Pallet Racking/Storage Solutions

[mm289]

Looks like we are going to be moving in the New Year which is good apart from I need to re-home the entire contents of my workshops as, initially, we will be going into rented until we find somewhere to buy (with a very big workshop or space to build one)

So I am thinking of finding an industrial/storage unit or similar to move all the gear into, but want to do it in a way that is manageable. I have access to a big supply of pallets so am thinking I will palletise as much of the heavy stuff as I can, engines, gearbox's, mills yada yada

But to save on floor space I am wondering how practical/cost effective it is to use some form of pallet racking - or what that even looks like? It won't be massive weights, probably max 250kg on a pallet, but being able to get at least 2 pallets ontop of each other would halve the floorspace I need - and I already think I am looking at 100sqm+

Is this a sensible idea or anyone got any better suggestion (apart from sell all my gear which has been suggested once or twice by those dearest to me)

Cheers,

MM

 

[lostcookie]

I advise finding out what the rules are on the maximum size of industrial unit that doesn't need rates paying on it. Have a word with your local authority and find out what the rules are.

 

[frank horton]

pallet racking is def the way to go..
remember to allow enough head hight for the second pallet and the forklift mast...
plenty of cheapish racking about, even if u cut the ends in 1/2 like I did.....
better yet it'll come in handy in the new place.....
my racking will support the front of the mezzanine floor as well in mine, so it will do two jobs....

 

[sako243]

One slightly mad idea I had when I moved from Surrey to Wales was to buy a shipping container, put everything into it and then it could be moved easily enough. Didn't go through with it though.

 

[mm289]

Cheers guys. I'm guessing the agents will know about rates, got my son trying to dig something up with his local farmers but more 'n likely i'll end up having to go commercial

@frank horton any examples of the sort of thing you are thinking about? I probs won't have access to a forklift unless I can borrow one but was thinking about a high lift pallet truck as I wont be lifting a lot of weight and probably don't need massive height either......

@sako243 The problem with the container is I am then dependant on others for moving. If I can get the timing right I hope to be able to move stuff bit by bit over the course of 4 weeks or so.

TBH my biggest headache I think will be taking down my 4 post bradbury lift - it was a big job getting it here and then setting it up - not sure if I am going to be able to take it, might be better off letting it go and getting a new one when the new house/workshop is sorted

Cheers,

MM

 

[sako243]

I could alleviate you of the 4 poster

 

[RichardM]

Have a look at your local racking firms, ask if they stock second hand racking.

If you go for a high lift pallet truck don't forget the lower forks need access too. Just think on which stuff will be needed the least and stick it on top or just take the stuff out of the bottom bay when putting something above.

Access to free pallets - enough to sort out slave pallets on the racking as well so you are not restricted in pallet size being stored / having to put everything on suitable pallets?

 

[8ob]

TBH my biggest headache I think will be taking down my 4 post bradbury lift - it was a big job getting it here and then setting it up - not sure if I am going to be able to take it, might be better off letting it go and getting a new one when the new house/workshop is sorted

Cheers,

MM

When I moved mine I just raised it up and backed a trailer under it, unbolted the stanchions and laid them on the bed. I never dismantled any of it and it all went back together very easily.

Bob

 

[mm289]

@8ob thats' an interesting creative solution. I have an extra long car trailer that would be ideal but not sure it will be narrow enough to get between the legs.....

@RichardM thanks for the advice - what do you mean by slave pallets?

So on the subject of purchasing pallet racking, what do I need to look for? Presumably it is two uprights and "x" number of beams per bay, but do you need anything else to assemble?

Also height wise only looking at maybe 2m, so I am thinking 2 levels, one at 1m and 1 at 2m - any probs with that?

And do you have to bolt down to the ground to be safe?

May all be stupid questions but hey ho

Cheers,

MM

 

[Matchless]

once assembled with two levels it is very stable, never bolted any of mine down at work, only have BMW engines on it though, and gearboxes, and shocks, got all my pallet racking from the yard behind MFI, twas a while ago, it was free if collected at night look around for similar establishments, they often have old racking sitting around unloved, lots at auctions these days, the beams come in different lengths and load capacities, cut a few down and never worried about the capacity too much, hard to bend anything in a semi domestic storage situation, I have a hand pumped pallet stacker, does all my needs, only issue is the pallet needs to be open at the end or side to get the stacker under,

 

[RichardM]

Slave pallets go on the racking beams and then you can then put different sized pallets on top of them. If not then you have to have everything on pallets which are suitable for your racking.

Beams usually clip to the uprights and clips are with the beams, this will give a good idea of what available, how it goes together.
https://www.rapidracking.com/en/rra...MIi9fGoIzY7AIVOYBQBh2U6wrEEAQYASABEgKrGfD_BwE

You need to think about what you want to put on it, sizes , weight.
What's the pallet truck lift height going to be?

Height of racking / bay heights depends on the height of things you want to store + 100mm for clearance. Two beams, one at 1 metre off the ground will give a bottom bay (floor) height 900mm, middle bay height 800 mm (taking the beam height as 100mm although this does depend on what weight you are going to store and beam length plus clearance). So for the middle bay you need a lift height of 1300mm.

If you have the top bay at 2000mm, then you would not have enough clearance to fill with such as this:

https://www.jungheinrich-profishop....-with-two-stage-telescopic-mast-24390-197353/

Pallet truck forks are thicker than FLT forks, you will need pallets without bottom cross boards for lifting with a pallet truck, ask whoever is going to give you the pallets the difference. Also think about fork width eg you won't lift 1200 x 800 Euro with the stacker above.

I would bolt it to the floor.

 

[mm289]

Thanks chaps great info

@RichardM yep that was the sort of pallet truck I was looking at - there was one on e-bay down this way that I was going to have a look at but it sold this afternoon

And I have just worked out why it wont work with bottom cross boards

The pallets are mainly wooden that are from the landscaping business next door, left over from delivering bulk materials so hopefully should be able to find enough for what I need.

Mainly will be for VW engines and gearboxes so not heavy and not that high either so a 2m should be ample.

Need to go find some racking and a pallet truck now

Cheers,

MM

 

[Matchless]

Just looked at that pallet truck, similar to mine but mine is something like 600lbs and single stage, I have still lifted a BMW E30 body shell with it! mine cost £60.00 at a local auction plus cherges and VAT, I could have pushed it back to work! yes it was cheap, very cheap.. no you cannot offer me £75.00 for it!

 

[mm289]

So this has now become real, need to find a facility then aquire some racking and a high lift truck!

Bit of a challenge picking stuff up ATM for some reason so question @fizzy , would this go on a pallet/extended pallet and how much should I be looking at for shipping on mainland UK? PM if easier


Cheers,

MM

 

[fizzy]

2 pallet spaces.
Do NOT lie it down. Mine has never been the same since!
Price depends on postcodes. Send me a pm.
I put up my own 8m tall used racking. Beware its not all the same.
Redirack is good stuff.

 

[mm289]

PM sent thanks

Looking at racking now on e-bay, probs only need 2.7 - 3.0m height as I won't be able to reach higher than that.

Mecalux, Redirack and Link51 seem popular but prices are around £100 - £200 a bay which is a bit steep so will keep looking

Will need to sort delivery on this as well.

Cheers,

MM

 

[fizzy]

PM sent thanks

Looking at racking now on e-bay, probs only need 2.7 - 3.0m height as I won't be able to reach higher than that.

Mecalux, Redirack and Link51 seem popular but prices are around £100 - £200 a bay which is a bit steep so will keep looking

Will need to sort delivery on this as well.

Cheers,

MM

Again can be pallet shipped. 3 m would be 3 spaces. Would need a forklift for loading as too big for a tail lift but could be handballed off.

 

[mm289]

Might be a really dumb question but if you had 4.5m uprights could you cut them in half to make 2x 2.25's? presumably only one end has a foot plate so you would need to fab something for the other end?

Cheers,

MM

 

[mm289]

I think I just worked out it was dumb question , there's no horizontal cross bracing halfway so it would loose its integrity if you cut it

Soz!

MM

 

[fizzy]

You can cut them in the right place but as you said bracing needs to be correct.