underground container?

[sandman2234]

I know the one I have wouldn't stand up under a couple feet of dirt, much less five feet of dirt. The roof is flat with ribs under it. However, I added a 4x6 in the center, bolted to the sides with another piece across the tops, basically like timbers in an underground mine from some of the old westerns, and it really strenghtened it a LOT! A single one in the middle of my 40 footer helped, just think what a couple would do in a twenty footer.
In my area, the ground water would make short life of a buried container, but in dryer areas, it might work, if done correctly.

David from jax

 

[sunshine coaster]

I would do it if I had to, would need drier ground though...
And why not use the container as the inside portion of a concrete form, pour 8" walls around it, make a slip form that is held up with the dirt in the trench...
ideas ideas

I own three 20 footer cans and have many years construction experience and could easily guarantee that the above would work with minimal effort, just send funds and I WILL show you how

 

[MarkV]

How about using a large septic tank or several together. They are made to be underground and if covered with foundation water proofing before burial should stay pretty dry.

MarkV

 

[acme97]

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.

I have a 40ft container. The reason they will collapse is because the walls are only thin steel (don't know the thickness). All the weight is supported by the frame. It's like a post and beam construction. Also, there is no post support along the length of the containers, only at the corners.

 

[JB4310]

I could almost guarantee mine would not crush under 5 feet of fill, maybe flex inward but not fail, no way. These things, at least the one I have are built like a brick soup can, heavy corrugated steel all around.

Mine you can jump on the top and get very little deflection, I thought they were all built like that, I wouldn't call it a shipping container if it had a plywood roof.

Don't know why you would want the top 5 feet under anyway.

JB

 

[BoFuller]

I could almost guarantee mine would not crush under 5 feet of fill, maybe flex inward but not fail, no way. These things, at least the one I have are built like a brick soup can, heavy corrugated steel all around.

Mine you can jump on the top and get very little deflection, I thought they were all built like that, I wouldn't call it a shipping container if it had a plywood roof.

Don't know why you would want the top 5 feet under anyway.

JB

Apparently there are different types as I'm with you, I would bet some bucks that mine would not crush. The thing is built like a tank. But I'll keep looking at options.

 

[BoFuller]

School bus is a lot stronger than you think. I am assuming the widows have to be plated or boarded over.

Think about the roof shape alone would be a lot more conducive to being buried.



When they are stacked all the weight is resting at the corners, nothing is on the roof or pushing in on the side walls.

I am not saying that they won't work but just throwing out some ideas for you. The dad of a friend of mine has three busses buried. I haven't seen them yet but it is on my short list of stuff to do.

This school bus idea - it seems like a lot of work also. Wouldn't you have to take out the engine, the fuel tank, the wheels, etc? I assume they strip it and just lower the shell in or would somebody actually drive it into the hole?

 

[bcp]

Double-stacked over-height containers meet a tunnel. They don.t look very strong.

 

[BoFuller]

Double-stacked over-height containers meet a tunnel. They don.t look very strong.

Don't know the details, but if you had a Abrahms tank sitting on top of a container and hit a solid rock overpass at 50 or 60 mph, I think the tank would be crushed also.
I'm not talking about a jet airliner landing on the container, just putting a couple feet of dirt on top.

 

[Duffster]

Double-stacked over-height containers meet a tunnel. They don.t look very strong.

Those look like semi trailers.