Nigerian Lottery.
That makes two of us!
Sittin here waiting for Desperate Housewives to begin..........yippee![email protected]