ONE of the ultimate prep tools, IMHO

[JohnGaltfla]

I hope to be presenting, as I'm here off and on for the near future, some of the "ultimate" prep tools in my shack.

This week:

That's right, the 3 gallon Rubbermaid plastic tote. How is this central to my survival shack? Let me review my use plan and I welcome all comments or MORE suggestions...

1. Right now it stores 100 meals of canned and freeze dried foodstuffs.

2. IF a hurricane or TSHTF, it holds 3 gallons of water, purified or not.

3. After the water is used up, it has duel purposes.

a. More water, potable or not (I can purify it)

b. Fill it with dirt including fertilizer. Drill holes along the bottom and turn it into a large windowbox planter for fruits and vegetables.

Just some suggestions for that handy little tote which costs me less than $5 besides the many other storage uses. Food for thought. And our near future, IMHO.....

 

[FloridaGirl]

Yes, I have been going to the dollar store every week and purchasing a couple. When I bring them home, they are just small enough for me to handle full of flour, sugar and canned goods.

I felt the need to box up my canned goods to help get them out of here in a hurry. They make it easy to organize the supplies.

 

[Donald Shimoda]

Do NOT store grains / unpackaged food in these...

Howdy, Folks!

I was using these for Rabbit Chow - rats love to gnaw through them.

I switched to metal garbage cans for chow / grains - works lots better.


These are great as "bug out tubs" for the car, BTW.

 

[Cruiser]

Those are very handy. I always get the clear ones so I can see what is in them but the Rubbermade ones seem stronger.

 

[Seabird]

I hope to be presenting, as I'm here off and on for the near future, some of the "ultimate" prep tools in my shack.

This week:

That's right, the 3 gallon Rubbermaid plastic tote. How is this central to my survival shack? Let me review my use plan and I welcome all comments or MORE suggestions...

1. Right now it stores 100 meals of canned and freeze dried foodstuffs.

2. IF a hurricane or TSHTF, it holds 3 gallons of water, purified or not.

3. After the water is used up, it has duel purposes.

a. More water, potable or not (I can purify it)

b. Fill it with dirt including fertilizer. Drill holes along the bottom and turn it into a large windowbox planter for fruits and vegetables.

Just some suggestions for that handy little tote which costs me less than $5 besides the many other storage uses. Food for thought. And our near future, IMHO.....

And...when you stack them on top of each other, they become air-tight ( ). 8 X 5 lb. bags of flour, sealed in a bottom bin for five years in the South Florida heat. I had forgotten it was there from 1998 until we moved in 2003. Opened the bin, and tried the flour. No bugs, and the best bread I could have wanted.

Seabird

 

[Caplock50]

Sorry, but the made me do it.

Tie enough of them together and you have a raft in case of a flood.

 

[Chronicles]

Those blue plastic containers are junk.. The will fall apart.

Here is what you need !

See lumber yards or hardware stores, or even ranch and farm supplies.

 

[CarolynA]

Chronicles, what are the red ones called so I can ask for them at the store. How big are they? Do they have a gasket seal? What price range are they? They look very cool.

 

[Chronicles]

CarolynA:
Chronicles, what are the red ones called so I can ask for them at the store. How big are they? Do they have a gasket seal? What price range are they? They look very cool.

They come in blue, black and "this" orange colors, that I have seen. I have a black one and it was used for pickels, and it holds 55 gallons.

I have some orange ones, they came with hot peppers, there was even 2 or three cherry peppers in them when I bought them for $15 dollars each. They are just like the one shown in the above picture and are 50 gallons barrels. They are real tough and they have a ring and seal w/ gasket. There is a very small vent port on the seal, that I pluged with silcone on the ones I use outside. I bought a few of them for $10 dollars.

Pickel barrels
pepper barrels
Plastic barrels

They call them many things, but the size and cost are about the same.
They are used and need washed out with garden hose and a tad bit of dish soap..

Just call a few lumber yard type places. I bought them at a farm supply store, and here is the link where I barrowed the image..
http://www.fencing-farm-ranch.com/

 

[Karnie]

Chron, you're pretty strong on the blue plastic totes being "junk", but they have a place in prepping. I don't see the value of belittling what others find useful if it fits their specific need.

Your 55 gal barrels, while they also have their uses, are NOT portable when filled. At least not readily, due to weight.

I happen to have a lot of 55 gal barrels *and* a lot of smaller totes. They are not interchangable. Each have their place in a well prepped home.

 

[Wise Owl]

We have the totes also...use them for storage......and yes, they are bug proof if you don't fill them too full or forget to cinch down the top......rubbermaid are the best ones........I can store about 60 lbs of flour in the bigger ones......have had no bug problems or rodent problems with them but then we don't have rats up here. Just mice and a few well placed traps with cheese bait work well. No mice this year..I think the coyotes got em all......not many squirrels, rabbits or quail either for that matter.........sigh....