Gladiator GearTrack Wall Storage - Product Review
/The ability to change your storage setup in seconds, plus superior strength, efficiency, and attractive design, make this system well worth a little extra effort up front during installation.
Get those golf bags off the ground and away from basement critters. Geartrak holds a lot of weight easily when properly mounted. The two golf bags and electric boat motor above all weigh "a lot".
I have an older house with one of those grungy basements that could be used in a horror movie. Recent painting and lighting improvements have made it a lot more palatable, but is still consists of 5 small rooms. I needed to maximize the amount of storage I got out of it, while attempting to make it look open, bright, and clean. Permanently-mounted wall storage seemed like the right solution, and I chose Gladiator over a Rubbermaid product in a close finish - decided primarily by the more pleasing color of the Gladiator GearTrack vs. the black Rubbermaid product. I bought 24 four-foot panels, and installed every one . . . then bought a couple more for the garage. I also bought a broad assortment of hooks that fit it . . . mixing Gladiator and Sears products . . . spending $400 or $450 total. Of course, I bought it during the week of Black Friday last year, so that helped keep the cost down.
The biggest downside, if you can call that, to the Gladiator product is the installation. For best results, you want to mount it VERY securely, so you can hang heavy things from it. If you have cement or cinder block basement walls (as I do), all you need is TapCon screws from Home Depot, and a nice quality hammer drill. If you have finished drywall, you'll want to make sure you get good-sized screws into the studs behind the drywall. If you do so, the GearTrack will hold up to 75 lbs per foot - enough for most everything you want to hang from it.
Once installed, however, the benefits of the GearTrack are many. There are a huge variety of hooks that can be clipped into it, and they only take a second to remove or install. That means you can just put a hook where you want it, and hang something on it, in seconds. That flexibility will be great over the years as your storage needs change.
It's also pretty attractive, in a rugged basement-like way:) There are inexpensive endcaps that you buy to finish off the ends of each rail. You can also cut it easily using a table saw or equivalent, so the standard 4-foot sections can fit in smaller places once cut.
Another benefit is efficiency. You can typically fit more stuff into a given area using the Gladiator hooks. The Tool Hooks stick out 10 or 12 inches, with 2 hooks below, will hold about 4 brooms or shovels, while also hanging 2 items underneath. That is crazy efficient for yard tools.
For more selection, you can browse the selection of hooks and accessories for Sears VersaTrack. They fit the GearTrack panels well. On the positive side, they have a little lever that hooks them in place so they won't pull out. They do jiggle a little, however.
Bins are handy for holding small items.
My "Wall of Motorcycles". Deep Hooks can hold tires, hoses, or extension cords. Unusually shaped items, like my gas tanks and motorcycle seats, can be attached to inexpensive "J" or "L" hooks using twine.
My power tool wall. It's nice having my most frequently used tools out in the open where I can quickly find them, as opposed to looking through cupboards or drawers. A "Big Hook" with 50 lb capacity easily handles the weight of a sledge hammer.
A specialized Dual Hook works great for my dolly. A Twin Hook works for my stepladder.
Tool Hooks (right) are my favorite. They hold a ton of yard tools.
Bike Hooks work well to save space in the basement. I also used a Craftsman Hooktite vertical bike hook (right). They work about the same, so it's about which one costs less.
My "Gardening Corner". An S-Hook holds my heavy rototiller off the ground in my power tool room. That's nice because I am frequently sweeping up sawdust in here. Tool Hooks easily hold my brooms and yard tools, with lots of room to spare. I haven't decided yet how to use the 24-inch mesh basket that came in the Accessory Kit - will probably put sprinklers and various hose nozzles in it.
GearTrack high on my garage wall holds a ton of yard tools, and let's me put my wheelbarrow against the wall below it.
Another track in my garage was used to replace a less efficient hanger system. I was tight on space, so had to trim the 4-foot GearTrack panel using a power saw. Once the end caps are installed, it looks completely finished.