Steel carport to monitor barn question

ovrszd · Dec 30, 2014

ttriff, thanks for the comeback. I had no idea what they would cost. In the scheme of things, if properly set so they ain't on the ground rotting, it's pretty cheap storage that will outlive you and is always moveable. I could see one being used for small item storage on shelves along the sides with an alley in the middle. Or, storage for a lawn/garden tractor and accessories??

EddieWalker · Dec 31, 2014

I paid a grand for my 40 footer used. He paid about twice that and sold it to me instead of paying to have it moved.

I see 40 footers on Craigslist for $2,000 plus delivery all the time here in East Texas.

I don't know of a faster, cheaper way to get weather tight storage then using a shipping container. I think they are ugly, but for the cost, it's something I can live with. And in time, they can be incorporated into a bigger, better barn as a bug proof storage area.

Eddie

Gary Fowler · Dec 31, 2014

There are literally billions of these containers in ports all over the world that no one wants. Many countries don't export anything and the containers continue to stack up. Fortunately for the USA we do import and export so they switch out a lot. Any re-use of them will reduce the global footprint of the storage areas and do the shipping industry a favor.

Did you know that you can also buy all aluminum shipping containers?

ovrszd · Dec 31, 2014

EddieWalker said:
I paid a grand for my 40 footer used. He paid about twice that and sold it to me instead of paying to have it moved.

I see 40 footers on Craigslist for $2,000 plus delivery all the time here in East Texas.

I don't know of a faster, cheaper way to get weather tight storage then using a shipping container. I think they are ugly, but for the cost, it's something I can live with. And in time, they can be incorporated into a bigger, better barn as a bug proof storage area.

Eddie

I was thinking put a 20 footer up against my shop building with the open end against it. Add a walkout door to the shop wall and you've got shelf storage for all that stuff taking up space in the shop.

ovrszd · Dec 31, 2014

Gary Fowler said:
There are literally billions of these containers in ports all over the world that no one wants. Many countries don't export anything and the containers continue to stack up. Fortunately for the USA we do import and export so they switch out a lot. Any re-use of them will reduce the global footprint of the storage areas and do the shipping industry a favor.

Did you know that you can also buy all aluminum shipping containers?

I know where there are a few buried in the desert. Wish I had the rental contract on those...... Wonder how many our government are paying monthly rent on that they don't even know where are???

MinnesotaEric · Dec 31, 2014

Gary Fowler said:
There are literally billions of these containers in ports all over the world that no one wants. Many countries don't export anything and the containers continue to stack up. Fortunately for the USA we do import and export so they switch out a lot. Any re-use of them will reduce the global footprint of the storage areas and do the shipping industry a favor.

Did you know that you can also buy all aluminum shipping containers?

In northern Minnesota where I'm at, we don't have the heavy or even light industry to brings a lot of containers in. At a result, I'm looking at around $5,000 for a good used high cube '40. Even so, I consider that less expensive than building a sound building of the same size. In my case, a HC 40' is just big enough for me to drive my tractor into and lock the door. I also have a 10' x 10' x 20' storage locker I've been renting since 2009 and the monthly rent is starting to boil the frog, if you know what I mean. At $75 a month rent for storage, I'm starting to be able justifying a container. Plus I'm hoofing tools back and forth from my lake home (granted only five miles away, but still) and I'd like to be able to leave some of this stuff at the development without worry of it going AWOL.

This year's goals:

Sell the city house I'm sitting in right now!

Get the box grader to make extensive driveway/roads and spread class 1 all over.

Get a container. Container wise, since I want to include it on a building, I'm thinking I want it parked on six footings and crushed rock for drainage--and that is a problem because the city will not let me use their wheel loader, the only machine that I know of in fifteen miles big enough to move an 8500 pound container, but I'll figure it out anyway using an I-beam as a lever and the bottom of my bucket to slowly lever everything around.

Get a 30' x 40' ish steel carport built next to the container.

Clear more woods or at least enough to get a surveyor in so that i can begin considering a plan laying everything out over the 2015-16 winter.

Get a road out to the point.

Wage a war against deer ticks.

Get my 88-year old mum and some aging friends something to chill out in/on out at the point.

ttriff · Dec 31, 2014

The Conex design is for all the strength to be concentrated in the 4 corners. When evenly loaded only the corners need support. The design is such that containers can be stacked 16 high on a ship with all the connections at the 4 corners.

One thing to keep in mind when placing a container on concrete footings. Concrete leaches water, so it's best to put something waterproof between the corner supports and footings to avoid rust. I use a rubber pads cut from surplus conveyer belts.

MinnesotaEric · Dec 31, 2014

ttriff said:
The Conex design is for all the strength to be concentrated in the 4 corners. When evenly loaded only the corners need support. The design is such that containers can be stacked 16 high on a ship with all the connections at the 4 corners.

One thing to keep in mind when placing a container on concrete footings. Concrete leaches water, so it's best to put something waterproof between the corner supports and footings to avoid rust. I use a rubber pads cut from surplus conveyer belts.

Rubber pads as sill protector.

Speaking about footings. Where I'm at we need to go down 48". No biggie, four 12" sonotubes laser leveled and pour in the mixed bag crete. My question is this: how are containers secured to the sonotube? I can drop in a threaded rod or is there a special thingy I should use on each corner?

ovrszd · Dec 31, 2014

Surely wouldn't be much bounce. They are also designed to be lifted with a forklift so their strength is pretty well distributed. I've loaded thousands of them with a forklift.