Thread: shipping containers

<noscript> </noscript> <!-- END Burst Network CODE --> Give me a lever long enough and a fulcrum on which to place it, and I shall move the world.
Archimedes

Interesting claim but a 20' container weighs approx 2200kg and a 40' approx 3800kg empty so if you dont have a good sized forklift or at the very least a decent size tractor with a front end loader or grader blade you got bugger all chance of moving one.

Ross

Get it dropped off where you want it to be.

Originally Posted by Different

<noscript> </noscript> <!-- END Burst Network CODE --> Give me a lever long enough and a fulcrum on which to place it, and I shall move the world.
Archimedes

Interesting claim but a 20' container weighs approx 2200kg and a 40' approx 3800kg empty so if you dont have a good sized forklift or at the very least a decent size tractor with a front end loader or grader blade you got bugger all chance of moving one.

Ross

Actually, a crowbar and a piece of 4x2 will do it....









but I'd rather have a Franna.

George,
I shifted mine with a backhoe, no problems. But there's a few things to be aware of.
Rust is a major problem unless it's been sandblasted and repainted. Most (all?) containers have spent time on deck of a ship at sea and there's salt in every little nook and cranny which keeps on attracting moisture which, in turn, causes rust.
Unless it's an old reefer (refrigerated) container it will be a plain steel box which will be as hot as hades on a hot day and cool down really well on a cold night. Because of this condensation will be an issue.
On cheaper units with a bit of heavy use and/or rust the doors can get quite hard to open. I had to take to my door latching bars with an oxy set to straighten them up enough to operate.
For a permanent set up you'll need to build a false roof over it. This will make it cooler and prevent/fix leaks. The steel containers use a heavily ribbed profile which holds a lot of water on the roof. If it isn't leaking when you buy it, it will soon enough if you don't roof it.
If you want to use it for more than just storage you'll want some doors and windows. Unless you're a boilermaker or other metal tradie the conversion could be quite challenging.
And finally, your council and/or neighbours may not like your "shed".
Around here, a good second hand container goes for $3300 while $2200 buys you a serviceable but not so good one and $1100 gets you a roughie. I got really, really lucky and got a slightly rough ex-reefer for $550.

Mick

I have purchased one, because my daughter who was renting decided to move home and we needed somewhere to store her furniture.

We are on the Gold Coast, and on acreage, so this info will be useful to you because you are just down the highway.

Their are different grades of shipping containers. They start at industrial in a few grades, approx $1700 + GST . Most of these are badly beaten by fork lifts and rust and nearly all have holes in the roof. They are ok for storing machinery such as bobcats etc securely on a building site.

Then you work up to Furniture grade, which are sold as Windproof and rainproof, approx $2500 +GST plus delivery. The one we got was regarded as the upper level of the furniture grade one and we are very happy with it.

They then move up to the next level which might be about $3500 and the even better ones. ie almost new about $5000 plus.

They are delivered on a tow truck the same that have the slide tray for picking up car wrecks. Providing you have space for the container the drivers are usually that good that they could place it on a sixpence.

It is a good idea to have some Besser ( Concrete ) blocks ready so they can be placed on that as it comes off the tray because the container should be at least 100 mm off the ground ( Higher . if possible. )as the floor is plywood.

The delivery from the Gold Coast site to our place was approx $100.

Mine is a roughie and cost $800. It was pretty rusty in parts so I coated it with killrust which seems to have worked.

I can testify that they get very hot but if you put a couple of whirly bird fans on them and open up the doors, if there is a reasonable breeze they also cool off in about 15 - 20 minutes depending on what's inside.

The door hinges were very stiff and I had to get an Oxy and heat the hinges and burn out the plastic bearings.

Cheers

A false roof is the way to go. The air gap prevents the container being like an oven in summer. Roofing iron sheets on 4x2 works fine. The 4'' gap makes a lot of difference but it still gets hot. They are very secure with a locking bar across the doors and the padlock protected by a steel box so the bad guys can't use bolt cutters.

Regards
John

Thankyou all for your input. I was advised to at least put it on 4 sleepers to keep it off the ground. There is a website - http://www.royalwolf.com.au/ - which can custom make your container into what ever you like. I like the idea of one or even two roller doors along the side. I'd love a 40 footer but there's no way they could get one into my back yard, so one or even two 20 footers will have to do instead.

I'd still like to hear other peoples input into this.

Just George.

Royal Wolfe is the company I purchased mine from. They have branches everywhere I got mine from the Gold Coast one.

They will let you come down and inspect the containers and show you how their grading system works. You then have an idea of what you get for your money. Then you can selct the one you want and it will be saved for you.

These containers are all second hand, some are better looked after then others, because they have all been over the world. Mine had been repainted in red Oxide Zinc Chromate and was in really good condition. Perfect for us.

We could have gone up to newer ones but not much better. Once you select your container, they will outfit it for you if required. I saw an add in a magazine where one company was using shipping containers as a base to make on site cabins.

They would have been insulated etc but you are only limited by your imagination. But I am happy with the Plain Jane one which we might put a false roof on and possibly a few whirly gigs later when i investigate what my best options are.

Check out your trading post too, good bargains to be had there. We picked up a 20' top condition, wired for lighting with benches etc for $1650. We had our own tilt tray at the time so were able to put it exactly where we wanted but once it was down on the blocks a good crowbar would adjust it to perfect with some grunting but I'd hate to try and move it any distance with out machinery.


Sonja

Some ideas for you...
http://www.bobvila.com/BVTV/Bob_Vila...0201-03-1.html
http://www.fabprefab.com/fabfiles/containerbayhome.htm

Alternatively, possibly an old site shed might be suitable??

Each to thier own of course, but unless you plan on moving and taking it with you when you leave, where is the advantage over a prefab garage or shed?

Originally Posted by dazzler

Each to thier own of course, but unless you plan on moving and taking it with you when you leave, where is the advantage over a prefab garage or shed?

The main advantage I see is they are seen as quite secure, although I have known a few people who had holiday houses with containers which had been broken into and the contents stolen.

If someone is really keen, you won't stop them.

Originally Posted by dazzler

Each to thier own of course, but unless you plan on moving and taking it with you when you leave, where is the advantage over a prefab garage or shed?

If you look after a container the resale value is generally much higher and they are much easier to resell than a shed. This is probably because selling a shed involves hours of dismantling and reconstruction where as a container can be removed and reinstalled in minutes.