Heavy-Duty Industrial Racking for Lumber, Pipe, and Long Loads

Cantilever racking is the premier industrial solution for items that are too long, bulky, or awkwardly shaped for standard pallet racks. By eliminating the front upright, these systems provide an unobstructed horizontal storage run—essential for furniture, steel bars, PVC piping, and lumber.

Our modular systems are built for durability and fast accessibility. Whether you are building a custom lumber yard or a high-capacity warehouse, you can shop complete kits or individual components below.

Why Choose Cantilever Storage?

• Instant Accessibility: Forklifts can easily load and unload items without navigating front posts.
• Total Versatility: Adjust arm heights in 3" increments to accommodate changing inventory sizes.
• Modular Growth: Start with a starter unit and add add-on units as your facility expands.

Technical Components: Uprights, Arms, and Braces

A complete cantilever rack system consists of three primary high-capacity components. Proper selection is critical to ensuring your system meets local building codes and safety requirements.

1. Cantilever Uprights

The backbone of the system. Each upright consists of a vertical column and a heavy-duty horizontal base.

• Single-Sided: Best for placement against walls.
• Double-Sided: Maximizes floor space by allowing access from both aisles.
• Safety Tip: Uprights must always be anchored to the floor; they should never be attached to walls or other building structures.

2. Cantilever Arms

The heart of the system, cantilever arms are available in straight or inclined configurations.

• Straight Arms: Best for stable loads like lumber, skids, plywood, and cartons.
• Inclined Arms: Feature a 20-degree pitch to help prevent cylindrical items like pipe, conduit, and tubing from rolling forward.
• Hair Pin Keepers: Allow for tool-free, instant adjustability of arm heights.

3. Brace Sets

Braces provide the lateral stability required to keep your rack system plumb and safe. Brace patterns such as 2B, 3B, 4BX, and 4BXX are determined by upright height and horizontal span.

Designing Your Rack System for Maximum Capacity

To ensure your system carries the weight safely, determine your load requirements before ordering.

Calculating Arm Capacity (UDL)

Total capacity is based on a Uniformly Distributed Load (UDL). To find your required arm capacity, take the total weight per level and divide it by the number of supporting arms.

• Example: A 3,000 lb load supported by 3 arms requires a minimum capacity of 1,000 lbs per arm.

Preventing Load Deflection

The load should overhang the end arms by exactly one-half the distance from upright to upright. This helps prevent bowing, also called deflection, and ensures weight is shared evenly across the arms.

Need Help Specifying Your System?

Choosing the right height, arm length, and brace pattern can be complex. For technical assistance or a custom quote on a heavy-duty cantilever system, contact our team or review our full cantilever selection guide.

Read our Full Cantilever Selection Guide →