Side Loading 41 qt rack issues?

so im looking into making a 41 qt rack using plywood and painting it to seal it and blah blah like the hundreds that have been made. only i want to make mine so the bins sit sideways due to my Apt being small and i have nowhere where i could put a rack this would stick off the wall 36" sideways it would only stick off the wall ~17" anyways i read somewhere that having the side open like that will cause the 41 qt sterilite bins to warp over time.

this is where i read it below.
http://www.reptileinsider.com/showthread.php?21481-I-will-never-buy-sterilite-41-qt-tubs-again

i dont understand how or why this would happen and cant find any information on this happening to anyone else. has anyone had this problem or had this type or rack and not had this problem?

I have also heard this numerous times. I probably wouldn't recommend a 41qt rack that way.

However. I am just one person. I've never had a side-loading 41qt so I really can't say.

Contact Jerry(SnakesRkewl). I'm pretty sure he has side loaded 41 qt racks.

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The only thing I could think of is that the long side might be easier for your snake to push out of?

I don't see an issue with side loaded racks, other than the warping issue. Like discussed on the other site the sterilite tubs are not as rigid to withstand not having 2 outside walls to hold the sides where they should be, so after time they tend to "warp" and "bow". That's what I got out of the thread on there. I would stick with some sturdier tubs if you were going to go that route.

build the rack so tubs slide out long way and just set rack so it sits along the wall (if have a spot were you can slide tubs out that way.) This way the side are covered as well and if ever asked it a simple storage rack. It what I bet some people do with them were they not to have the snakes like at their parents. lol

I have a side loading V70 rack. I hate it now that I have a dedicated snake room, but it works fine.

i wonder if i did the side loading 41 qt rack and left the lids on the bins if the lids would stop the tubs from warping? might be an idea, V70's are expensive XD

just go to wall mart or home depot and get the plastic shelves see what ones hold a 41 q tube side ways and buy 2 of them and cut the poles to as much space u need in between .. it would likely be much cheaper then plywood and a lot less time consuming

I have a rack like that, due to space as well. I have only 1 slot that is sticky sliding in and out, but the tub doesn't appear warped. It may be that hubby got that slot a bit tighter. I also haven't tried a new tub, to see if that would smooth it out. I have been using this rack for about 2 years. I like it.

I wanted to build a rack like this also due to space. Might have to splurge and build it using v70 tubs instead of the sterilite for it to last as long as I would like it to

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Originally Posted by DooLittle

I have a rack like that, due to space as well. I have only 1 slot that is sticky sliding in and out, but the tub doesn't appear warped. It may be that hubby got that slot a bit tighter. I also haven't tried a new tub, to see if that would smooth it out. I have been using this rack for about 2 years. I like it.

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Works for me, thank you :)

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Originally Posted by PitOnTheProwl

The only thing I could think of is that the long side might be easier for your snake to push out of?

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your right they are easier. On the rack I built about 3 months ago, I noticed the side loaded 41qt slots I had on the bottom the snake would get there heads between the melamine and the tub. Got lucky and caught one of them just as they were getting their head through. I have since removed the 41 qt tubs on the bottom and replaced them with 28qt..

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Originally Posted by led-zep

your right they are easier. On the rack I built about 3 months ago, I noticed the side loaded 41qt slots I had on the bottom the snake would get there heads between the melamine and the tub. Got lucky and caught one of them just as they were getting their head through. I have since removed the 41 qt tubs on the bottom and replaced them with 28qt..

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My tubs go in deep, as I wanted to make sure they couldn't push out. I have about a 3" lip, the tub will not bow out that far. *knocks on wood* never had any issues with escapees.

I have a homemade rack that I have sideways and mine has not warped at all.

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Originally Posted by kylearmbar

I have a homemade rack that I have sideways and mine has not warped at all.

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How long have you had it? And are you using sterilite tubs?