Organizing Basement

[Water-Bug]

I'm curious to know what others have done to organize their basements. I dread the the thought of unloading everything just to get that widget out. I understand the concept of putting the most often used items in last but there have to be other ideas to help organize everything. This seems to be an area where an inventor could make a lot of money.

[hyattjlbb]

I put 2x2's like a rail system around the inside about 10" from the top. Add in a re-enforced chunk of OSB to make a removable shelf for lighter items like chairs. Covered it all in carpet I got from the stereo shop that they use to make speaker boxes so it kind of matched and done.

[ependydad]

My 2 zero-gravity chairs are too tall to stand on their sides, so they have to lay flat. But, because they're the "oversized" versions, they are too big to go on top of other stuff. So, they're always on the bottom. On top of them go our bag chairs, fold up tables (sometimes) and folding clothing rack. SO- to get the more comfortable chairs out, we have to unload too much carp.

My plan is to take either two 2x8 or 2x10s (depending on how tall the 2 zero-gravity chairs are when laying on top of each other) and stand them on their edge (2" wide by 8-10" tall). Then use plywood to tie them together on top and make a shelf, of sorts. They will slide in underneath. Then, it's easy in/easy out for them. Other stuff can get stacked up on top.

Everything other than "furniture" is in some sort of crate or tote. Either Rubbermaid crates or small Walmart plastic totes like was previously mentioned. I use these ones that the tops snap together for spare parts and goodies.

[Cummins12V98]

Jack_Diane_Freedom wrote:
A door on each side and a roll out shelf really help.

Two RV's with a slide tray and I would not be without one!

[MTPockets1]

goducks10 wrote:
I made a hanging box for my two plastic camp tables. Really help to organize the basement. It was always a pain to need a table and have to dig it out from under chairs or whatever.

. I had a similar idea, but mine is inverted and sits on the floor - visualize a table about 3' X 4' X 16" tall. I put chairs on top of table and plastic milk crates, misc items under. Taller items beside table. Table is easily moved or removed if necessary.

[Veebyes]

I have a full slide out tray which is very nice to have but after something like 100,000 miles, hundreds of CGs in 7 years I am still in the hybrid stage of Rubbermaid containers & cardboard boxes, mostly beer cases.

Storage perfection is still a distant dream.

[sele]

The DW cleaned ours and organized ours using clear totes Know I can't find anything.

[goducks10]

Water-Bug, it's not really my idea. Although it's my version. I was looking at a TT or 5'er online one time and they had a similar setup that included a table. So I dreamed up my own version.

[drfife]

I use 24 qt milk crates. They stack neatly. Can see contents. Don't hold water and are very durable. Mine are 20+ years old.

[Winged_One]

Various size plastic bins with holders and tabs noting (in general terms) what's in the bin. Cheap and it works for me.

[Water-Bug]

goducks10 wrote:
I made a hanging box for my two plastic camp tables. Really help to organize the basement. It was always a pain to need a table and have to dig it out from under chairs or whatever.

This is the kind of idea that I was talking about when I said that an inventor could make lots of money. 🙂

[Tom_Diane]

Some good ideas. I just cleaned ours out and got rid of things I thought we would need or use. Havent needed or used them for a couple of years so things got tossed like the oil change pan I bought to soak and clean the grill grates in, I bought fish pole holders to put on the back wall so lines didn't get all tangeled in the aluminum lawn chairs. Got rid of the bag chairs and used that compartment for the garden hose. Coiled the rigid 50amp cord into a bucket and keep all the adapters, dog bones ,30 to 15 amp accessories ect. in that same bucket. Always carried a complete tool box but not able to do a lot of the work because of health and would never use that many tools and it would have to be a major repair so I made the tools available smaller, hence a smaller tool box. Just have to evaluate every once in a while and get rid of what you just don't use or could get by with out if an occasion arose that you might need it. Tools I now carry, a 7 in one screw driver, a puck wrench that I bought at menards, 4.00 and an adjustable wrench, small vise grips. A small supply of electrical, fuses elec.tape wire strippers and son connectors. Teflon tape for plumbing needs. Never have used those tools much less the sockets and other items I carried.I probably removed 40 lbs from the basement and made room for nothing .We were carrying a sattlelite dish and the tripod but we are doing with out it for now and are going to get the tailgater dish. Wife had things to put backut like I told her, "We don't have to fill every inch of open area!" Especially when its me that has to put things away when we get ready to head home from the local campground and she goes to work from there.

[DHCamper]

Stackable translucent bins with locking lids do it for us. You can find what you need quickly and stuff doesn't get wet in the rain.

[DHCamper]

Stackable translucent bins do it for us. You can find what you need quickly and stuff doesn't get wet in the rain.

[Old-Biscuit]

WE FT so everything we own travels with us.

I learned early on that if I can't see it then I really don't need it.
Open any compartment door and items are right there in plain sight.

Folks pack why to much stuff