I was faced with the same challenge many of us are with regards to the need to store large sheets of materials. I needed a way to store multiple sizes of sheets (16ga, 3/16th" 1/4", etc.) which would allow them to lay nice and flat, while also keeping sizes separate and facilitating the ability to load material onto my flatbed as needed.
What I really wanted was a BigSteelRack! Alas, God only knows how much those must cost.
So instead, I purchased a used super heavy duty set of single sided heavy duty cantilever storage rack, and then set out to fabricate heavy duty forklift-able steel pallets to store the sheet material on.
Here's what the steel pallet looks like. I'm actually going to add a couple more center cross braces on the bottom to help support the pallet when laying on the shelving. But otherwise it seems to work well.
![Image](https://scontent.fhou1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t31.0-8/23456489_779906875544820_8951360773202403928_o.jpg?oh=d92366080039b7ad80af668167474bdf&oe=5A985F82)
With thin material like 16ga, it obviously droops badly on the forklift but when I lay it on the pallet it just smooths right out quite nicely.
![Image](https://scontent.fhou1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t31.0-8/19264419_779906922211482_8342995132726190324_o.jpg?oh=dc764a67599247fb6d3ff9b8327ded4c&oe=5A97F98D)
Finally, I forklift the pallet onto the arms of the shelving and we're done!
![Image](https://scontent.fhou1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t31.0-8/23275632_779906962211478_5570247393670889947_o.jpg?oh=f1498b66f318196c95549b0d7b3710b7&oe=5AA7D35A)
If anyone has any suggestions for improvement I'm all ears! Otherwise, hopefully it helps someone down the road.