Rubbermaid FastTrack Basket: What It Is and How to Use It
The Rubbermaid FastTrack basket is an accessory for the FastTrack Rail System, a wall-mounted garage organization system that lets you hang, slide, and reconfigure storage components without drilling new holes every time you want to move something. The basket itself clips onto the FastTrack rail and can hold loose items like sports balls, garden gloves, or rolled-up tarps. You can slide it anywhere along the rail and swap it out for hooks, shelves, or bins as your needs change.
This article breaks down exactly how the FastTrack basket works, what it can and can't hold, how it compares to other FastTrack accessories, and whether the system is worth buying into in the first place.
What the FastTrack Basket Actually Does
The Rubbermaid FastTrack basket is a wire mesh bin that hooks onto the FastTrack rail's lip. It measures roughly 12 inches wide, 12 inches deep, and 8 inches tall, with an open top so you can toss things in without fiddling with a lid. The wire construction means you can see what's inside without digging through it.
The weight capacity is 25 pounds, which is plenty for most garage odds and ends. A volleyball, a couple of baseball gloves, and a can of spray paint will sit comfortably inside without stressing the mounting point.
How the Mounting Works
The basket hooks onto the FastTrack rail using two integrated clips that slide over the top lip of the rail. Once on, you push it down to lock it in place. Repositioning takes about 10 seconds: lift the basket slightly, slide it left or right, and let it drop back onto the lip. No tools needed.
This is the main selling point of the entire FastTrack system. If you rearrange your garage, your storage goes with you. The basket doesn't care where it sits on the rail, it just needs the rail to be there.
What It Holds Best
Loose, oddly shaped items are where the basket shines. Think:
- Sports balls (tennis balls, softballs, baseball gloves on top)
- Garden supplies (seed packets, small hand tools, irrigation fittings)
- Car care items (microfiber towels, detailing brushes, spray bottles on their side)
- Outdoor gear (headlamps, bug spray, sunscreen)
The wire bottom means small items can fall through if you're not careful. A rolled-up garage shop towel is fine. A loose set of screws is not.
FastTrack Basket vs. Other FastTrack Accessories
Rubbermaid makes a big ecosystem of FastTrack accessories, and it helps to know where the basket fits.
Hooks vs. Baskets
Hooks are the most versatile accessory. A single bike hook can hold a 40-pound bicycle, and a small utility hook can hang a garden hose, extension cord, or bag of fertilizer. If you're hanging things rather than collecting them, hooks cost less and use less rail space.
The basket trades hanging capacity for collection capacity. You can put five items in a basket that would need five separate hooks. For things that don't hang well, the basket wins.
Bins vs. Baskets
Rubbermaid also makes enclosed plastic bins that attach to the rail. These are better for things you want to protect from dust or grease, like automotive fuses, small hardware, or kids' chalk. The wire basket is better for items you grab frequently and want to find quickly.
Shelves vs. Baskets
The FastTrack shelf is a flat platform that attaches to the rail and can hold more weight than the basket. It's also better for uniform containers or boxes. The basket is better for loose, bulky items you want to grab and go.
Setting Up the FastTrack Rail
The basket is useless without the rail, so let's cover the setup. The FastTrack rail comes in 4-foot and 8-foot lengths and mounts into studs. You need a level, a stud finder, and a drill with a Phillips bit.
The rail height matters. Most people mount a single rail at 60 to 72 inches from the floor, which puts the accessories at a comfortable reach. If you add a second rail 18 inches below the first, you can stack accessories and nearly double your storage capacity.
Stud Spacing
Standard stud spacing is 16 inches. The FastTrack rail has predrilled holes every 6 inches, so you'll almost always hit at least two studs in an 8-foot run. Hitting three studs is better for the long-term load.
Use 2.5-inch wood screws minimum. The included hardware in older kits was sometimes shorter and didn't bite well into the stud. Go to the hardware aisle and buy better screws if the kit's screws feel flimsy.
Rail Height for Specific Items
If you're storing bikes, you probably want hooks high enough that the tires clear the floor by a few inches. If you're using the basket for frequently grabbed items, keep it at chest height so you don't have to reach up constantly.
What the FastTrack System Costs
The FastTrack basket alone runs around $25 to $35 at most retailers. The rail itself is the bigger purchase: an 8-foot rail is usually $40 to $60, and a starter kit that includes the rail plus a handful of accessories runs $70 to $120.
If you're outfitting a two-car garage, plan on two 8-foot rails side by side, which gives you 16 feet of total storage. At that scale, you're looking at $200 to $300 for the rails alone, then another $100 to $200 in accessories to fill them out.
That's not cheap, but it's also not permanent. You can start small with one 4-foot section and a few hooks and baskets, then expand as your budget allows.
For a full comparison of garage storage systems at different price points, the Best Garage Storage roundup covers wall systems, freestanding shelves, and overhead storage side by side.
Where to Buy the FastTrack Basket
Rubbermaid sells FastTrack through their website, Amazon, Home Depot, Lowe's, and Walmart. The basket part number to look for is FG5E3800 or search "Rubbermaid FastTrack basket" directly.
Amazon usually has the best price consistency and the fastest shipping if you're ordering multiple accessories at once. Home Depot and Lowe's carry the full line in-store, which is helpful if you want to see how the accessories feel before committing.
If you're buying a starter kit versus individual pieces, the kit usually saves you $15 to $20 compared to buying everything separately.
For ceiling-based alternatives, the Best Garage Top Storage roundup covers overhead platforms and ceiling-mounted racks that work alongside wall systems like FastTrack.
Common Problems and How to Fix Them
The Basket Slides on the Rail
New rails have a smooth finish that can let accessories drift sideways if they're not loaded evenly. This is more common with lighter accessories. The solution is to make sure the basket is fully seated on the rail lip before loading it. If the basket still moves after loading, you can buy rubber rail stoppers or sandwich the basket between two hooks to hold it in place.
The Rail Pulls Away from the Wall
This happens when the rail isn't anchored into studs. If you feel the rail flexing when you pull on a loaded basket, you need to add a screw into a stud. Use a stud finder to locate the nearest stud and add a screw even if it's not in a pre-drilled hole, Rubbermaid's rails have enough give to accommodate an off-center screw.
The Basket Holds Less Than Expected
The 25-pound rating assumes even weight distribution. A heavy item pushed to one side of the basket can stress a single clip and make the basket tip. Distribute weight evenly or use a rail clip to pin the loaded side.
FAQ
Can I use FastTrack baskets on non-Rubbermaid rails? No. The FastTrack basket is designed specifically for the FastTrack rail's lip profile. It won't fit on standard pegboard or other slotted wall systems. If you're not committed to the FastTrack ecosystem, look at wall-mount pegboard accessories instead.
How many baskets can I hang on one rail? An 8-foot rail can hold 10 to 12 FastTrack accessories of mixed types, depending on their width. Each basket takes about 12 inches of rail space, so you could hang 8 baskets end to end on an 8-foot rail, though mixing in hooks and shelves is more practical.
Are the FastTrack baskets rust-resistant? Yes. They're coated steel wire with a rust-resistant finish. They'll hold up fine in an unheated garage through normal seasonal humidity changes. If you live somewhere with very high humidity year-round, expect some surface rust after 5 to 7 years, but the structural integrity won't be affected.
Does the basket come in different sizes? Rubbermaid makes a large FastTrack wire basket that's roughly twice the volume of the standard basket. They also make a deep basket with taller walls for bulkier items. All three sizes attach to the same rail and are interchangeable.
The Bottom Line
The Rubbermaid FastTrack basket is a solid accessory for a solid system. On its own, it's a wire bin. Combined with the FastTrack rail and a mix of hooks and shelves, it becomes part of a flexible storage wall that you can reconfigure without tools whenever your garage needs change. If you're already in the FastTrack ecosystem, the basket is a no-brainer for holding loose items that don't hang well. If you're starting from scratch, budget for the rail first and add baskets where you need them.