Outside storage.

I live in a apt with a garage but I use the side of it as well and I use these toughbuilt I think the name is I got at lowes a few years back that I rigged a bit myself so they would hold up better to weather. there pricey but look good I paid $400each for 3 of them since I wanted space fast at the time but there 6ft wide 5ft deep and almost 5ft tall thick plastic. they have a lid and two front doors that open to a big space inside but I rigged them first with steel plates I found scrapping and attached them to it for a base that with the straps I ran down the sides it wont blow away and is lifted just enough I can still get a pallet in and out easy. this way I can store a pallet box in each one and have room for anything I may want to cram in as well to one side.
there meant to store mowers and such even has crappy lock hole things on the doors were they come together which I just use a bike lock lol I would not spend so much now but at the time it was a fast easy solution which I am not sure if they sell them still but sure they do similar but the idea is it keeps it clean good looking and less chance people will steal stuff cause there not fortknox but works

For proper storage the main requirement is the space and room to do it. When people live in towns and such the outside storage can be a problem.

Camouflage is a big part of the secret. Out of sight out of mind.

My being a frugal recycling person I always look for reasonable priced solutions.

If you can put a form of structure outside a reasonable priced way of doing it is to get free to almost free building items.

Places that sell new recreational vehicles such as 4 wheelers, snowmobiles and such have crateing and many times heavy duty vinyl tarp that can most times be had to haul away.

I have built many a storage shead using the wood from pallets and such. What I like about the crating that the off road stuff comes in is they are most times nice sized framework and not very heavy in weight. A bunch of boards stapled together like fencing in a way. When a person has some that are much the same size. You just put them together, make a door or so with wood frame and cover with heavy vinyl/plastic tarp material.

Another great place to get decent quality tarping material is at lumber yards as many times the loads of lumber will come by train with some nice tarp material that they want rid of when they get their loads of lumber.

Door hinges and windows and such can be made or found from many types of salvaged things. I have even used thick rubber for hinges on temporary storage sheds I would build.

Free wood pallets are always useful for building some nice shelving also.

If a person can find the free materials you can make and build many things for the price of the time, gas and some staples, nails and such.

Also, old house and garage doors and DOORS doors doors. make great temporry storage sheds. Just cover them with some weather proof material.

I figured that this would be a good spot to talk of a project that I have in my plans.

Years back I salvaged 80 feet of commercial freezer that's like Walmart and other stores have that they keep the ice cream, pizza and such in.
Some great materials in it. I scrapped the condensers and other copper from it and did well. I still have all the rest of it including the double paned glass doors.

What got me thinking on my project was when I hauled home a 8 foot by 10 foot walk in freezer from a local grocery store a couple years back. I started thinking that I could put it back together as a nice insulated storage shed on skids so that it can be moved at a future time.

I plan on doing it up right by making a larger structure using some of the insulated backs from the ice cream/pizza freezer I got years back.

I have many 10 foot wood pallets that sheet metal and other metals are shipped on. They have nice 10 foot long 4x4 and 4x6 and such beams. I figure I can take some of the 10 foot pallets apart and then bolt together the big skid beams and frame foundation by bolting them together with some stainless steel threaded rod that I have a nice selection of. I have 1/4 inch and some long smaller stuff I salvaged. I have the washers and 1/4 nuts and all the materials I would require to make a VERY nice insulated storage building.

I do enjoy such building projects as it's much like play for me as it gets my mind thinking and motivates my olden body to want to fix and make things.

Arts and crafts has always been a popular pass time with many. Some of us just like larger arts and crafts projects. I say that as I will build my insulated shed as if I was working on a artful craft project. I will start on it this year as I have been getting the items collected up where I want to construct it.

I have a Cadillac limo and a scrap New Holland skid steer and a few other things I have to get out of my way first.

Just thought I would share. Hope you don't mind my putting it here.

I doubt one of these will fit, but I used one of these for storage:




One that doesn't run will be cheap- I sold mine in non-operation condition for less than $1000. Depending on your yard, it may be better to get just the box without the chassis.

If you go that route, get a tarp to cover the rear door with. My truck may have been a piece of junk in this department (It would fit the truck), but I had a snow drift in there frequently.

If that's too big, might I recommend:


I bought mine (Sans American Motors logos) for $200. Throw some blocks under the rear bumper, slap a cap on, and voila! Space per dollar, they're both good ways to go.

matador: "I am the official 'Guy who recommends pickup bed trailers' guy"

I use gutted refrigerators and freezers as storage bins. Light, strong, and decent capacity for my stage of productivity.