moving 20' container

Farwell · Apr 27, 2006

Re: moving 20\' container

I think that it was Eddie that posted the building made from 2 containers.
I saw a set up like that in California. The building had a 20 foot space in the middle between 2-20 foot containers and a roof over head covering everything. I really liked the set up and it looked very efficient.
Farwell

MikeS_in_GA · Apr 27, 2006

Re: moving 20\' container

your prices sound high. I got a 40' delivered for $1500. That was 3 years ago - hard to believe the price has gone up that much. BTW it was delivered on a roll off bed. Deere 750 dozer moved it around with no problems at all /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif It is about 8500 pounds empty.

Highbeam · Apr 28, 2006

Re: moving 20\' container

My prices were about the same here in WA near a pretty large port about 2 years ago. I assumed the price would only climb with the way steel prices keep climbing.

SIHunter · Apr 28, 2006

Re: moving 20\' container

Where do you go about getting one of these containers?

BarryinMN · Apr 28, 2006

Re: moving 20\' container

Call your friendly Wal-Mart store manager. WM is the largest renter of used containers in the country. If you are near a major city or RR port there will be brokers almost everywhere, easy home based business. Most sell sight unseen. Port operators do not like visitors wandering around. Stacking these things is a contact sport, being just a little off can cause a healthy hit to a container ripping thru the double wall, damaging doors, or a dent that pops paint off starting the corrosion process.

I bought a 1 trip used (new condition) and inspected it before delivery. The container owner distributed listings with fixed pricing based on condition and age. The broker markup is all over the map. Definitely worth calling around. Broker is or has a trucker for transport. Mine 40' was on a semi trailer type frame that had a gas engine winch system which pulled the rear wheels toward the front under the frame rails causing the container to tilt then rig pulled forward allowing container to slide off rails & drop final 6" to ground.

rlee6 · Apr 28, 2006

Re: moving 20\' container

1) Please explain to me one more time how I can get a decent deal by calling a WalMart manager. Do WM manager sell containers? Or does he have info on who sells containers?

2) You mentioned brokers everywhere. Are they listed in the yellowpages? Under what listing?

Thanks.

PS: I want to save money, if I can. The best quote I have includes $850 shipping cost. If I can buy one through WalMart, ....

Thanks.
Rupert

Highbeam · Apr 29, 2006

Re: moving 20\' container

I went to an actual container seller. The same company rents them too. I found them in the yellow pages under something like container, shipping container, sea can, storage, or something like that. I was able to inspect the container before buying and the delivery cost was based on mileage. Pretty professional business considering the product. They had manly forklifts that could stack the containers 3 high. They also had really small ones available but the cost per SF took a big jump when you went to an odd size. Watertight, lockable, fireproof, and mobile. I painted mine inside and out with an oil based enamel in an olive drab color to help it blend in. Took two gallons.

BarryinMN · Apr 29, 2006

Re: moving 20\' container

Sorry, will try to be more clear. Wal Mart rents containers for excess store inventory storage.

The local store manager may know the local business they rent from. The store manager may also be a source of information as to which rental businesses have newer, less likely to be abused containers.

In the yellow pages looking under "storage" might be a place to start.

I started looking in the local paper classifieds. Found one in the St. Paul, MN Port Authority (Mississippi River) Broker had said $3K over the phone, was able to inspect it 5 mins before closing time at the yard & was perfect condition! Upon inspection Broker sudenly wanted $4K because it was better than expected condition. Shipping was somebody else moonlighting without firm schedules who would want $600-700. Broker did not have the truckers phone # handy..

Anyway I took a pass.

Can't recall exactly but if you buy a container you have 2-3 days to move it or the Port Authority starts charging storage fees to the owner.

Called another newspaper ad. This guy has a farm and all kinds & shapes of rental containers. His boxes came from the Mpls Port Authority, a RR yard. He had exactly what I wanted on his truck and I even got a look at the bottom. The only thing he had to do was rotate it 180 degrees on the truck so the doors had correct orientation for dropoff.

$3K and $50 shipping. They pulled in about 30 minutes behind me same day delivery.

The neighborhood brokers I found were on Google search by zipcode or some other modifier. None were capable of allowing inspection before purchase or guarantee condition. As a group they sold the containers cheaper but shipping was all over the map. I think they primarily scheduled independent truckers hauling containers. Selling an empty one was a sideline.

I know I paid a premium because of the inspection. It is being used to store elderly mothers HH goods so no holes drilled in floor, paint flaking, patches, etc. She does come up & go in there on occasion and it looks like a new warehouse inside.

Good luck with your search /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

George2615 · Apr 29, 2006

Re: moving 20\' container

Pick up a Heavy Equipment Trader magazine in your area. The one in my area covers the Great Lakes and New England area. I saw used 20'ers priced from 1595-1750. New 20' 2575. Used 40' from 2250 and up.

George