steel shipping container

[MooseToo]

anyone have experience with used cargo containers ?
are they usually water-tight and is it necessary to block them or can they sit on a gravel bed ?

i'm looking for a 40 footer or maybe two 20's - any suggestions where to look in the south-central ky area ?
and, what is a reasonable price for something that is not actually scrap metal ?

thanks !

[nattylite]

Yes they are water tight.

Try looking on ebay or craigslist for purchase.

[TSJ]

anyone have experience with used cargo containers ?
are they usually water-tight and is it necessary to block them or can they sit on a gravel bed ?

i'm looking for a 40 footer or maybe two 20's - any suggestions where to look in the south-central ky area ?
and, what is a reasonable price for something that is not actually scrap metal ?

thanks !

Found one in Louisville on ebay:

http://tinyurl.com/bqtpef

Not satisfied?
go to google and do a search on "buy used shipping container kentucky".

This should help you establish what a reasonable price is for a used container.

[mikkelibob]

In central TX I see the 20's around $1850 each. Inevitably google will show someone bought em for $750 a pop, but those folks must be very near a big port. I found this post on a tractor forum pretty inspirational:

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/projects/33401-my-container-barn.html

note that some people say be wary of making any kind of living quarters out of the. There is a lot of literature on using them as a sort of recycled modern housing. However, sometimes the marine grade plywood bottom are impregnated with some very nasty chemical stuff. Fine for storing your tools, maybe not so good for living critters. Depending on your climate the roof my sweat with condensation. Oh, and don't bury them. Sooner later everyone thinks they can bury them as an on the cheap basement. They are very strong in the corners, but the sides themselves aren't meant to hold back later forces.

[MooseToo]

thanks, guys !

[TSJ]

If you don't mind please let us know how or why you made your final decision. As a future homesteader I'm interested in how this shipping container thing works out. Or doesn't. Thanks -TSJ

[MooseToo]

i believe i'll go with two 20's - cannot envision storing anything longer than 20' and with two you get the extra door and end wall - so the smaller unit is probably more sturdy and more versatile and portable -

[macgeoghagen]

Those will probably work fine for outdoor storage, but if you want to live in one it will be unbearably hot in the summer and frigid in the winter.

[jebrown]

There was an article on CNN several months ago about a company that converts steel shipping containerts into low cost homes.
'I think but am not positive that they they were selling for $7,000 to $8,000 each fully renovated with all plumbing and electrical installed along with heating and air-conditioning. They also had them insulated too.
They showed the inside of several and the looked quite cozy although small, 750 square feet total.
They also have communities springing up of shipping container neighborhoods. A few people were interviewed who are living in them and said although they are small they are a God-send for them as this is the only way the could affor thier own home.
I am sorry but I don't know the name of the company or what city they are located in Texas.

[canuck]

Check out youtube...there are loads of people using these as homes. I would think that you could insulate them and have them vented...also you can put in doors/windows etc but I don't know how hard this would be. Would be interested in talking to anyone that has used one for living and what their experience was.

[AzLoneRider]

I own a 20 foot cargo box. I store 6 quads and all the stuff that goes with them as well as some comping equipment and incidentals. When empty I can pull it around with my truck, it leaves a mark in the dirt but it moves relatively easily. Eventually I'll lift it, pour a foundation under it and set it permanently on the foundation... I just haven't found the perfect place for it yet, not that I've given it a lot of thought as I have other priorities in front of it.

[keydl]

They can be found in 10, 20, 40 and 48 foot lengths. They are made of steel, aluminum, FRP and the FRP can be found insulated and with a reefer unite.

In high wind places they can blow over if not tied down.

Adding insulation and siding on the outside with a roof makes them look like a shed.

[offgridbob]

I have been thinking about them for years hoping the price goes down. Around hear they run about 2000 plus whatever it costs to move them. If the 20's ever got down to 1000 I would get one.

[canuck]

Yeah up here they are even more expensive...there are companies that will customize them for you...I think they are compared to say building a regular house pretty cheap though I don't know if like others have said if they are comfortable enough. I think they must be because of the stuff I've seen on youtube they are being used worldwide for homes...if you do it right I guess like anything else. I wouldn't have thought they could blow around or over. The homes I've seen look like they are anchored to a foundation. I saw one too that was what looked like a bomb shelter...they had all their food stuffs down there and it was completed sealed and covered over. There was one video that put stucco on the outside...wouldn't do well in this climate but helps to hide what it is. I think they are a great idea myself.

[MooseToo]

i found that in southern ky you can find 28 foot single-axle semi trailers for less than a 20 foot cargo container - considerably less - if you go this route, i'd advise looking for units with swing doors rather than roll-ups - by the time they put these trailers up for salvage prices those roll-ups are usually pretty much shot -

[KarenBC]

My friend and neighbour has one that she uses for storage. It's a 40'. I think I'd paint it and perhaps put a trellis on the front and grow a fast growing vine up & over it. But great storage!

[NCLee]

For storage, another good option is a school bus. Around here when a bus reaches a certain age, it's replaced, due to the maintenance cost to keep it on the road.

Some people buy them and take the body off the chassis. Set the body on blocks and sell the running works. Others keep them in running condition so they are "portable" storage.

FWIW, we bought our 55 passenger, from the county, for $300 because vandals had broken out the windows. Found FREE replacement windows at a salvage yard that had a bus. Glass is a headache for those places, so they were glad to get rid of it. Cost $100 to have it towed to our home. Couldn't drive it due to the broken windshield.

When we get ready to move it for some reason, just put in a battery and fresh gas. Plus, we crank it up from time to time to keep it in running condition.

This is DRY insulated, vermin resistant, storage. Our holiday decorations are kept in it. Along with our stash of charcoal. Extra canning equipment, camping cots, sheets of plywood, are a few things we have stashed in ours. Oh, and one more.... extra RV 4 burner stove/oven, and other things to turn this into an RV, if the need ever arises. Call it plan "D" if something ever happens to our home.

We looked into shipping containers, too. Wanted a 40'. Unpainted it was a little over $2000 plus $150 to deliver it. Couple hundred more, if painted. The company selling them is no longer in business here. Between their high delivery fees and the city/county's efforts to keep people from using them, the business disappeared. Local town banned shipping containers shortly after the business opened. :mad: Be sure to look into local regulatons before buying one.

Lee

[CountryGuy]

NC...

Great point, almost forgot about buses. My Granddad had some at the farm. We stripped the seats out and he used them for storing extra sacks of feed and the such. He had some old non working freezers in the one he used for dry storage, though I don't know exactly what he had stashed in there as he kept it padlocked. Modified one into a huge oats bin that could blow full and then just shovel it out. The seat worked out great to, made a leg for the one side and had great benches for in the garage and camp. Took the legs off and could put it in the bed of the truck for a seat...but that was before they said no riding in the bed.

Had a family friend that took one and turned it into a RV/ toy hauler. He took out the seats and then put a bulkhead in about 2/3 back. turned the front into an RV of sorts (not quite all the stuff you mention NCLee). He built and added swing doors and slide out ramps to the back for hauling their quads, bikes, gear, etc... Covered up the yellow with a shot of red oxide and black primer... both colors cause that's what he had... there is a lot of area to paint on a bus...lol Actully looked kind of cool when it was all done.

Sorry to steer the topic off course...

Have friends with both the containers and also truck trailers that they use. For the containers they built up a pad about 1 1/2' to raise the level to allow to slope away from the containers and topped it with a few inches of gravel. Took some old railroad ties laid perpindicular to use for footings, buried them so the tops were a few inches above grade. He didn't want to set it straight on the ground cause he was afraid it would rust the bottoms out over the years.

Once he got then close he used a come-a-long to pull them together and then welded some straps between them to keep them from spreading apart. Eventually he planned to put a simple metal roof over them and then cut out a "doorway" between them. Don't know if he ever did as I moved from the area and sad to say lost contact with him.

[BonnyLake]

I want one! I've seen them in fields with blackberry bushes grown over them and they look pretty stable to me. I've looked into it and they aren't the perfect building because of hot and cold, etc. but I'd like to know if any of you have personal experience with getting one and maintaining them.

[canuck]

True about local regulations :( I think they should be encouraging recycling of these things and maybe if a property looks a mess then go in and say no but I've seen them painted and they look amazing. Funny how the local town can tell you what to do with your own property!

[BonnyLake]

Here is a link to some homes made from off-beat materials but I don't think this is exactly how I picture a repurposed home :) A little fancy but fun to see.


http://realestate.msn.com/slideshow.aspx?cp-documentid=25285653&GT1=35000#8#q=9%20homes%20made%20of%20the%20darnde st%20things%3A%20Shipping%20container%20homes

[canuck]

Nice! Thanks for the link.