Man Uses Old Wood Pallets To Build A Backyard Rain Barrel Stand With An Impressive DIY

TL;DR

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A Hunker report describes a backyard rain-barrel stand built from old pallets, with a second barrel stacked above the first and connected by tubing. The design can increase storage within a small footprint, but the report does not provide load tests, dimensions, costs or measured water-pressure results.

Hunker has reported on a backyard rain-barrel stand built by DIYer Sow the Land from reclaimed pallet wood, using a two-level frame to hold two connected barrels. The arrangement is intended to increase rainwater storage without taking up the ground space of two side-by-side barrels, though the report provides no independent testing of the stand’s strength or the system’s performance.

The described frame has a platform for a lower barrel and a second platform above it. A hose or tube connects the containers through holes near their tops, allowing overflow from the upper barrel to move into the lower one. Each barrel also has a spigot for drawing water. The elevated setup can make the lower spigot easier to reach; Hunker says raising a barrel also increases water pressure, but gives no measurements for this particular build.

Hunker’s suggested materials include scrap wood or pallets, screws, a drill, two rain barrels, spigots and tubing. Its general lumber estimate is at least four boards for the base, four to eight for posts and another four to eight for the upper platform. Those figures are not a structural plan: the report says the supply needs depend on the size of the stand and barrels.

The report describes connecting boards between four corner posts at the desired platform heights, reinforcing the posts and adding diagonal bracing if needed to reduce wobble. It says the stand should be secured, either by setting posts in holes with concrete or using appropriate structural hardware to attach it to a stable structure. The wood can then be painted or stained and sealed. The source stresses that both platforms must be strong enough for a full barrel.

More Storage in Less Yard Space

The design addresses two practical constraints for people collecting rainwater: where to put the barrels and how easily to reach their outlets. Stacking the containers uses vertical space rather than requiring a wider ground-level footprint, while the upper barrel can feed overflow into the lower one. A raised outlet may also make filling a watering can or connecting a hose more convenient.

However, the potential gain in storage comes with a structural responsibility. Water is heavy, and a stand holding two full barrels must carry their combined weight without tipping, shifting or failing. The report offers a general DIY approach, not engineering calculations or a certified design. Readers should treat the dimensions and lumber counts as adaptable suggestions, not proof that a particular pallet stand is safe.

Reusing sound pallet wood may reduce material costs and keep usable lumber out of the waste stream. That benefit depends on selecting suitable wood and building a stable frame. The report also advises leaving the base accessible after adding decorative rocks or planters, so the owner can inspect the structure, check for leaks and maintain the spigots.

How the Two-Barrel Layout Works

Rain barrels collect water, commonly from a roof drainage system, for later outdoor use. A stand is optional, but elevation can improve access to a spigot and provide gravity-fed pressure. In the design covered by Hunker, the upper container adds another storage vessel while its overflow is routed to the lower one through tubing. The article does not specify how the barrels are supplied with rainwater or give a plumbing diagram.

Hunker identifies reclaimed pallets as a possible source of boards and warns readers to avoid rotten or chemically treated wood. It says an “HT” stamp indicates heat-treated wood and an “MB” stamp indicates methyl bromide fumigation, advising against MB-marked pallets. The report also cautions that a stamp alone does not establish that wood is clean or safe for every use. It recommends gloves and boots when dismantling pallets because of splinters and loose nails.

““Sow the Land shared his technique for making a stand that might make your rainwater harvesting tank both easier to use and more efficient.””

— Hunker, describing the DIY project

Strength and Performance Remain Untested

The source does not state the barrels’ capacity, the stand’s exact dimensions, the type or condition of the pallets used, or the fasteners and bracing in the finished build. It gives no load test, engineering assessment or long-term report on weather exposure. As a result, the stand’s safe load capacity is not established, and the described lumber counts should not be treated as a guarantee that another build will support two full barrels.

It is also unclear how much additional water pressure the elevation provides, how quickly the connected barrels equalize, or whether the system includes screens, covers or other measures to keep debris and insects out. Hunker’s report does not give a measured storage increase, a cost comparison or details about local rules for rainwater collection. Those details may depend on the equipment, site and local requirements.

Plan and Inspect Before Filling

The report does not announce a follow-up test or a new version of the project. For anyone adapting the idea, the next steps are to measure the barrels and available space, choose sound wood, prepare a level location and plan how the frame will be braced and anchored before adding water. The stand should be checked for movement and the connections inspected for leaks as the system is put into use.

Owners should also keep the frame accessible for routine checks of the posts, platforms, tubing and spigots, particularly after exposure to rain and changing weather. Any uncertainty about whether a frame can carry the full combined load should be resolved before filling the barrels, rather than relying on the article’s broad material estimates.

Key Questions

What is the main feature of the pallet rain-barrel stand?

It uses two stacked platforms to hold a pair of rain barrels, with tubing connecting the upper barrel’s overflow to the lower one. The layout is intended to add storage while using less ground space than placing both barrels side by side.

Does raising a rain barrel increase water pressure?

Elevation can provide gravity-fed pressure, and Hunker says a raised barrel can increase pressure. The report gives no measurement of the pressure produced by this particular stand.

Which pallet markings does the report warn about?

Hunker says “MB” marks methyl bromide fumigation and advises avoiding those pallets. It identifies “HT” as heat-treated, but cautions that a stamp alone does not prove the wood is clean or appropriate for every use. Rotten or otherwise questionable boards should not be used.

How can the stand be secured?

The report describes setting posts in holes with concrete or using suitable structural hardware to anchor the frame to a stable structure. It also recommends reinforcement and, if needed, diagonal bracing. The source does not provide calculations for a particular site or barrel load.

Has the design been tested for two full barrels?

No test results are included in the report. It says each platform should support a full barrel, but does not give a rated capacity, engineering review or proof that a given pallet frame is safe under a specific load.

Source: rss