Create a Rolling Wood CrAte Storage - Cheater Version Hack

Stacy Davis
by Stacy Davis
5 Materials
$50
3 Hours
Medium

Not too long ago I bought a kettlebell. I’m trying to get in shape but I keep misplacing it. I have the worst time finding my exercise stuff after I have “cleaned” things up aka hiding things in a hurry to give the resemblance of a clean house. Quite often I lose motivation before I find my workout “tools”. So I decided to build something that could store my weights and exercise bands and other various paraphernalia. Bonus if it had a full length mirror so I could check my form while working out and double bonus if it could be hidden in plain sight. Now this idea is super versatile and can be used for all kinds of storage. I even thought it would work to hold all my power tools, battery packs, nails and chargers in one location that I could roll around with me. This a WWYD project... at various points in this project, I am stumped in making a decision so I ask “What would you do?” For instance, would you leave the outer wood natural, paint it, stain it, whitewash it or something else? What would you do?

I was able to get a dolly for cheap and this is why I am calling this a cheater version. But you can absolutely buy four wheels and attach them to a scrap piece of wood if you like. I knew that a furniture dolly would be able to handle storing my weights with ease.

I bought 4 crates from Michaels. The top picture shows crates from Home Depot and I really wish I had bought 4 of those gray ones. Michaels’ selection wasn’t great. I bought 3 brown and one white because there wasn’t a fourth brown left and my white had a broken slat.

I added some scrap would to make a level base.

Then I added three boards on top to “hide” the dolly.

I added cabin groove boards to the sides. It is a nice thick tongue and groove board.

Down the back, I covered the crate with slats of paneling. I put these horizontally for interest.

I realized if I added sides to the bottom, it would create a bin. I extended the wood on the bottom far enough to hide the side view of the dolly but not so far down that it would interfere with the turning of the wheels. Same thing when I added the front piece. I didn’t put one across the back because the crate covers that.

I put a short piece across the front.

As I began playing around with it, I put two 5 1/2 inch boards on each side of the bottom and the bottom crate sits on top. It gives a little extra space but not sure if it is worth the hassle. I haven’t attached the crates to the bottom wood while I ponder if I want to add that 5 1/2 inches or not. Would you?

Here’s where I ran into questions... add a mirror to the back? Wallpaper one crate or more? What would you do?

And then I began playing bins and baskets.

Here is my rolling end product. I think I will be using it in a way, I hadn’t intended because this side turned out prettier than I thought it would. When I designed this in my head, I thought this side would face the wall but now I like it too much to do that.

And... three baskets... I rolled it to the foyer for better light.

How it is currently being used...

How would you use a rolling crate shelf? What would you store here?

Hey John! I know you’ve been waiting for a crate project, here it is!!!! icon

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  2 questions
  • Nicole Nicole on Aug 14, 2020

    PLEASE tell me where you found those plastic bins/baskets - the white ones (and one turquoise) that you put inside your wood crates in one of these pictures. I've been looking high and low for some with such a great fit! Thank you!

  • Diane Diane on Aug 15, 2020

    My only question is, Where is your kettle bell at?

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  • Pamela Martin Pamela Martin on Aug 15, 2020

    I made a rolling bookcase with 2 crates. We attached wheels to the bottom.

  • Gail Gail on Aug 15, 2020

    I think i need this in my garage. Tools in each bin. roll to project.....

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