Rack up your garden tools with Suncast RTC1000
Written: Sep 26 '03
|
Product Rating:
|
|
|
Pros: Keeps garden tools neat and available.
Cons: None, so far.
The Bottom Line: If you need to get organized, try this for your garden tools.
|
|
|
| patsyv's Full Review: Suncast Corp No. Rtc1000st Port Lh Tool Rack/Wheel |
While trying to beat back the jungle that is Florida, I have been accumulating many garden tools....too many. I had to rummage through all sorts of tools to find the one I was looking for. I knew I had to get organized.
Browsing through Bed, Bath and Beyond, I discovered the solution to my problem....a portable garden tool organizer. This dandy little item will hold over thirty tools, both long-handled and short-handled, plus a weed-eater or a blower, and an electrical cord.
The box says that you can assemble this item in just five minutes, but it was packed so securely that it took over two minutes just to open the box. I would estimate that we had the organizer assembled in about ten minutes. The assembly consisted of inserting four tubes into the bottom platform, lining up a slot in the end of each tube with a rib in the bottom of the tube holes. Then the upper rack was fitted on top of the four tubes, and pressure applied to set the tubes firmly in place. Casters were then inserted into the bottom of the finished assembly. Everything fit perfectly, and the rack seems very solid.
The rack is manufactured of plastic, but the tubes are plastic over steel, and the rack is said to hold a loaded weight of 150 pounds, evenly distributed.
The holes and clips that hold your tools are graduated in size, the larger ones in the center, smaller ones at the ends. The box says that there are 20 clips for long-handled tools (correct) and 17 holes and slots for smaller items (not correct). There are 12 holes and four slots. That makes 16 spaces for small tools......but that’s plenty. The picture on the box shows all 17 spaces for small tools, but the actual item has one less. Maybe they are revising the product.
A low shelf at the end of the rack holds a weedeater or blower, and a strap at the top secures that item. Tools should be loaded with the heavy end down to increase stability, and there is space on the lower platform to hold other items that will not fit in the spaces on top.
Although the organizer, itself, is not too heavy, after it is loaded with tools, it can weigh a lot. Pushing the loaded rack around on the living-room carpet was not as easy as I thought it would be, but on concrete, it rolls easily. I had originally thought I could roll it around the yard, to keep tools handy, but it is unsuitable for this. It would roll around on a large concrete patio or other hard surface, but for the average yard, I cannot see any advantage for the wheels.
We didn’t try to load our pruning saws, chain saw or electric hedge clipper on the rack, but it holds our shovel, spade, rakes, pruning stick, loppers, cultivator, hedge trimmer, and an assortment of trowels, weeders, pruners, grass clippers, and there is room for more. Some of the smaller tools would not fit in the available holes or slots, so I placed a small bucket on the lower shelf to hold such items.
The measurements are 42” long, 20” wide and 35” high. It takes up more space than I thought it would, but, since I have instant access to any tool, it is worth the space it takes. I no longer have to rummage through the collection of tools that were propped up in a corner of my workshop, or try to find the bucket of hand tools that were liable to be almost anywhere around the house.
Although this tool rack is listed in a couple of catalogs at $44.95, I bought mine at Bed, Bath and Beyond, with a price tag of $30.00. I had a 20% coupon handy, so the final price was $24.00 plus tax. That was a great deal. I would certainly suggest that you shop around if you are in the market for this item.
When the rack is loaded with tools, it looks a little cluttered, but it certainly does the job it was designed for.
Recommended:
Yes
|
|
|
|
Epinions.com ID:
patsyv
|
 - Top 1000 |
|
Member: Pat
Location: Florida
Reviews written: 55
Trusted by: 194 members
|
|
|
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.