SHIPPING CONTAINERS / Sea Cans

[scaredychicken]

I have decided that it is time to get a sea can on the property.

In the past 5 years, we have had a lot of changes here.
1) 3 kids graduated and moved out
2) we divided the house in half, upper and lower levels. we live in the lower level, tenants in the upper suite. Our unit is small.
3) that means the GARAGE (30 ft x 30 ft, double bay) is FULL to capacity --- keeping in mind that it contains things that we have gathered over many decades, our stuff, kids stuff, the contents of the entire house - compressed to half the space, along the way there are other items that were not ours ... from my late parents, a few items from friends, general storage etc (still saving and budgeting for a barn)
4) it's difficult to maneuver around everything, therefore difficult to sort / clear items - this is a gradual process, but we need SPACE to get things sorted, and TIME to then do it
5) recent unexpected development is now my aging / ailing father-in-law, and sister-in-law will be moving in, ... along with their stuff
6) I can't take it anymore - I need my workbench, my garage, a place or my wife's car, and space to move around and finish projects

Still working out the details, of location, site prep, budget for an item that was not yet being considered

Some specific things that are still being discussed re the container...
- needs to be water / wind / rodent proof ... I'm leaning towards NEW
- it can not be an eyesore, so it needs to be new, nice paint, good condition ... wife will be happier with that option
- prices are high for either new or used, better deals with longer containers
- rental for a few months is a temporary solution, a better long term option is to purchase one
- my friend can deliver it (that's what he does), but he is limited to 20 ft containers with his equipment
- I was thinking 40 footer, and I have a good connection for a NEW 40 ft, High Cube container (or 20 ft container, at about 75 % of cost), value is the 40 ft
- ultimately, when I land one on the yard it will probably be in the wrong spot. Location options are limited (and there may be a need to find a spot for a live in travel trailer in the same proximity ... for the outlaws, family)
- I'm thinking that a container is good for long term needs, so it's not a temporary storage fix, it will always be useful on the farm

So, although I want to purchase a new, 40 foot High Cube container ($8500), and have the best location for a one time placement, I will probably need to think the opposite ... a 20 foot container ($6750), rented for now ($150 / mo), and able to reposition if needed, by my friend for a couple hundred bucks. Transport alone for a 20 ft can was over $600 Cdn, much more for a 40 ft.

so much to think about. Trying to think out loud.
cheers

 

[3Ts]

If you do go with a container, be sure you get it off the ground so you have air circulation under it, otherwise you'll have lots of humidity inside and things will rust quickly and leather with mold & mildew. May want to add exhaust fans for the interior. Someone posted some solar powered fans they'd added that looked like would work well. Be sure it is level or the doors will stick.

 

[LittleBittyBigJohn]

I have been renting one for a while an my neighbor has a few on his place. I think they are a good solution. Not pretty but very useful. You will likely only be able to use the benefits of the high cube if you put shelves in it. I can't get anything stacked to the top of my standard cube for any length of time before the boxes topple over.

If you think you want a 40' get a 40'. Don't forget you will need to keep a walkway clear all the way to the back. That takes some of the storage space.

 

[keony]

I'm planning a container but only have room for a 20'. I would definitely go with the 40' in your case, twice the space for a little bit more money!

 

[marhar]

If you do go with a container, be sure you get it off the ground so you have air circulation under it, otherwise you'll have lots of humidity inside and things will rust quickly and leather with mold & mildew. May want to add exhaust fans for the interior. Someone posted some solar powered fans they'd added that looked like would work well. Be sure it is level or the doors will stick.

100% agree. I have used tractor trailers as storage. The temperature change from a hot day to a cool night will cause the inside of the trailer to sweat. I have seen furniture stored in sofa bags sweat and mold. Cutting vents in the front of the trailer is not enough.

I have not tied this attic fan but I will next time I use trailer for long term storage. It is solar powered if you do not have electricity to the drop location. 3Tsgave good advice

 

[timbatrader]

Up off the ground for ventilation under it. But more important attach some sort of roof over it. Sheets of iron with a 6 inch gap between the top of the container and the roof even better get a cheap carport building and put the container inside it keeping direct sun off the container roof & walls goes a long way towards reducing the condensation forming on the roof and raining down on everything

 

[5030]

One thing to keep in mind is, if you live in a zoned community, local zoning may not allow it. I'd check before hand.

 

[JPSwapMohn]

I am heading down the same path. As with everything today, containers have gotten much more expensive. I need storage out on our rural property along with a place to store the tractor. Loading and hauling it back and forth is a real pain, but I am not willing to leave it sitting out there in the open where someone might see it during the week and decide to "take a look".

I am planning 2 40'HC's with a 20' span between them and a 36' span roof over them. That gives room to park the tractor and stuff and secure storage out of the elements for other tools, etc. in the containers.

I want to build it in such a why that it can be disassembled and moved elsewhere on the property in the future. I intend to put a door in the side of at least one of them for easier access from under the cover. Once we build and get things settled, I am thinking it may get placed on the other end of the property and turned into a cabin for friends/family to come visit. At least that is the selling point that my better half has bought into..8^)

I was determined to get "new" 1-trip containers but prices are really making me lean toward the next lower category of "sea-worthy". I expect I will eventually paint them, etc.

Even with the higher cost of the containers, it really does seem to be the most cost effective and fastest way to get a building to meet our needs.

The vents are a great idea. It is pretty dry out here, but I had not thought about condensation.

Our land is open range land with junipers, pinions and cactus, so other than finding a solid place to put it and setting corner stones for the containers, space is not a problem. Still need a building permit, etc.

 

[scaredychicken]

If you do go with a container, be sure you get it off the ground so you have air circulation under it, otherwise you'll have lots of humidity inside and things will rust quickly and leather with mold & mildew. May want to add exhaust fans for the interior. Someone posted some solar powered fans they'd added that looked like would work well. Be sure it is level or the doors will stick.

I have people for all the technical stuff A friend is THE guy that started the Big Steel Box company (local company, now throughout North America) and a buddy is a Container deliverer. They will both be here when it lands on the yard. So I couldn't ask for better help ... just need to determine all the details. I have a meeting tomorrow about it all.

 

[scaredychicken]

One thing to keep in mind is, if you live in a zoned community, local zoning may not allow it. I'd check before hand.

I live in the country with the bears and coyotes, on 7.5 acres ... several sea cans in the immediate area. Should be fine.

 

[Dragonpharm]

I went with a 40' high cube. Really worked well for storage. Have storage shelving units that allow usage of the extra height. Also had a roll-up door installed in the middle of one side. Made access much easier. Of course now mine has been primarily converted into the feed room and hay storage for my daughter's equines. At least it is still very useful.

 

[5030]

Like with everything in life, due diligence ALWAYS trumps a guess. If it was me, I'd check. Saves a lot of grief down the road. Your call, you are an adult I think and being an adult, you are responsible for your actions, and consequences.

 

[strantor]

I would love to get a sea can. Some day...

If things don't work out, I thought I'd share this...

Several years ago my stepfather moved all of his late mother's belongings to his house and filled the garage completely. Then had an unexpected life event and had to turn the garage into an apartment. Nowhere to put the stuff, and he's the world's biggest penny pincher, would not pay rent on a storage unit or buy a storage shed. So he put all the stuff in Rubbermaid totes stacked 5-high on a wooden deck, and threw a tarp over it. I told him the contents would get ruined but I was wrong. Four years that stuff sat on the back deck and went through a hurricane or two. He had to replace the tarp a few times, but when he finally got around to dealing with all the stuff nothing was moldy or rusty, everything fine. I couldn't believe it.

 

[scaredychicken]

we have always used Rubbermade totes, they are the best. Great story ... I would agree with you though, so that result is pretty amazing.

 

[tradosaurus]

You mentioned "eye sore". Have you thought about a lofted barn for storage? We bought one in 2017 for storage as our house we just purchased had very little attic storage.

I raised 9 kids and with two left in the house we accumulated quite a bit. My thought process was to only keep what I could store in the lofted barn.

I have rid myself of a lot of stuff over the last 5 years. The lofted barn is easy to access and see what you are storing. In fact every year I go through the storage to see what else I can get rid of. I probably have the storage about 50% full.

I paid $6700 back in 2017 for a 12 x 20 ft lofted barn so I'm sure that price is higher now.

 

[scaredychicken]

that's a good thought also tradosaurus

I have several things competing for my goals and money

1) storage NOW - the sea can area just needs to be prep'd and the unit dropped, no construction (which, for me is contracted labour, or calling in lots of favours. then we can Sort, Toss, Sell, Declutter, and open up to a useable garage --- much easier also when the weather cooperates post winter

2) I have plans to have a 30 x 40 barn built in a year or two ... replace the current chicken coop, and equipment storage. This is the bigger goal for me

3) future goal / retirement revenue on the property, may be to build a larger chicken barn sufficient for 5000 layer birds (manageable, but not over the top), and buy the Quota... (this option may eliminate # 2)

as far as the "eye sore" that was referring to an old, well, used, affordable sea can (wife would definitely not be happy with that choice, although paint has been invented ) ... I'm looking at the new / 1x use clean "pretty" options

 

[marhar]

I have decided that it is time to get a sea can on the property.

In the past 5 years, we have had a lot of changes here.
1) 3 kids graduated and moved out
2) we divided the house in half, upper and lower levels. we live in the lower level, tenants in the upper suite. Our unit is small.
3) that means the GARAGE (30 ft x 30 ft, double bay) is FULL to capacity --- keeping in mind that it contains things that we have gathered over many decades, our stuff, kids stuff, the contents of the entire house - compressed to half the space, along the way there are other items that were not ours ... from my late parents, a few items from friends, general storage etc (still saving and budgeting for a barn)
4) it's difficult to maneuver around everything, therefore difficult to sort / clear items - this is a gradual process, but we need SPACE to get things sorted, and TIME to then do it
5) recent unexpected development is now my aging / ailing father-in-law, and sister-in-law will be moving in, ... along with their stuff
6) I can't take it anymore - I need my workbench, my garage, a place or my wife's car, and space to move around and finish projects

Still working out the details, of location, site prep, budget for an item that was not yet being considered

Some specific things that are still being discussed re the container...
- needs to be water / wind / rodent proof ... I'm leaning towards NEW
- it can not be an eyesore, so it needs to be new, nice paint, good condition ... wife will be happier with that option
- prices are high for either new or used, better deals with longer containers
- rental for a few months is a temporary solution, a better long term option is to purchase one
- my friend can deliver it (that's what he does), but he is limited to 20 ft containers with his equipment
- I was thinking 40 footer, and I have a good connection for a NEW 40 ft, High Cube container (or 20 ft container, at about 75 % of cost), value is the 40 ft
- ultimately, when I land one on the yard it will probably be in the wrong spot. Location options are limited (and there may be a need to find a spot for a live in travel trailer in the same proximity ... for the outlaws, family)
- I'm thinking that a container is good for long term needs, so it's not a temporary storage fix, it will always be useful on the farm

So, although I want to purchase a new, 40 foot High Cube container ($8500), and have the best location for a one time placement, I will probably need to think the opposite ... a 20 foot container ($6750), rented for now ($150 / mo), and able to reposition if needed, by my friend for a couple hundred bucks. Transport alone for a 20 ft can was over $600 Cdn, much more for a 40 ft.

so much to think about. Trying to think out loud.
cheers

After reading posts I thought about insulation and did a Google search. I have seen examples of sprayed insulation in containers. I had a neighbor that painted a container barn red and then painted two fake windows with shutters. He really did a good job disguising his container. He hid the bottom of the container to further make it look like a barn.

 

[pmsmechanic]

What I think you should do is buy a 20' container. Hire a crane and tip it on end to fill it. Everything in your garage should fit. Several years from now you can hire another crane to dump the whole container out for you. Anything that survives is worth keeping but since you've done without it for several years you don't really need it.

Just have a garage sale!

 

[marhar]

What I think you should do is buy a 20' container. Hire a crane and tip it on end to fill it. Everything in your garage should fit. Several years from now you can hire another crane to dump the whole container out for you. Anything that survives is worth keeping but since you've done without it for several years you don't really need it.

Just have a garage sale!

Do you know my wife?...it is not junk it is future projects and maintenance supplies for the unknown.

 

[pmsmechanic]

Do you know my wife?...it is not junk it is future projects and maintenance supplies for the unknown.

When my parents moved from Manitoba to Alberta all of my Mom's "treasures" had to come along. After they both passed us kids had to clean it all up. Not fun! I just said that my kids are not going to have to do the same so I'm slowly cleaning up what I figure I won't ever use. Or if it's useful I'm orgaininzing it in labeled boxes eo that it's easy enough to load onto a trailer for an eventual auction sale.