So my Burning Man camp has a 20’ container we have for our storage which gets delivered to us at the event, and then gets picked up and taken off. Really, REALLY handy, so much easier than having to load up a box truck, haul it in, unpack, then pack back up, then unload and pack back into a storage unit.
We only recently got it, then the pandemic happened, but now it’s on track for BRC 2022 to happen. Yay! But we basically just have a mess in there. Boxes are stacked 2 high, the poles for the shade/kitchen are all on the floor along the center, I think. Misc stuff is piled in, and the various random bikes which were abandoned nearby that we grabbed were thrown in on top. So I want to make it so we can be at least somewhat organized.
Inspired by Syonyk’s cargo container shelves (and other ones), I’m thinking of doing something similar, but probably lining both sides to have the storage bins (the black & yellow ones), smaller ones at least, probably narrow end towards the center aisle. There might be room for that, or it might have to be long-side towards the center aisle.
2x4’s in the corrugated edges for the back uprights, 2x4s across the ceiling/top edges to keep the shelves from falling inwards during transportation, and 2x4s across the floor to do the same thing to the bottoms. Maybe 4x4s where the 8’ 2x4 cross pieces meet. 1/2" OBS/plywood, and probably 2 2x4 cross pieces approximately evenly space to help with top weight.
Before I get started, a few requirements:
- We have a bunch of 10’ EMT conduit for our shade structures, need to be able to secure that
- The container gets picked up by a big forklift, lifted onto the flatbed to be moved around, so it gets shifted around a fair bit
- Most of our bins are of 1 or 2 sizes of the black with yellow top
- We have some non-bin stuff, which I’d like to be able to secure, such as shower structure, camp stoves, 55gal blue barrels for grey water, etc
- Doesn’t cost a fortune, as I’ll be bankrolling these upgrades unless we raise more money than we expect from camp dues, but I’ll spend the money to do it Right™, rather than try and cheap out
Things I think I need help with are how to keep the bins on the shelves. I’m contemplating a few options.
Simplest, would simply be to screw on a 2x4 cross piece secured to each of the front uprights. I’d then have to size the height of the shelves to allow enough room to pull them up and over.
More complicated would be some kind of cross-bar (e.g. like a door) that can be removed. First instinct was some slide down ‘U’ brackets like these ones, but then I’ll need something to keep them secured on the top. Doable, but annoying. Maybe could use some captive nuts on the opposite side of the 2x4 and bolt/tighten through.
Then I came across these brackets which you slide the 2x4 through, which would work great. Probably only need to secure 2 end at all, which would be the end by the doors. Maybe even just a bolt-through at one of the uprights to keep it from sliding out.
Another thought I had was using perforated angle iron or square tube. Bolt through to the other side, tighten reasonably with some lock washers. Bit more work to secure/remove, but quite workable. Also have the thought that maybe there’s some kind of straps/loops that I could use EMT conduit for, potentially. Slide through and then tighten down.
Then on one section towards the doors, maybe just do without the shelves but the 2x4s along the sides with O-bolts and/or hooks to help secure things like the bikes and non-standard size stuff.
Of course, might as well just go to the Big Burn at that point, given it’s essentially “on your way”.