Cargo Container

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Joined
Mar 21, 2007
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18
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96
Location
Lafayette, La.
Has any one ever used one as a work shop? If so could you post up some pics? I am looking at a 40x8x8 and just curious if any one has used one before and the pros and cons about them.
 
I use the same size for business storage. It depends on what you want to do with it. A vehicle doesnt fit in them very well. They would be good for a small shop if you are doing small projects. Add electrical and a man door.
 
I've also got one that size for storage but I'd hate to think I had to use it as a shop - just too narrow. I paid something like $2500 for mine and I'd think you could build a simple more useable space for that. Of course if you've got a great deal and have no better option go with it.
 
they make excellent shops if outfitted right. we cut a large hole in the side and made a 20ft sliding door with the section we cut out. we used the half with the door as the working area with a 20 ft bench and the other side housed shelves for storing everything that could be accessed either from the working area or the doors on the end of the unit. we had a carport over the sliding door side for shade and there was enough parking for 4 rigs, but it was used as a mobile heavy equipment repair shop that we put on site. it got a little cramped sometimes but its an excellent place to work and keep tools safe. keep in mind i live in a state where you can wrench outside all year.
 
A friend of mine bought several, placed them in rows and spanned the space between with steel beams and put a tin roof on top. Makes for a great work area with secure storage for tools and such. You could do something similar with a steel carport cover extended from the long side of a container, cut doors in the long side, nice work area.

-Spike
 
Here in Aus they're pretty commonly used as workshops by drilling companies (on long projects).

The ones I've been around typically have a bench on one wall at the entrance, and then shelving on both walls for the remainder of the container.

They don't modify them a lot as far as doors etc, as they need to maintain a lot of structural integrity for transport between sites.

Typically they have a few fluro lights on the roof run from a genset/generator/compressor unit.

Sean
 
I use the same size for business storage. It depends on what you want to do with it. A vehicle doesnt fit in them very well. They would be good for a small shop if you are doing small projects. Add electrical and a man door.
BS. I spent 3 years of my life in 20 and 40 foot containers. I regularly devanned, Rolls, Lambergini, Ferrari, Mercedes and every other exotic vehicle you can think of. And we only crashed the Ferrari broadside into the vertical rail road metal once.

Containers are snug and fairly thief proof. I am burying one for Armagedden...
 
Ill I am going to use it 15x8x8 of for the wrok shop. I'm going to poor a slab with a cover over to do all the big stuff out side. All i am needing is just enough room to work a my M101 trailer and a few other heep projects.
 
What kind of prices have you guys been seeing for 40' containers?

I am shopping for one best price I have found is $1200 & $400 shipping (from Jacksonville FL to big bend area of the gulf coast) highest I have seen was 3k delivered.

I could build a wood shed of about the same size for about the same price but it would not be as strong & secure nor last as long and plus I would have to build it. to have someone build it would be 3x the price,

Hope to add another later and make a shop in between the two
 
my dad has two set up 20' apart with one of those steel tube frame buildings welded between them. He uses it as a heavy truck work shop with secure storage in each. We added power vents in each to keep the heat and moisture to a minimum. close the suckers up in a hot day and you could cook stuff inside!

We also cut a man door in the side of each one and used the steel frame industrial doors and welded them in with a drip flashing over the top.

The main reason we went this way as opposed to a real building is they are not classed as perminant. He could not build a large enough perminant structure on his lot.
 
What kind of prices have you guys been seeing for 40' containers?

I am shopping for one best price I have found is $1200 & $400 shipping (from Jacksonville FL to big bend area of the gulf coast) highest I have seen was 3k delivered.

I could build a wood shed of about the same size for about the same price but it would not be as strong & secure nor last as long and plus I would have to build it. to have someone build it would be 3x the price,

Hope to add another later and make a shop in between the two

That would be a great price here in AZ. 20' in very good condition painted with factory double doors on both ends and 1 aftermarket 6' roll up is $3000 delivered here.
 
I was doing a job at a closed down mine. They had two 40 foot containers right in the way. I asked the mine manager if I could move them . He said I could have both of them. They came with metal shelving the whole length of the container, floor to ceiling. It cost me 200dollars to move them to my property. Best score of my life.
 
I saw a show where there are companies making homes out of those. they place and stack them at different angles and .....instant home
 
Oh great, here I was thinking I'd actually get something done today....


but no, LCPhil has to hook us up w/a little lite reading.



Thanks a lot! :p
 
my dad has two set up 20' apart with one of those steel tube frame buildings welded between them. He uses it as a heavy truck work shop with secure storage in each. We added power vents in each to keep the heat and moisture to a minimum. close the suckers up in a hot day and you could cook stuff inside!

We also cut a man door in the side of each one and used the steel frame industrial doors and welded them in with a drip flashing over the top.

The main reason we went this way as opposed to a real building is they are not classed as perminant. He could not build a large enough perminant structure on his lot.



Chet, do you have any pictures of your dads shop? If so I would love to see it,
 
pros and cons about them.

I don't have one yet but have been reading a lot,

pro's
They secure, strong, water tight, hurricane fire and earthquake resistant, really cheap per square foot, quick and semi-portable, many are made from cor-ten (weathering steel) when rust starts it forms a sacrificial coating that protects the steel underneath from further corrosion.

cons,

No insulation, its a steel box, don't know your location but I am putting one in FL in deep shade, hoping to keep it from getting too far into the tripple digits inside during the summer, in northern climates they will be cold in the winter and difficult to heat, there are insulated "reffer" units available, but they cost more,

Some consider them eye sores and you can run into problems in residential areas,

The wood floors are required to be treaded with strong insecticides to prevent carrying insects from country to country. they are made in China and the insecticides are not regulated and are possibly dangerous, no telling what kind was used in the container you are getting, something to be aware of if you plan to sand the floors or food contact and alike,
 
Got a "high cube" delivered yesterday, 40'x8'x9' $1495 / just under 2K after sales tax and delivery (3.30 a mile).
Container.webp
 
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The bestcontainers bar none are "Maersk" containers. The have a very nice eighth inch sheet of plywood all around the inside. These containers are used to ship lots of high cube stuff like furniture and very large cardboad boxes. Zimm is another good container, nicely finished inside. But get a Maersk if you can.
 

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