Setting some trusses

petegoud · Nov 16, 2018

I thought I'd post this video my wife took of us setting some trusses over a couple shipping containers. My idea is to extend these trusses to the far end of the containers to completely cover them. The crane was made with receiver stock (2" x 2" x 10'). with two 3" x 3" x 3' pieces of steel tubing just slipped into the space between skidsteer mount and loader to provide tension. The 10' pole slips into the receiver end on the skidsteer mount. Attached to the pole is a Harbor Freight 2500lb winch which I picked up on sale for $50. It comes with a remote control, which makes it very easy to use from any angle. The hook was just a piece of 1/2" steel rod bent in a position allowing me to unhook it without having to climb anything. Excluding the receiver mount, my total costs for this crane was less than $200. The job went very well, maximum weight of trusses was 202lb.

Setting trusses 848 84 MB - YouTube

mddorange · Nov 16, 2018

Great video.

Did you make the trusses also? Why over the two containers? What will the final product be?

CincyFlyer · Nov 16, 2018

Ha, the video is categorized as "comedy". I'm trying to get my township to allow me to build a container shed. They don't allow metal construction, trying to tell them that it will be sided and roofed.

EddieWalker · Nov 16, 2018

I did something similar about 15 years ago. I set the containers 24 feet apart and then attached a 2x12 to the tops of the containers with carriage bolts to give me something to attach the trusses to, and make sure that the trusses where perfectly level. Getting two 40 foot containers perfectly level proved to be harder then I expected. I was close, but they where both off a little bit. Then I extended the trusses with joists over the containers, and off of the outer side to get another 12 feet of open storage on one side, and a one bedroom home for me to live in off of the other side. I liked being able to lock up stuff in the containers while I was living in town and not able to keep an eye on my stuff. I also like the instant wall that the containers gave me and not needing to pour a foundation or set poles.

petegoud · Nov 16, 2018

mddorange said:
Great video.

Did you make the trusses also? Why over the two containers? What will the final product be?

I'll post pictures as soon has I get the ends finished. I ordered the trusses from a local company, 24' was the longest I could carry myself. There wasn't a way for them to get a boom truck in. Metal roof being ordered today. On top of each container I welded in bracket to hold some 32' long glulams, they extend out the back 11', giving me storage behind each container. I'll use these to park trailers, tractors, etc.

mddorange · Nov 16, 2018

Great work. Very ingenious way to save money and still get what you want.

cabover4us · Nov 17, 2018

mddorange said:
Great work. Very ingenious way to save money and still get what you want.

That is a fantastic job. I am struggling with the same dilemma. Have one 40' high cube in back, was thinking to buy huge 41' carport for camper and container side by side. But if I bought another 40' connex I could do the same for probably the same or alittle more money and have 2/3s more storage. Trusses would be 38' long, but in measuring boxes, 16' for connex boxes and another 8' for camper that leaves 12' left for either wooden structure or more open storage area, plus whole other 40' steel storage. A carport with eves 12' high and 41' long is around $6800. A connex box from New Jersey Piers is $2950ish. Full width trusses 38' $4400 24" on center. Going to this extent for camper and STUFF storage is abit much when the numbers are written down. If I spend this much, why not pour a concrete slab for entire structure 41' x 39' approximately $8400, its now passed ridiculous with the slab. Not really, my new garage being built as we type is 50' x 36' x 10'-8" eves for $35,000 so the connex box storage would be cheaper in the long run, if I do my labor.
$6800 carport, $19,150 connex box storage, using my labor, contracted concrete...my new gargae $35,000 complete...
Is simple easier, cheaper, less hassle? The whole thought process was I have camper and 40' connex box and needed or wanted a roof protecting them both from the weather. A carport does the job and they put it up.

Diggin It · Nov 17, 2018

I priced box truck shells at one time and they were $3500 or better. I have no easy way for one to be delivered either. I can do a lot of building for that same $3500 on a dirt floor since we have no codes and no inspections.

I've been toying with the idea of tearing down the shed I have cobbled together over the years to do something else now that I have the SCUT. I can get most everything inside, but not easily.

But my one issue is how (or if) to try to hoist trusses. Unfortunately, we don't really have any lumberyards left so I'm stuck with L or HD for the most part to try and get them from. I've read a few of these threads about how people use Hoes or winch systems to get them in place. Still haven't found a process I'd be comfortable with trying alone.