Customer Reviews

Rubbermaid FastTrack 56-Inch Rail #5E00

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

After rejecting other garage wall storage options as too flimsy, too expensive, or too "one-size-fits-all," we were thinking of trying to build something ourselves when I found the Rubbermaid FastTrack system online. Rubbermaid states this is a new system supposedly in several stores by March 2005, but so far I've only seen it at Amazon and the Rubbermaid site. We ordered the 56" rail, 88" rail, and an assortment of hooks. For some reason, Amazon is the only place I've seen the 88" rail (it wasn't even listed on the Rubbermaid site).

We found this system to be excellent beyond our expectations! As advertised, all hardware is included, and the screws are nice and long (not the skimpy, short ones found so often in similar products. Rubbermaid includes an excellent installation sheet with clear photographs and good instructions. The rails were easy to install and are strong and solid. The various hooks are equally good quality. The FastTrack system allows us to buy only what we need and arrange it the way we want, and the price is extremely reasonable. We are very happy with it, and nothing else has even come close!

All of the Rubbermaid Fasttrack items are fantastic. However you should buy this item at your local Home Depot and save $5.00 per rail. Same with most of the FastTrack items advertised here on Amazon. Ladder hook, save $6.50. Bike hook, save $5.00. Ad infinitum. All items have a single digit difference on the item number, those excluding them from the price match guarantees, but they appear to be exactly the same. Happy Shopping, fellow Amazoners.

I wanted to hang two 3' stepladders on our garage wall (drywall over studs). I went to one of the big box stores and checked out my options. The standard stepladder hooks aren't deep enough for my ladders. Various other hooks were going to require me to mount a 2x4 across the studs to provide strong enough mounting points.

Then I came across a floor display for the FastTrack system. Although the products are expensive, I decided to give them a shot. I chose the 56" rail and two hose hooks (5E1206SNCKL).

The studs in our garage are 24" apart. The instructions for the rail say you must have at least 3 anchor points in a stud, so no problem there. The other holes in the rail go into drywall anchors which Rubbermaid provides. The instructions say the studs get 2 screws and the anchors get 1.

However, there's a problem here. Rubbermaid provides 9 anchors and 13 screws (the instructions clearly state that this is what's included). If you do the math, 3 studs times 2 screws subtracted from 13 screws leaves only 7 screws for the 9 anchors.

Also, the instructions state "Drywall anchors must be installed in all top holes ... for maximum weight-holding capacity." Even assuming only 3 studs, Rubbermaid doesn't provide enough anchors to allow you to do this - I was shorted 3 anchors. (Note: the instructions - but not the external packaging - state that FastTrack rails are not recommended for bare studs.)

I'll assume this shortage was done to save Rubbermaid some money, but that's what, 30 cents? Pretty cheap.

Installation went quickly. The instructions are useful and clear. The screws Rubbermaid provides are for wood and have a beveled head for countersunk holes. The holes in the rail are not countersunk, so the heads stick up a bit; not a problem, as there is plenty of room for the rail cover to be installed. There are no end caps and so the ends of the rail are exposed.

The hose holders snapped in easily and are deep enough to hold my ladders.

A question to ask yourself is whether this is worth the expense. Had I looked carefully, I would have seen that the hose holders can be mounted directly to studs. That would have been sufficient for me, and I would have saved a bit of cash. Depending on your requirements, you may be able to get away with 1x3 wood pieces mounted across studs with inexpensive screw hooks installed (a technique I use for hanging other equipment in the garage).

The rail system does sit close to the wall, which is nice. I can see that it will be useful to hang several items between stud points, or for those situations where you need to hang stuff to the left or right of a stud. In other cases, the wood strip technique will save you quite a bit of cash.

Pros: Quick, easy, simple. Flexible (you can move hooks easily). Handles "off-stud" item hanging. Close to the wall.

Cons: Somewhat expensive. Intentionally missing hardware.

I have room on my rack for another hook or two, and I'll probably hang something else on it. Not sure I'll buy another rack in the future, we'll see what I need to hang and where.

I looked around for a good garage storage system. I chose this one because I like the rails and I like the variety of hooks. The only con about this system, that I can see, is that sometimes the hooks can easily come off the track when you lift your tool off of it. Granted, the hooks are indeed designed to be able to be removed and moved around, but when I remove my tool from this system, just like when I remove my hand tools from my peg board, I would expect the hook to stay on the track.

This 56" has been discontinued. Now they have 48" and 84". I think this was a good move by Rubbermaid to change the lengths offered for sale.

These are possibly the most useful pre-made hangers I've ever seen. We used them to hang bikes, car racks and sports equipment in our home's office, and the installation, finishing and modularity all made for a great look (if a little cluttered by our stuff!) The metal frame (what the modular parts actually attach to) is sturdy, easy to mount, and does not flex. The plastic covers are solid as well, and I imagine you could paint them to match, if necessary. All the modular hooks and mounts are very strong as well, and we were able to hang my tank of a downhill bike along with our road bikes without flinching.

Installation is simple, drill pilot holes for the self-anchoring screws (or use studs), and attach the metal frame. Then slide the plastic cover on, and start storing your stuff!

If you are deciding between a dedicated bike rack, and this, I really suggest this, it can be re-purposed to do another job when you decide to move, or need to hang something besides bikes!

I would buy single wall hooks instead.
This one is okay, but it can get expensive when you buy all the various attachments for the track.
A little bit of a pain to install if your wall studs don't match up to the holes on the track.