Benchtop tools on hitch mounts, with storage tree
My shop is a two-car garage, and I am always looking for ways to maximize the efficient use of space. I live in an urban neighborhood in the city of Los Angeles, so there's no room on my 5,000 sq. ft. city lot to expand my garage or put up another building.
I previously built 2" receivers into my welding table and workbench and put my vise on a hitch mount, so I can move my vise where I need it. I decided to mount other "benchtop" type tools to hitch mounts also, for flexibility and convenience. After mounting up a couple tools, I needed a place to store them when they aren't in use. I decided to go vertical with my solution, to save scarce floor space.
These photos show the system in use and some key details. I think it is pretty self-explanatory, so I won't put a step-by-step here. Hopefully, someone finds it useful, and even better, finds a way to improve upon it. The only thing I would do differently is make it taller - I could have gone another 18 - 24" taller, but I had a pre-cut 7-footer on hand and I used that.
The materials used are 2" square tubing for the main vertical upright, which is drilled every 4" to accommodate a bolt to hold each receiver in place where needed. The receivers are made from .238 wall square tubing with a 2" inside measurement. I buy this at my local steel supplier, but I have also bought Curt 2" receiver tubes in 36" and 48" lengths in the past, for similar projects.
My shop is a two-car garage, and I am always looking for ways to maximize the efficient use of space. I live in an urban neighborhood in the city of Los Angeles, so there's no room on my 5,000 sq. ft. city lot to expand my garage or put up another building.
I previously built 2" receivers into my welding table and workbench and put my vise on a hitch mount, so I can move my vise where I need it. I decided to mount other "benchtop" type tools to hitch mounts also, for flexibility and convenience. After mounting up a couple tools, I needed a place to store them when they aren't in use. I decided to go vertical with my solution, to save scarce floor space.
These photos show the system in use and some key details. I think it is pretty self-explanatory, so I won't put a step-by-step here. Hopefully, someone finds it useful, and even better, finds a way to improve upon it. The only thing I would do differently is make it taller - I could have gone another 18 - 24" taller, but I had a pre-cut 7-footer on hand and I used that.
The materials used are 2" square tubing for the main vertical upright, which is drilled every 4" to accommodate a bolt to hold each receiver in place where needed. The receivers are made from .238 wall square tubing with a 2" inside measurement. I buy this at my local steel supplier, but I have also bought Curt 2" receiver tubes in 36" and 48" lengths in the past, for similar projects.
