Jumbo Room in this Roughtote
Written: Apr 07 '04 (Updated Apr 07 '04)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Sturdy plastic container holds a lot and is designed for storage of large bulky items.
Cons: When stacked, the lids become concave and lose their original shape.
The Bottom Line: The Bottom Line does not like the way the lids collapse when these containers are stacked.
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| dlstewart's Full Review: Newell Rubbermaid 50 Gallon Jumbo Roughtote |
During our kitchen renovation, I needed some durable containers to store large kitchen items such as large pieces of cookware and electrical kitchen gadgets. That's when I discovered Rubbermaid 50 Gallon Jumbo Roughtote storage containers.
Description
I own a variety of the Rubbermaid 50 Gallon Roughtote containers. Each container has two pieces: the lid, and the container that the lid covers. One of the containers has a gray lid and blue container, another has a green top and gray container. Three of the Roughtotes have white lids with gray containers. The lids are an elongated oval shape with a raised design along the center - - the lids are not completely flat. The containers are more rectangular but with curved corners (no sharp edges). The long sides of the containers have a scalloped pattern in the plastic.
On the short ends of the container, the plastic container lip is formed into a wide handle on each end. When the containers are grasped, the palm of the hand rests atop the container, and the fingers curl under the rim into the built-in handle. It's not a traditional handle. The handles are integrated to provide extra space for fingers to gain a good hand-hold.
Each of these Roughtote containers (with lid) measures 42 1/2" long x 21 1/2" wide x 18" high. They are constructed of heavy-duty plastic. These storage boxes are designed to stack. Empty, each container weighs about 12 pounds.
My Experience
I first bought a Rubbermaid 50 Gallon Roughtote to store my larger kitchen appliances and cookware during our kitchen renovation. The container worked out so well that I purchased a second one. I wanted a durable container that would keep out dust and offer more protection than a cardboard packing box. The Roughtotes did an excellent job of protecting my kitchenware.
Then I purchased a new artificial Christmas tree. After the holiday season, I could not fit the tree back in its original cardboard box. It's amazing how tight they packed that tree! By the time I had assembled the tree and "fluffed" the branches, there was no way this tree was going to fit back in the box. So I purchased three more 50 Gallon Roughtote containers. Now my artificial Christmas tree is protected in plastic storage boxes that stack atop one another in a corner of the basement. And since these boxes are plastic, they keep out the dust and humidity. (Note: These storage boxes are not designed as humidity-free containers. I run a dehumidifier during the summer so the basement stays fairly dry.)
The lids snap onto the containers for a tight fit. The lids fit so well that they require a yank to pull free.
How These Containers Stack
I have three of these containers stacked (the ones holding the artificial Christmas tree). While the containers do stack, they press down on the containers beneath them. The lids are not strong enough to withstand even the lighter weight of artificial Christmas tree limbs. With time, the stacked containers compressed the lids of the containers beneath them so that the lids developed a concave indent. If I were to pour water onto these concaved lids, the water would form a mini- pond.
The other two Roughtote containers have also had items stacked on them. One of the 50 Gallon Roughtotes has a smaller 40 Gallon Roughtote stacked atop it. The 40 Gallon Roughtote is packed to the top with children's toys. The weight of the toy-laden container has concaved the lid of the 50 Gallon Roughtote beneath it.
The other 50 Gallon Roughtote is still packed with some kitchen items that never made it back into the renovated kitchen. During the renovation, I had stacked several cardboard boxes atop the Roughtote. The cardboard boxes contained dishes and glassware. The weight of the cardboard boxes caused the lid of the 50 Gallon Roughtote to concave. Also, with the weight of the boxes on top of the Roughtote, the sides of the lid started to bulge.
Once the Roughtote lids form the dreaded bowl shape, they do not return to their original condition. Perhaps if I had noticed the lids were concaving, I might have been able to remove the items from atop the containers ... and maybe the lids would have returned to their original shape. However, it's too late for these particular Roughtotes. Besides, the containers are designed to nest on top of each other. What's the point of having all these Roughtote storage boxes if I have to line them up side-by-side to preserve the shape of their lids.
Purchasing
I'm glad I did not pay full price for these 50 Gallon Roughtote containers. They cost about $16- $18 on sale at my local department store. They regularly sell for around $20.
Summary
The Rubbermaid 50 Gallon Jumbo Roughtote containers served the purpose for which I purchased them. However, they definitely have their negative points. I would not pay full price for these containers since the lids have issues when the containers are stacked. I'll give these storage containers an average rating since the plastic bin part of the container is sturdy and protects the container's contents. However, with the problem lids, I cannot give these containers a better recommendation.
I hope you have found this review useful.
Enjoy your day,
Dawn
http://dlstewart.com
Additional Information
Rubbermaid Home Products Division
1147 Akron Road
Wooster, OH 44691
Tollfree Phone: 888-895-2110
8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. EST Monday - Friday
Please read my other reviews
Rubbermaid Stain Shield Round 1.1 Quart Storage Container
Rubbermaid Space-Saver Dish Drainer
Sterilite Ultra Storage Drawer
Rubbermaid 3-Drawer File Tower on Wheels
West Bend Automatic Egg Cooker
Braun Coffee Grinder (and flax seed)
Le Creuset Bean Pot with recipe
Smidgen Set of 3 Measuring Spoons to measure a Smidgen, Dash and Pinch
Ginsu 13-piece Knife Set with Wood Block
GE Top Freezer Refrigerator
Maytag Gemini Double Oven Range
Copyright 2004 Dawn L. Stewart
Recommended:
Yes
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