How do you organize all your stuff?

pharaoh2

CGN Ultra frequent flyer
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I find myself aquiring more and more stuff. The problem is I'm running out of room and need to find a way to accomodate a quite impressive amount (In my eyes at least) of gear. I'm not just talking about guns and cleaning supplies, (though I'm interested in your storage for that as well)

As I sit here, I realize I have two pairs on binoculars, several knives, two bird vests, several hunting coats and jackets, game shears, compasses, flints, saws and hatchets. Three tents, three coolers, numerous rifle scopes, mounts and too many related odds and ends to mention. Ammo, reloading equipment and related paraphanalia. Decoys, weights, waders, a boat, a float tube and more fishing rods and tackle boxes then any one man needs.

I've got too much stuff! (No you can't have it) I need to devise a way to store everything and keep it organized but to save as much space as possible. I have a very small room dedicated to my reloading gear, but I've got all my other stuff cramed in there as well, minus the boat. It measures about four foot by ten, so there simply isn't enough room to keep things organized. I do have a utility room with old kitchen cupboards, counter and even a working sink, however I store my tools in there. I do have a bit of space left, but not enough.

I'm curious how others store their stuff, especially guys in small houses or apartments and if they would be willing to share storage ideas. Pictures would be a bonus. :)
 
I just store most of my gear in the very large rubbermaid storage containers and then stack them on top of each other. I've got 6 of them stacked in "my" room. I put some cedar branches in them too to make my gear smell natural when I take it out to use.

Thats what I use anyways
 
I hear ya!

I have a 4x5 closet filled to the ceiling and a small reloading bench with a book shelf. Everything else has to go in the shed outside... Stuff in the closet goes mostly in big rubbermaid bins stacked on top of each other. The shed (25x15) is in similar shape, but with some shelving to keep it at least a bit organized.

It sucks because you know that whatever you need is going to be on the bottom of the pile and you have to unload the entire closet to get it out.
 
During hunting season most of the stuff rides in the back of my ext cab. Its always there when I need it:D
 
It's not my usual nature to buy these kinds of things but I bought a $30 plastic expandable shelf from Canadian Tire. It stands about 6'-6" or so and is almost 3'-0" wide and 1'-0" deep. It has holes on the shelves so you can hang things from them and liquids (oil, grease, etc.) don't puddle up. I keep all of my accessories on it. The guns don't fit on it.
 
build a garage, we knows yous gots the mad construction skillz.........;)




Seriously the Rubbermaid totes work well for us, Baby cloths to Christmas decorations and everything in between are all organized and labelled then stored out in our unheated detached garage. When you need it, go out grab the applicable tote and bring it inside till you're done with it.
 
A garage is on my list of things to do. Maybe 2x2 walls to save weight.....

The only thing that's stopping me is the concrete floor. It costs alot more then I have, but when I do build one my storage woes will be gone. On that note I was looking at a 2 storey 'shed' at UFA last Weekend that would be the cats ass. It looks like a barn, but it's big enough I could store the boat and trailer, build shelves and use the upstairs as a loft. Don't know the price, but being a 'shed' there is no requirement for a concrete floor and I have enough room in the back to build it in front of my parking pad. Perfect. :)
 
I keep all my gear in my spare bedroom. Mu gun locker fits nicely in the corner, and I hang my 5 or so jackets in the closet. Tents, camping/hiking gear is in big rubber maids labeled so I know whats in what. All my optics are kept in a smaller rubbermaid. All in all it only takes up about 1/2 of a standard closet, plus the gun cabinet in the corner of the room.

I used to have the same problem as you, gear spread out everywhere and I could never find anything.
 
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Storage totes are great. I have my portable BBQ, camp stove,catalytic heater and lantern as well as a few propane cyllinders in one. I have all my camping dishes, pots,pans, spices, cutlery etc in another smaller one. Couple really big ones for my goose decoys, couple regular sized ones for camo clothing. I have another one that doubles as my ice fishing sled/ice fishing gear storage. I bought a cheap "homeowner" type rollaway toolbox to hold reloading/cleaning gear as well as odds and ends (extra rings, mounts, whatever), reloading components, powder and I use the large bottom compartment on it to hold the majority of my ammo. Tents, packs and the like are all in a big closet upstairs. I have a 6 rod rack on the wall in one of the spare bedrooms ( along with the pool table, all those totes, the rollaway and my gunsafe). As for boats, one is in the garage out back, the other is in the basement, but its still under construction. Once its finished it will be in the garage with the other one.

Jim
 
I just store most of my gear in the very large rubbermaid storage containers and then stack them on top of each other. I've got 6 of them stacked in "my" room. I put some cedar branches in them too to make my gear smell natural when I take it out to use.

Thats what I use anyways


I do the same except my storage area is under our back deck, garage is already too full. FS
 
This what I keep my stuff in.........ahhhhhh :p

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After 40 some years, I am getting a wee bit organized. I, too, use the storage containers, but just for my deer hunting clothes - so far. A man need'nt concern himself with getting just too organized, else all the fun will be gone.:p
 
I live (alone) in one bedroom apartment with a small storage room, total 560 square feet. It's full. I also have a 3x4 storage lockup elsewhere in the building. It's full, too. They told me I can't keep stuff on the balcony, except for a BBQ and outdoor furniture. My winter tires are at my brother's house. My half of the canoe is there, too, attached to his half.

I'll come out there and help you build a shed if I can have some space in it.
 
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Back off my SUV during season and then into some rubbermaids in the basement with labels. For jackets and pants, I have a set of coat hooks on the wall above the totes to keep them from getting that dusty smell from being inside the totes all summer.
 
Hmm... Storage... I've got a walk in closet, about 3x5ft. To the left you see a ton of military kitbomb combined with various sweaters coats etc. for Hunting. (These are all on Hangers), Underneath that is a storage cabinet $10 from Wal-mart, helps stores the odds and ends. To the right is a dresser, with a gun cabinet to the right with 5 firearms. On top of the dresser is a mess of knives, sharpening tools, scents, cam paint, etc. Works for me :)
 
Everything is in one huge pile in the spare room, it's organized by the last time I used it. when I need something, all I do is think of the last time I used it, and sort down through the strata.
;)

those hanging shelves pictured above look great, good way to utilize essentially unusable space.
 
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