Shipping Containers?

LSmith · May 17, 2003

I am looking for a quick temporary solution to storing my small tractor and implements on our land. We do not live on the land yet but are visiting it on weekends trying to prep the area for a home site. I want to have the tools & tractor available when we go out to land and I think that a 40' shipping container that I can get for about $1200.00 is a workable solution. I am eventually going to build a shop but not quickly enough to solve this problem. Anyone out there using these containers? What are the pros & cons?
Thanks,

L. Smith

gerard · May 17, 2003

I have a friend that bought one in lieu of building a small storage shed. I think you're in good shape for security, cost per sq foot. Other than asthetics I don't see a downside and unlike a building, it's pretty easy to move and reloacte later if you either have the right equipment or don't mind hiring a rollback.

Taylortractornut · May 17, 2003

Lane I worked for an out fit that needed storage buildings while we got the job started, and we bought 2 shipping gcontainers one fr the Kawasaki mule and utility tracots and the bobcat then one to put shelbvin in part way down and a small room at the back to go over prints in and repair tools. We put them 15 feet apart and i built a roof out of 2 inch tubing and Ibeam. Then we added som crusher run to it to make a work floor. This was my shop and office on site for a few weeks till the company sent me a hoe and dozer.I think the whole cost of the project was 2500 dollars and served us well the whole job. I like the way the have heavy locking doors. Ithink the company still uses the same set up on there other jobs today.

LSmith · May 17, 2003

Ok, An add on question. How difficult is one of these things to move. I think I could move a 20' container on a standard trailer pulled behind my dually. But I'm not sure about a 40' or if I could get it down to our site. The road is winding and there is a small creek crossing (not deep with a rock bottom).
Lots of logging trucks used the road some years back but I don't know if a 40' container is longer than a log trailer.

L. Smith

Gatorboy · May 17, 2003

I think the 20-footers weight about 4500-5000 pounds and a 40-footer about 9000-10,000 pounds.

I have thought about getting one of these myself, but I haven't quite figured out how to get it across my stream and up to the location I would like to have it sit.

LWFrisk · May 18, 2003

I had a 40 foot container for years. They are great. Some of the guys that have them here in California place two of them up to 30 feet apart then build the roof over them. They insulate the roof and add some side doors and they really make a good place to work. You should add some of the rotating vents to the roof. They are so tight, they will actually condense mositure on the inside walls. The really nice ones here have added color stucco and with the roof, you almost have to know it was a container to tell it from a regular building. I moved mine several times. Have a friend with a Landall Trailer. They are the trailers that the rear wheel sets move forward allowing the rear of the trailer to drop to the ground. They just winch the container onto the trailer, tie it down and go down the interstate. On a couple of occasions, I did not even empty the container. They just reverse the winch to pull it back off and are able to set in most anywhere they can line up with the new location. They only spent 10 minutes to load and unload it and the cost was minimal.

Go for it!

Leo Frisk in San Diego

Taylortractornut · May 19, 2003

Lane i belive a container could be moved down the same road with a semi, id contact a logging company with a Mack pull out truck some around that area have a few 6x6 trucks but a standard tandem drive could do the same. Thats how we had ours moved when i worked with Lymon construction. Most pullouts are high clearance and rough so terrain isnt a problem Take care Taylor Lambert

boustany · May 20, 2003

I've got a 40 footer for storage. Does its job, but it is a bit of a pain to get into and out of because of the size of the dorrs (bit & heavy). I should have built a roof over mine as it has started to rust through because of standing water. I'll scrap mine soon, because I have plenty of other storage space available now. Ventillation is a good idea because they are so tight.