Anybody have ideas or photos of tool storage setups for a mini van? I have a 95 Aerostar. I know you can buy the steel shelving units but, I was wondering what kind of custom setups you guys use if any and what materials you’ve used to make them.
Thanks
L M
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Replies
Try American van, http://www.americanvan.com They have a wide variety of van/truck items
JoeF
Renaissance Restorations LLC
Victorian Home Restoration Services
http://www.renaissancerestorations.com
I worked out of my minivan briefly, very briefly. I only intended to paint out of it, but customers kept asking for other stuff (like drywall repair, molding, doors, etc.). I built some plywood shelves (which now live in my full size van, see attachment). That allowed me to carry some basic stuff, but my primary storage system was my garage. Every day was an exercise in off-loading what I didn't need and re-loading from my garage.
I still do that, but at least it's not every day and it goes a LOT faster with a van where I can just throw stuff in without having to plan it out like fitting puzzle pieces.
Anyway, if you don't go the van route, I found the plywood shelves that let me get at thing from the front or back to provide convenient, and cheap, storage.
-Don
Hey guys, thanks for the speedy replies. After looking at the photo of your set up, I could do something like that but with pull out drawers on full extention slides, if I can find some strong enough to hold the weight. A storage unit that's easily removed is something I have to keep in mind.
Unfortunately my van isn't a cargo van so, I have to deal with having windows on the sides and a full interior. Not my first choice for a work van, but I got a great deal on it. It'll due until I can afford a new Chevy Astro.
LM
Astro's have been discontinued.
I work out of a 96 Aerostar and except for the gas mileage, it's the pits. I have tried different setups, but none were satisfactory. A pickup with a trailer is getting closer every day. I've been scouring e-bay for Tacomas.
I built some units using torsion boxes. At least they were not too heavy. The van from The Toolbox book by Jim Tolpin was full of good ideas, but not sized for an Aerostar. My mechanic tells me that if I do fill it full, to start saving for another transmission (on my 3rd one, this one at my expense).
Thanks again. I do remember hearing something about transmission trouble with these vans. Might have to rethink things. I can't afford a new tranny right now!
if you are a carp ...
don't get the factory or steel shelves!
have them in my full size van ... have hated them from day one. For some reason .. kept telling myself they're good for resale value.
So naturally ... as I'm planning on a new(er) van this spring/summer ...
I'm also planning on tearing them out on the first decent weekend and building simple wood shelves that my tools actually fit on!
The prefab's are good for electricians and plumbers ... they stink for carpenters.
Nothing fits!
Jeff
Buck Construction
Artistry In Carpentry
Pittsburgh Pa
When you build new shelves, post some pics if you don't mind.
Someone told me a contractors license isn't required in PA. Is that true?
LM
no such licensing in PA.
last van had shelves already built when I got her ... guy used steel studs ... snipped and bent into framed. The bottom of the "C" ... held the 1/2" ply.
it had two levels ... came square off the back of the seats ... then tapered at the back close to the rear doors.
he used steel stud track snipped and notched ... as uprights.
the uprights came straight down from the ceiling cross supports ... and angled back to the side walls at the bottom ... made for slipping 4ft wide sheets in easy ...
the shelves were plenty deep as they cantilevered over that floor space.
I'll rig something like that up. It was a great system ... everything open.
Will take pics.
Jeff Buck Construction
Artistry In Carpentry
Pittsburgh Pa
My shelf started out as a drawer box that I made too big. The only other bit of organization is a 16"x8' long box I built to haul miscellaneous trim, and 2x material.
If you can pardon the mess.
View Image
View Image
Edited 2/14/2006 10:30 pm ET by dustinf
Edited 2/14/2006 10:31 pm ET by dustinf
I have gone totally custom--I have the perveble Puzzle rack system BUT I do carry 85% of what I need daily and the rest flexes in the mid section of the van---The all wheel drive and extra weight mean no getting stuck for me and the mid-size gets me in some of the tougher spots.
I rarely have to carry material and when I do have the occacial sheet of ply or door I have a 5x8 flat trailer that works well----
This is acually my third of this kind of rack as the other where so cut up from being modified that there wasn't much left-
Tough problem to have to make more room cause ya got more tools--I am resonable well stocked now and have had this rack 3-4 years and I wouldn't trade for some steel factory rack for anything.
It is true that GM is discontinueing the Astro/Safari with the 2005 model---with that being said and my current on being a 93, that means around 2017 I'll need to find a new favorite vehicle--Bummer!!!!!!
Mike
" I reject your reality and substitute my own"
Adam Savage---Mythbusters
sweeeet setup!"he...never charged nothing for his preaching, and it was worth it, too" - Mark Twain
Thanks Huck--Mike" I reject your reality and substitute my own"
Adam Savage---Mythbusters
Nice set up Mike....I agree...custom built to fit your needs is the only way to go. The production metal shelving is not "flexible" enough and makes poor use of the interior space. Plus its huge $$!!
TN
Plus its huge $$!!I guess that makes mine the other end of the spectrum--literally the one thing I bought was a piece of alum angle to put a lip on the shelve to hold things from sliding. Yeah I guess I used screws but they came out of general supply--Every piece of wood came out of the holding rack in the garage and from the recylced pieces from the old rack--Think all the odd pieces of wood ya stack in some corner during a job just knowing somewhere you'll need a hunk--Glad ya like it-Mike" I reject your reality and substitute my own"
Adam Savage---Mythbusters
hey ...
I have one of them sears tool boxes!
Jeff Buck Construction
Artistry In Carpentry
Pittsburgh Pa
Some of you have seen mine before...
From the rear - pic 0048 - Platform is supported by a framework of 2x2 aluminum. Goes from wall to wall and from the back of the front seats to the rear. I can close the door on 12' framing lumber as long as it goes up the middle and 10' all the way across. Also can pack 22 sheets of 1/2"x4'x10'. I'm about 6" too short to get a 12' in there. The two hinge leafs are to hook up the 2x4 tracks I need to roll the table saw up into the van. 130 lbs is way too much for an old man to lift these days.
From the side pics 0045 & 0046 - The ply box behind the drivers seat holds the compressor. Air hose is accessed from the back of the van along with a double gang box of outlets protected by a 15A breaker. That's where I can also plug in the microwave and the coffee pot. Note the pot in pic 3843. On top of the compressor box I have a large wire basket that hold an assortment of corded tools. Behind the box I place the air guns and other tools that come in rectangular boxes. The rest of the upper platform is normally covered with more tools and stuff. I've got a box of tools for each of several trades - electrical, plumbing, some mechanical, as well as a ton of regular carpentry tools. I've found that my jobs run smoother when I can back up a sub when he forgets or breaks or loses a tool. Plus I get to help.<G>
The front 4' feet of the platform is removable, along with the compressor. I can put in the bench seat then so I have room for 3 more passengers when we pull the travel trailer. Gives me an excuse to clean out and reorganize the van every so often when we take the grandkids camping.
The roll away fastener shelves are permanent. When pulled forward I can access hundreds of different fasteners and parts. No climbing into the van. I refill the small boxes as needed from the 50 pounders at the house or carry the large boxes to the job where they sit for the duration. You don't want to see what happens occasionally to the space between the front seat. That's where I keep the phone books and my important papers and job records. HA!
I don't have any pics of the van fully loaded - yet.
Thats sweet Ralph--I'm digging the roll out fastener rack--is it on wheels that roll in a track--How-How -How did ya do that--I gotta know--I have this slot beween the rack and the van side that would make a nice area for one--much smaller though I too made the middle section open for the bench seat--pull out the big stuff, lift up the floor mat and drop the seat in. when the back is in the upright position it is about 3 inches from the rack--works out well and the kids get a kick out of listening to the tools behind them. Kids, easily amused sometimes----Mike" I reject your reality and substitute my own"
Adam Savage---Mythbusters
The rollout is all surplus material, except for the two fixed 2" casters on the bottom that just roll on the ply deck, the barrel bolt that keeps the thing from flying forward when you hit the brakes and the two opposing aluminum angle strips screwed to the van roof framing that the top edge of the extended box back rides in to keep everything upright. 3/4x3/4 strips screwed to the deck keep the box rolling straight and another stops it from rolling back further than the barrel bolt hole.
Shelves have a 3/4 lip to keep the supplies from falling off. A large utility pull is attached at the lower leading edge to drag the box into view.
A note: Be sure to always shoot the retaining bolt home before you drive off. Forgot it once. The box slammed forward into the passenger seat when I stopped. Scared the sh!t out of my father who was riding with me that day.
Yeah thanks Ralph--I have a good mental picture of how the rack works---Nice plan--I'll let ya know what I come up with for mine.Scared the sh!t out of my father.Givin' the guy a Ticker Test?Mike" I reject your reality and substitute my own"
Adam Savage---Mythbusters
You da man!! Thats gotta be one of the nicer van set ups I've ever seen! Simple and covering all bases right down to a built in cafe'..lol. Love that rolling wall of fastners. What more could one want really??
Good going ma man
a...<!----><!---->
Yeah ya do---and I'm commin' to get it back someday--after its full of tools or course---(evil grin)Did I ever tell you what great party boxes they make?Iced beer in the bottom--sandwitches, snack chips, candy bars in the middle and condamints, church key etc in the top tray--Just blow out the sawdust first----Mike" I reject your reality and substitute my own"
Adam Savage---Mythbusters
Hommage to Huck. "Huck Drawers" for a minivan:
Thanks again to all for the info. Those are some great setups. I think I've got some great ideas to work with. I've started on a unit with pullout drawers and shelving. I'm trying to keep it practical for what I need, but I don't think I'll ever have enough storage for everything I like to carry with me unless I buy a full size van.
I somehow manage to carry everything I need for complete remodel jobs (demo & frame through drywall and trim) in that VW minivan. Those photos show Bosch tablesaw & stand, Hitachi SCMS & stand, power handtool cart on wheels (planer, RAG, ROS, BS, Jigsaw, etc.), clamps, fasteners of all kinds, boombox, compressor & 4 nail guns, caulk & paint tools, 3 cordless drills & cordless CS, recipsaw, cabinet tools, coutertop tools, right angle drill, staplers, jigs...you name it it is in there & handy enough to get to.I usually also carry sawhorses and runners & drops. Good thing that minivan is rated for 3/4 ton though. Will also pull 5000# but my hitch is just rated for 3000#.Edit to Add: Also have shopvac/cords etc. oh and that handtool organizer thing. nuther thing I just thot of...I keep two of those work bench thingies in there too--I dig those (have to have one to put tools & stuff on and one to stand on/sit on.Edited 3/19/2006 3:11 pm ET by basswood
Edited 3/19/2006 5:10 pm ET by basswood
Here is my van as a work van and as a family van (during a trip yesterday).It is a quick conversion. This version of the van is the Weekender, with a flip up table and rear seats that face each other around the table. The table and chairs can be a nice feature on some job sites. Some times it is a good conference room.
Edited 3/27/2006 8:42 pm ET by basswood
Good God Bass--- 4 girls? Man, I'm not showing my wife that pic... she'll be pizzed. We have 4 boys, that's 4x the testosterone she can tolerate some days.
Be Well-
LGardenStructure.com~Build for the Art of it!
I just have two girls...the others are their cousins. I drove from SE MN to Rockford, IL to meet up with them and hand off our oldest (to spend spring break with the cousins).
Nice looking bunch-- Boys are rough on you when they are young--but I won't envy you in the years to come...
L
GardenStructure.com~Build for the Art of it!
Nice work van. Looks like you shoehorned it all in there!! Kinda like my old vehicle, an SUV I worked out of for 8 years. If I didn't put things in their proper spots, it did not fit, period.
I traded up for a full size van and guess what, it's great but I find I've filled it up, too!!
You are correct, everything has to be put in its proper place...if there is an empty spot I know I'm forgetting something!On most of my jobs, the table saw and SCMS w/ stand get set up right away and then I have plenty of room & easy access in the van. Even if I don't set up the saws, I can get at everything.I'll post some more pics of how things go together in there, sometime soon.
Dammit - all these ideas were here, and I had to go and do things my way. Anyhow, this is my idea FWIW.
After years of crawling in and out, rearranging boxes on the floor, etc, I finally bought a van I could move around in. I can stand sheet goods upright at last. The first pic is from the rear, the second being the side doors - all the air equipment is behind the left door.
All screwed together so's I can remove it (and camperise it) when we drive down to Mexico.All the best...
To those who know - this may be obvious. To those who don't - I hope I've helped.
Edited 3/29/2006 1:20 am by piko
Edited 3/29/2006 1:21 am by piko
Nice work, I'm jealous. Now you've made me think I should have gotten a van instead of a truck.
Does everything stay put when you're on a bumpy road? it kind of looks like some of the drawers might slide themselves open.
zak
I made all the shelves with a lip such that toolboxes only just push in snuggly. The only drawer had the hardware installed with domeheaded screws, so I have to really tug to get past those detentes. Other stuff is held in with straps, velcro, or clips.
As I've only had this van 3 weeks it's not been proven...but the last van lasted me 12 years. I'd thought of a truck, but would have had to buy Extendo-bed or similar, which would have cost another $3000. But all in all, for me a van is the way to go - I can access the back w/o going outside (and as I age my little 'problem' makes quuick access to the pail a necessity!!)All the best...
To those who know - this may be obvious. To those who don't - I hope I've helped.
Sounds well thought out, and looks it.I plan to add drawers ala Huck, to my truck. And I like having the security of having my tools underneath a thick plywood top. zak
Can't see my 'edits', so here's a run-down... pic 1 is from the rear, pic 2 is the cargo door side - the air tools are accessible from the LH door only. As this van is taller than my previous I can stoop less, and I do like to walk into it. Plus I can stand sheet goods on edge, and still walk inside. I dislike having to move all sorts of boxes and tools around, and I carry nearly everything I need (except drywall and tiling kits), which can be almost too much to carry on a day-to-day basis. (sure increases the fuel consumption).
Plus everything is screwed together so that I can remove and camperise it for a drive down to Mexico in the winters.All the best...
To those who know - this may be obvious. To those who don't - I hope I've helped.
That is very fine work...ranks up there with the van from Toolbox book by Jim Tolpin.
Lots of great ideas, and I can relate to accessing the "pail".
john stegall
The van set up is awesome. My new van came with factory shelving which, at times, I find to cramp my style, or my tools style.
Nice work, dude.
Grunge on.
The best thing is that the tackle box is in there. But where do you hide the rods?
Headstong, I'll take on anyone!
"All screwed together so's I can remove it (and camperise it) when we drive down to Mexico.All the best..."You have a great setup. I use my van for camping and family travel too. The VW is pretty versatile...it can be a two seat work van, or I can add a 3rd or 4th bucket seats or add the back bench (which also makes a full-sized bed). I usually leave the back bench in and put a tool shelf on it (buckled in with the seat belts). The shelf has a curb to keep things in place. I cover the seat back with an industrial entry mat. The van also has the table that folds up with seating around it (pictured in an earlier post). Here are some more pics of some of the different configurations of my VW Eurovan: