Product Review – Rubbermaid XL Deck Box with seat

Having a shed is nice but nothing beats having couple of extra large deck boxes to store things like deck furniture “stuff” and outdoor toys. It is just more convenient to have some outdoor storage space near the deck rather than trudging across the lawn.

I am going to review the Rubbermaid 5E39 Extra Large Deck Box with Molded Seat in this post and compare it to Lifetime deck boxes.

QUICK OVERVIEW

• PROS:
  • sturdy construction
  • includes a storage netting that is attached to the lid underneath
  • includes 2 rigid wire frame shelves
  • easy construction with minimal tools
• CONS:
  • So-so fit and finish quality
  • Textured surface all around that may trap dirt more
  • Weak plastic hinge components and straps
  • No molded handles on the side

PRODUCT INFORMATION

Rubbermaid’s extra large deck box ships disassembled in a flat, large box to reduce damage. It is slightly smaller than Lifetime deck boxes with its capacity maxing out at 120 gal.

Oddly enough, the exterior dimensions are 27.5″ high, 25.7″ wide and 60″ long which is slightly larger than Lifetime deck boxes but I am guessing the capacity is smaller due to its interior panel design to support wire shelves.

For some reason, the warranty on the unit is not indicated anywhere. When I spoke with one of their customer service representatives, she stated that it only had 1 year warranty but I will send them an email to confirm that.

REQUIRED PARTS / TOOLS FOR THIS PROJECT

• Rubbermaid 5E39 Extra Large Deck Box with Seat, Sandstone
• Hammer
• Medium sized Phillips screwdriver (I used a 1.5″ chisel)
• Scrap wood block (1″ x 4″)
• Safety glasses
• Work gloves

REVIEW / ALLTHUMBS DIY INSTRUCTIONS

After taking the components out of the box, it took only 20 minutes to assemble the unit with using minimal amount of tools. 

The overall impression of the components was that it was cheaply manufactured, especially when compared to Lifetime units. For example, not all “punch out” tabs were cut all the way through so I could not use a screwdriver to remove the tabs as stated in the instructions. Instead, I had to use my chisel to cut and knock them out.  Honestly, I don’t think it wouldn’t take much effort for Rubbermaid to completely knock them out for us.

Rest of the installation went smoothly, quickly snapping panels together.

Because fit and finish of certain panels were not that great, I am not sure how durable it would be over the years, though it withstood a torrential downpour shortly after.

CONCLUSIONS

These Rubbermaid deck boxes are extremely popular and I see them all over the place, especially at swimming pools. In my opinion, Rubbermaid needs to improve on:

• Finish quality
• Interlocking panel designs (too lose)
• Flimsy plastic lid straps (children can get hurt with lid slamming down on their hands or heads)
• Warranty

Well, I hope you found this article to be useful for your DIY project and sign up for my newsletter. The signup form is found on the upper right hand corner of your screen.

Thanks and good luck!