underground container?

[BoFuller]

Does anyone know if it would be feasible to put a 20 foot steel cargo container underground?
I am thinking of something like a fruit/root cellar for storage of food. Would it be cheaper and faster than building the root cellar out of concrete block?
Would rusting be an issue? If so, could you attach a anode bag like you do with an underground propane tank?
Whether steel or concrete I assume a drain will have to be supplied.

 

[arsenix2001]

Does anyone know if it would be feasible to put a 20 foot steel cargo container underground?
I am thinking of something like a fruit/root cellar for storage of food. Would it be cheaper and faster than building the root cellar out of concrete block?
Would rusting be an issue? If so, could you attach a anode bag like you do with an underground propane tank?
Whether steel or concrete I assume a drain will have to be supplied.

I would probably say a few roof reinforcments would be nice and you could probably powerwash it and spray the outside with that rhinoliner stuff for corrosion protection, paint the inside. May want to install a closable vent and fan if needed. Sounds neat.

 

[BeezFun]

There would be a fair bit of pressure on the walls and roof, could also be hydraulic pressure if you have much moisture in the soil. I don't think the walls would support that load without reinforcement.

Building on your idea, maybe a piece of large diameter steel or concrete culvert would be better, it's got much better structural strength. We have a tornado shelter at work built out of a piece of concrete culvert about 10' in diameter, they built up a floor a few feet off the ground for people to stand on.

 

[johnrex62]

Mythbusters tried to use a 20' shipping container to test ******'s bunker explosions and discovered it collapsed when buried 5' underground without shoring up the ceiling.

 

[Dargo]

Mythbusters tried to use a 20' shipping container to test ******'s bunker explosions and discovered it collapsed when buried 5' underground without shoring up the ceiling.

That could have some drawbacks. I'd love to have in a poured wall concrete bunker accessable from both my basement and an outside hatch. Maybe it's just the kid in me, but I even checked on getting some 'irregular' box culvert to take it on so it comes out under the floor of one of my barns too. Since I have the equipment, I'd probably actually do it if concrete, rebar etc. wasn't so expensive.

 

[General Lee]

That could have some drawbacks. I'd love to have in a poured wall concrete bunker accessable from both my basement and an outside hatch. Maybe it's just the kid in me, but I even checked on getting some 'irregular' box culvert to take it on so it comes out under the floor of one of my barns too. Since I have the equipment, I'd probably actually do it if concrete, rebar etc. wasn't so expensive.

Its not the kid you, in my opinion its very logical thinking. Its all about prepping WSHTF.

 

[Duffster]

This is done all the time with school busses. They are probably cheaper too.

 

[BoFuller]

This is done all the time with school busses. They are probably cheaper too.

School buses?? They would not be near as strong as a steel container. And all those windows???

 

[BoFuller]

Mythbusters tried to use a 20' shipping container to test ******'s bunker explosions and discovered it collapsed when buried 5' underground without shoring up the ceiling.

I have a little trouble digesting that. They stack those things 10 or more high on ships and they get all tweaked around. I would think you could put it 4 or 5 feet under and drive a tank over it.

 

[woody]

if someone has a 20 foot container we could try it I'll dig the hole in my back yard and put your shipping container in it. :laughing: