moving 20' container

[bendrewjr]

moving 20\' container

I need to move a 20' container, to another spot on same property. (flat ground) I have moved smaller sheds with boards and pipe by rolling them on the boards. This to me is the easy way . ( With out a rollback). Thinking of moving this same way , on 4" PVC . Will the PVC carry the weight of a container of this size ( about 5,000 lb.) Thank you for all advice Andy

 

[Farwell]

Re: moving 20\' container

I doubt that the wall of 4" PVC pipe will take the weight. If the bottom of the 20' container is flat and the weight is distributed evenly over the pipe there is a possibility that it will work but I still doubt it. I have used 2" rigid conduit and planks to move heavy objects.
Good luck.
Farwell

 

[gordon21]

Re: moving 20\' container

PVC pipe comes in different thicknesses. Schedule 40 is the normal grade used by homeowners. There is also a thinwall version to be used strictly for sprinkler systems. Thicker versions used to be labeled schedule 60 or 80. Ask a local plumbing supply. Don't bother going to the big box stores. They will not have it. The best bet would be if you could scrounge up a couple pieces of the super thick pipe used for municipal water systems. They are really heavy duty. They are typically blue or green with flanged ends and huge o-rings in the pipes. Compared to a big commercial project, you would be needing scraps. Ask around. Pipe will definitely be the best way since it keeps the contact point between the shed and the pipe very small. I assume you have a tractor to pull it along. Use several pieces of pipe and keep rotating them to the front as they pop out the back. I once moved a 2000# flat bottom floor safe all by myself about 10' by using a large pry bar and several pieces of 1" cast iron water pipe.

 

[Boondox]

Re: moving 20\' container

No. I tried the same method (with schedule 60 PVC pipe) to move my 8x8' chicken coop and only made it about four feet before the PVC failed. Not sure how heavy the coop is, but since my L4630 easily picked the entire thing up using pallet forks it must have been less than 1000#

Pete

 

[RichNJKubota]

Re: moving 20\' container

I just moved a small wood shed(8x14). Not too heavy. I bolted a 6x6 under and across one of the narrow ends. Then I wrapped two small chains around the 6x6 and bolted each chain to one of the lower 3pt lift arms. At the other end I screwd a scrap piece of plywood under the shed to act as a skid.
I raised the 3 pt and drove away. Turns had to be very wide to keep the 3 pt arms from hitting the shed.

Rich

 

[ScottAR]

Re: moving 20\' container

We moved a 15x20 ?? shed on machinery rollers. Think solid steel roller skate. Jacked up the four corners and hitched up the yandeere and away we go... Gravity kept the rollers under the bottom plates and they rolled along planks layed over dirt.

Moved it about 30ft I guess onto a concrete slab. We had to stop a couple of times to gather up the planks behind the path to continue the "road."

Slow going... took several hours but it was faster than building a new shed.

 

[Henro]

Re: moving 20\' container

Just a thought, but you might take that PVC pipe and fill it with concrete...

I doubt that PVC would hold up on its own, but with a concrete or motor or sand mix hardened inside, I bet it would do the job, at least on flat ground like you have.

 

[CurlyDave]

Re: moving 20\' container

I watched a crew of 4 or 5 riggers move a 10' x 30' flat-bottomed steel vessel weighing 30,000lb about 50' in less than 3 hours (including jacking up time) with those machinery rollers.

The rollers were about 4" high and maybe 12" long. Worked like a dream on concrete/asphault. Smooth wooden planks would make them OK on dirt.

Highly recommended.

Another possibility is the sets of wheels used to move mobile homes. They might be rentable.

 

[banjopkr]

Re: moving 20\' container

Around here people use logs the width of the container to move them around their yard.

 

[kensfarm]

Re: moving 20\' container

I tried moving my 12'x16' cattle shelter in the rain.. couldn't get enough traction going up a small incline. I laid out rough cut oak boards(wet).. once the shelter was on the boards it slid like they were greased rails.

 

[Highbeam]

Re: moving 20\' container

I moved my steel 20' shipping container a few hundred feet by hooking the chain to the bottom corners and dragging it. The box will push a small bow waveof dirt and really level the surface. I was able to use my 45 hp, 10,000 lb dozer so I did cheat a bit.

At least try dragging it. My plan to move it with the tractor is to jack it up and slide logs under it. If the logs roll, that's great, if not then it will slide easier over a log than along the soil.

 

[Farwell]

Re: moving 20\' container

I have never been up close to a cargo container, what is the bottom of the containers made of? For some reason I think that someone told me that the bottoms are not made of steel but have plywood sheeting for a floor. I assume that the containers have a steel frame work.
I am thinking about getting one for storage and need to know what kind of base or pad that I need to set it on.
Thanks.
Farwell

 

[Highbeam]

Re: moving 20\' container

The floor is wooden like plywood but denser. Countersunk screws. The floor is elevated off of the bottom of the container enough to slide forks under them in slots so 4-6" or so. From the outside you can't see under the box except for the fork holes. I assume there is channel or I beam steel floor joists under the floor with a perimeter channel too. I set mine on the dirt. I have seen them set on blocks at the corners and middle of the sides. If the surface is not level the box will twist/rack and the doors will be tough to close. It is good to tilt the box a little bit so that any liquid spilled inside runs out the front doors since the box is watertight otherwise.

Empty weight is 5000 for a 20 box and 8 or 9000 for the 40' version.

 

[mudcat]

Re: moving 20\' container

4" pvc will work fine, if you use more than one pipe. Highly unlikely you will place all 5000# on one pipe. Try it, you will be surprised. And if it doesn't work you not out much.

 

[BarryinMN]

Re: moving 20\' container

Mine is a 9 1/2' tall machinery container. Floor looks like 2x10 hardwood planks. Underside is coated with a tar like substance. Putting it in a shaded area helps keep the box temps down, up off the ground circulates air reduces dampness & mildew. An old tire in each corner helps level it. I put mine on old RR ties.

 

[Farwell]

Re: moving 20\' container

Thank you guys for the container info, now to start shopping for one in Central Michigan.
I am going to set it on the back side of my 30x40 pole barn where it will be pretty well shaded year round.
I think I will have a slab poured for the container and set it on wooden blocks for the air circulation. It can get pretty wet back there and the shade really slows down the drying time.
Farwell

 

[rlee6]

Re: moving 20\' container

This thread hasn't been active for a while. I hope you wouldn't mind if I hijack the thread and ask a related question.

I want to purchase either 20' or 40' container for storage space. 20' is about $2200 and 40' is about $2700, including shipping. I believe they are C grade, air/rain tight barely.

As far as per-dollar space is concerned, 40' is a better buy. But it needs a crane to pick up, whereas 20' can be lifted with a forklift.

I would like to ask those who have used/moved these containers. What is your recommendation?

Thanks.

 

[gordon21]

Re: moving 20\' container

Using two 20' Pros= easy to move and natural light goes to the end easily. Plus you get FOUR doors. I have seen two units side by side with a door cut between them for going back and forth. Two units can be placed at different locations for more flexibility.

Cons= Slightly more expensive per square foot and too short for some tractors with front and rear implements.


One 40' model pros=cheaper and can store long items easily such as 20' steel, long lumber etc or a tractor with fel and bushhog both attached at the same time.

Cons: Very hard to move by yourself and 40' might be more of an eyesore depending upon location. Natural light fades badly at the end of the 40'. You would probably need to install lighting. Two 20' side by side are the shape of a typical shed/barn. One 40' might be awkward to place with the need for a straight 20' entrance area. Only 2 doors.

With either set up, you can add a roll up door to one end. In my opinion, two units side by side with a connecting door(s) and one added roll up door would be ideal. The roll up door allows one unit to become a drive through unit.

 

[chatcher]

Re: moving 20\' container

I saw pictures, I think on here, where someone set two containers with space in between and built a roof over them, creating a larger building (i.e. using shipping containers for side walls). Sounds like a good plan, and you could start with just the containers and work on it as time permits.

 

[Highbeam]

Re: moving 20\' container

The other problem with a 40' container is that it is still 8' wide and if you want something out of the back it means climbing over all that stuff. As it is, I don't store anything that I can't pick up and carry in the back of my 20' box.

A normal rollaway truck can deliver a 20'er, something bigger is needed for a 40'er and also consider resale since more people might want a 20' box than a 40'er.