Has anyone used shipping containers for storage?

[nikkers]

We will be having a couple of shipping containers delivered on our land and installed on concrete footings. One will be a workshop and tool shed, the other will be for general storage. They will be 8'x40' and cost about 2,000 each, delivered. We found they are strong, waterproof and relatively cheap compared to building from scratch. We have more ideas like using one for an emergency storm shelter.

Does anyone else have any experience using these and for what purpose?

[veggrower]

A friend who is a garden book publisher used to use one for his warehouse, before he went big time. Worked well for him.

I have seen markets using the for walk in coolers and freezers. I am going to buy one for a walkin. They are already insulated and have the refrigeration unit. The deal with the refrigerated ones is that you need 3-phase power to run them. They have an 8hp compressor and a 3phase to single phase converter for a 8hp compressor (heavy load) costs about the same as the container with the refrigeration.

[tonto]

Hi,

When we moved last time (12 years ago), we didn't have room for all of
our stuff. The people we bought the property from suggested shipping
containers instead of renting storage space.

We started out with two 20' ones and then later added a third. We
didn't put concrete footers under them, which was a mistake.

We also found them to be very damp in the winter, and ovens in the
summer. Consequently, the finish on some of our wooden furniture
suffered, and everything smelled musty. Putting roof vents (the kind
that go around - don't know what they are called) might have helped.
We also had a serious problem with black widow spiders and *millions*
of earwigs.

We used two for storage and one for a shop. Other than the problems
described above, storage was okay. The shop was a problem because
once you put a work bench down one side, and shelving down the other,
there wasn't any room to move around.

We had originally thought of using one as housing if an earthquake
struck, but after our experience we would probably live in tents if
necessary. We still do store some of earthquake supplies in one of them.

Hope that helps.
-tonto

BTW, I'm in CA, about 2 hours S. of San Francisco

[PyroDon]

never for a storm shelter . Ive used them for explosive magazines
Id say for a work shop you better plan on installing some ventilation and fans in the summer as temps can easily hit 140 plus inside . before putting anything valuable in one for storage be sure to check for leaks .
Properly bermed and anchored it might work for a storm shelter but Id do some reenforcement before burying one
If your getting two you might consider having them set on concrete piers and leave 20-30 ft between them in the future you could put roof trusses over them and have a nice open barn area between them .

[rambler]

Yes, if you are getting 2, space them apart from each other, very easy to buy trusses & put a roof across the middle, have a big open area for storage as well.

--->Paul

[Big Dave]

Use them all the time for storage at constuction sites. They are metal and codensate at times. Hot as down under in the summer. One really cool idea I saw was to place the containers parrallell. Place you some bar jouist between them. Now cover the bar jouist with metal the same leagth of the container.If you have a concrete floor as we did it provides a great shop area,covered storage ect, ect...
Sorry did not read post above. Just got excited and wanted to help

[rambler]

Just means great minds think alike. And we gotta credit Pyro first.

--->Paul

[PyroDon]

Originally Posted by rambler

Just means great minds think alike. And we gotta credit Pyro first.

--->Paul

I cheated , at the display company where I worked we set 4 for that very purpose to store mortar tube and racks in . It was 80ft long and 56 wide
for those worried about the roof load consider they are designed to support 200,000 lbs or more (80,000 x 3)

[wewantout]

Check these out.

http://www.fabprefab.com/fabfiles/containerbayhome.htm

[donsgal]

Originally Posted by nikkers

We will be having a couple of shipping containers delivered on our land and installed on concrete footings. One will be a workshop and tool shed, the other will be for general storage. They will be 8'x40' and cost about 2,000 each, delivered. We found they are strong, waterproof and relatively cheap compared to building from scratch. We have more ideas like using one for an emergency storm shelter.

Does anyone else have any experience using these and for what purpose?

We were going to put one on the homestead but they were $3,000 here (wish I lived closer to you!) *and* they didn't have any kind of payment program. We didn't want to pay out the whole chunk at once. We found a conventional storage unit shed that was just as big (12X30) and they would let us pay it out over 3 years if we want to.

I like the idea of a shipping container because they are so secure.

donsgal

[Wolf mom]

So many people are using them around here, the price has gone up. Lot's for barns.

As mine is up on rail road ties, consequently higher, I'm installing a shed roof off one side for three stalls.
I have 2 wind turbine vents in a 40 footer. (cover with heavy plastic in the winter)I also had a wood panel installed as a center divider & use the double door end for hay storage. On the other half, I had a side door installed and use it for storage. No mice as they seal up tight.
I'd like to afford another one to use for a tractor garage.

By the way - if someone wants to get in, all they need to do is take a sledge hammer to the pin above where you'd put the lock. Happened to a neighbor...

[veggrower]

Originally Posted by rambler

Just means great minds think alike. And we gotta credit Pyro first.

--->Paul

Thanks to all of you guys. I need to get one for a walkin cooler and build an equipment shed to get my farm equipment out of the weather. I'll just buy another one for a storage shed and put some trusses and a roof over them and park my equipment inside.

The tax assessor in my county is very nosey. I wonder if these would be considered temporary or permanent.

[Dirtslinger]

They're great, a light near the rear would be handy as they get dark back there.
Plenty of shelving would add so much storage space too. I store animal feed in there (with clothes, furnature etc) and have yet to have a mouse so they are tight.
They get HOT on sunny days. Don't let the cat in there by an accident. Hot enough to kill mice actually. A vent would be ideal.

[Trixie]

I have a 48' trailer - you know semi type. We paid $1,000 for it. I do think we got it cheaper than the going rate. It is in excellent shape. It was still actually road worthy, but the floor had buckled a little and they couldn't seem to get it smooth enough for a forklift, so the owner sold it to us - well to my son.

This is finished inside with some plywood and there is a small amount of insulation behind the plywood.

We intend to put some kind of vents on it, but so far it seemed to work well during our cold weather. We didn't have it very long during the summer. We have everything in there from the freezer, home canned food, books & more books, clothing, just everything.

I don't know, but I have heard if it is on wheels, it is not taxed, that was a plus for us - we'll see.

We are considering buying a smaller refrigerator truck to use for hanging meat if we actually get into butchering it ourselves. That's still in the thinking stage.

[jennigrey]

We are renting one right now - cheaper and larger and more convenient than a storage locker. Had it delivered, they will also pick it up. They agreed to waive the pickup/delivery fee if we kept it for over a year. The one we have is double-walled and so far we have had ZERO condensation inside, which was a real surprise, considering that everything outside the container is covered in mold/mildew. The one we got is very well sealed. Nothing gets in or out. Not looking forward to summer, though - I think there's some fairly sensitive stuff in there that won't appreciate the heat. Have to go through all the boxes unhelpfully labled "MISC"...

[Junkmanme]

Here, I have a friend who "rents" these containers. He has to have a LOT of big equipment to move this stuff. He makes a very GOOD living from it. He also works a lot. His crew also "modifies them" to fit the customers needs...I don't know what his prices/ costs are. BUT, I guarantee you that it is "capital-intensive" , but profitable, if done as he does.
my 2 centavos worth from Gallup, NM
Bruce

[GREENCOUNTYPETE]

Originally Posted by Wolf mom

So many people are using them around here, the price has gone up. Lot's for barns.

As mine is up on rail road ties, consequently higher, I'm installing a shed roof off one side for three stalls.
I have 2 wind turbine vents in a 40 footer. (cover with heavy plastic in the winter)I also had a wood panel installed as a center divider & use the double door end for hay storage. On the other half, I had a side door installed and use it for storage. No mice as they seal up tight.
I'd like to afford another one to use for a tractor garage.

By the way - if someone wants to get in, all they need to do is take a sledge hammer to the pin above where you'd put the lock. Happened to a neighbor...

or a 30-06 to your lock
if someone wants into anything bad enought they will find a way
but a little time with a welder and you can make it a lot more difficult
just need to be a little creative

but very little is a match for a cutting tourch but get a few of those explosive placards from pyro and they may think twice about using a tourch
or maybe not but it beats nothing

we used to talk about how a shipping container would make a great cabin for a freind who had some land on the reservation

we were going to cut some windows then make steel shutters that locked from the inside put a wood stove in it and raise it up so that you could drive under it with a truck


one thought for securing them tight would be to use a metal security door in a metal frame made of heavy anle iron or c channel with dead bolts top , bottom and middle and bar the big doors from the inside

can i ask where you bought it from or if you know of more than one supplier

[Fire-Man]

Originally Posted by nikkers

We will be having a couple of shipping containers delivered on our land and installed on concrete footings. One will be a workshop and tool shed, the other will be for general storage. They will be 8'x40' and cost about 2,000 each, delivered. We found they are strong, waterproof and relatively cheap compared to building from scratch. We have more ideas like using one for an emergency storm shelter.

Does anyone else have any experience using these and for what purpose?

My Neighbor and I have several-------I see no need to put concrete under then----sounds like a big waste---unless your dirt is real soft. When I bought mine---they suggested I get two railroad ties(8x8) to sit it on---one on each end only---unless I was going to put more than 60,000lb in it---if I was put a extra one in the middle-------Remember these things are STRONG. They are picked up loaded by the ends. Ours are Loaded--with only support on each end. I put mine in the edge of the woods so it will stay shaded----Never gets real hot on it in the summer and it Never smells Musky. We been using them for years and it has alot of furniture in them Good Luck!! Randy

[fantasymaker]

Originally Posted by veggrower

The tax assessor in my county is very nosey. I wonder if these would be considered temporary or permanent.

LOL they are about as temporary as anything can be just be sure to include a plug in any utility service you run to them.
Around here there are lots of dealers who use tilting equipment trucks or trailers with a winch and roller to move them ....Loaded or empty.
One thing Ive thought of is the 20' ones are movable on about any good size truck even a semi tractor if you needed to. I may cut a 40' one in two because they seem to be cheeper than the 40'

[nikkers]

Wow, Thanks everyone for all the input! It was more than I expected. Let me tell you about my husband's plan for a storm shelter.
Our land is in SW Florida about 30 miles from the Gulf. It is also 30 minutes to any substancial town. Being so far from everywhere makes us vulnerable to hurricanes and worse yet, a tornado.
The water table is high here so nothing can be buried, so his idea is (ambitious if nothing else) raise it 2' on concrete blocks all around and bury the container with dirt (sand, in our case). Install ventilation, of course. To keep the sand from blowinf away he plans on plantin some groundcove type plants to tie the soil together. Plants grow at a phenominal rate here, so it should not take more than one season. In essence this will look like a 12 foot hill in close proximity to the house. It will be fitted with all the emergency supplies we need to survive for 4 weeks. The sand will act as insulation, so it, theoretically, should not get too hot. A generator will be available, if needed. Hopefully, we would never need it, but if we do, it could save our lives.