Shipping container as garage

[mrcvelo]

Hello,

I am slowly developing an off grid property and want to keep tools and a side by side there. The area receives a good bit of snow in the winter. Has anyone had any good or bad experiences using an old shipping container? Did you put a roof on it, or leave as is? Did you install any ventilation and/or fans as I read humidity can develop. Finally, did you install on a special base? (Concrete & stone would be expensive to source, I was thinking about treated 8x8s or old railroad ties.

I figure the container, if in decent condition, should keep mice out and be better than a small shed for wildfire risk.

Please let me know if you can offer any input, I really appreciate it

Matt

 

[BuckRut]

I have not used a container as a shed but condensation is always going to be a possibility with any sealed container that lacks temperature regulation. You could combat this with descants or other moisture management systems but the simple solution is ventilation. Elevating it is a good idea if you can as well as this will eliminate the soil to metal contact and help prevent corrosion.

 

[BBob]

condensation is always going to be a possibility with any sealed container that lacks temperature regulation.

They are most definitely condensation challenged. I've seen a bunch of ruined stuff after being stored in one. I would not use or store anything in one of these unless you actively ventilate it. Active exhaust vent high, passive intake vent low and definitely raise it off the ground.

 

[rayporter]

mmmmmmm

i have had a 40ft container for 25 years. it is filled with stuff. it has never had condensation in it.

 

[TaperPin]

They are commonly used in rural house construction to store tools. They are built like a ducks butt, so no need for a second roof. The top can come in handy to store stuff up off the ground that doesn’t get accessed very often and isn’t bothered by the weather.

Up on even short blocks there is room for critters to set up home. Being level helps the doors function correctly. Gravel or pavers piled around the edges can keep out the skunks and big snakes.

You’ll find the biggest challenge other than condensation from wet item brought inside to be shelf space. Containers are horribly inefficient without shelves. I typically build 2’ deep shelves out of plywood and 2x4s the whole length down one side and leave the other side open for larger stuff and easy walk room.

The cool thing about these is they are just a fully welded steel box strong enough to cut sizable holes and not effect it. Want a vent - cut a hole and screw it on. Want a window, cut a hole and screw it on. Want a man door - cut a hole and screw it on.

If you are thinking of needing a lot of covered storage, using two containers for the “walls” and spanning between them with large trusses and a shingled roof is no problem. These are used to ship 40k lbs each and stacked 10 high, stronger than needed to hold a roof up.

 

[Czechsix]

I'll add to the condensation comments...set it up with good ventilation. The other thing is, even with good ventilation, in your area I'd also set up some kind of shade or tropical roof. That thing will become a literal oven and stuff in there is going to cook, won't help lifespan of the plastics and rubber.

Getting it off the ground is a good idea also. Make sure the gaskets on the doors are in decent condition, screen off all openings. Add in high security locks, and then I'd also armor up the bottom corners where folks have figured out how to peel the outside sheet off and get in. I've had that happen a couple of dozen times with conexes I've had to deal with.

 

[johnw3474]

We have two containers that we have used as storage units for 20+ years. We don't have much snow but very high humidity. No condensation problems at all. One container is random equipment and stuff like you described. The other has had everything from junk that no one wants to throw away to old documents from a family business.

We had some one bring in a few loads of iron ore slag then put the containers down on old railroad ties. The worst thing about them from us is wasp like to build nest in the lock covers... have to keep wasp spary in the truck and spray bifen or permethrin around the locks a few times a year.

I would suggest two 20' ft containers vs one 40' container. Something in the back of a 40' container would be hard to get out. Plus you could make a roof and park trailers or big equipment under the roof between the two containers.

 

[IdahoBeav]

I used to work as a fabricator for an outfit that refurbished and upgraded them. They're pretty versatile. I used to install roll up doors, man doors, windows, etc. Some of them were even framed internally with doug fir, insulated, dry walled, and carpeted. I did one pair with proprietary brackets for a Quonset hut between the two units. They are built square, so you'll want to grade your pad for about 2% cross slope to the side so water will drain from the roof.

 

[wapitibob]

mmmmmmm

i have had a 40ft container for 25 years. it is filled with stuff. it has never had condensation in it.

Same, brother has two. Get a rollup door kit for the side. You can cut some upper side wall vents with a torch and weld some screen over them to keep bees and thieves out.

 

[nm.otter]

I'd also set up some kind of shade or tropical roof. That thing will become a literal oven and stuff in there is going to cook, won't help lifespan of the plastics and rubber.

Definitely. Even a couple inches of air on top will mitigate the worst of both summer and winter.

Getting it off the ground is a good idea also.

Either sitting on a slightly raised bed of compacted coarse rock, or high enough off the ground that you don't end up with a giant rodent hotel underneath.

 

[strousek]

I purchased some vacant land in CO 10 years ago and dropped a 20' container there for that very same reason. Stored my SxS and tools in there without any issue of condensation. I put the container on top of a slight mound of road base so that everything drained away from it. Zero issues whatsoever.

 

[RockAndSage]

Only thing I haven't seen mentioned here is that some people want to put them underground as root cellars or more secure storage, sometimes valuing the consistent 68F-ish temperatures just a few feet down. Especially in the desert. They can be good for that, but they need to be reinforced specifically for that, as the sidewalls and even the roofs can collapse in from the dirt. When they're stacked on trains or ships, that weight is resting on the corner posts. Their load-bearing capability is built into the corners, not the steel sheeting.

 

[cuerro viejo]

I’ve built 3 container cabins, one with 24’ living area with -+14’ storage for SxS.

Condensation is a product of environment, you can ventilate a container very easily, it’s extremely simple.

My advice is the inside is not 8’ that’s an out side measurement. If you have a cab’ed UTV it’s going to be fun getting in and out, but you can weld in a door pretty easy, just 2x2 11ga tubing

On cabins i coat the top of roof with heat reflective paint and cuts down a lot of the heat.

 

[IdahoBeav]

mmmmmmm

i have had a 40ft container for 25 years. it is filled with stuff. it has never had condensation in it.

They have vents from the factory, but some guys like to put in larger vents. In the PNW, the only time I've seen or heard of an issue with condensation is when someone plugged the vents.

 

[cuerro viejo]

They have vents from the factory, but some guys like to put in larger vents. In the PNW, the only time I've seen or heard of an issue with condensation is when someone plugged the vents.

Yelp it also take less then 2 min tops to add additional vent, similar to the ones it comes with.

 

[BBob]

I wonder if location has something to do with the RH inside? You'd think in S AZ we wouldn't have any issues but as I said I've seen plenty (mostly rusted equipment) here with them. Might it be bigger temp swings from night to day?

 

[Nine Banger]

Check out open side versions too.

That's what I have w/ 2x4 and plywood shelves and a 2x4 and plywood work bench.

 

[yfarm]

Friend has 2 on his ranch, sit under a haybarn. No ventilation, high temps in the summer. Stores utv,tools,compressors inside,has never had any condensation issues. Presume its because are shaded by the open hayshed.

 

[2muchhp]

I had over 20, at the same time. Never an issue. Just make sure they don't leak when you buy it.

 

[RedTaylor]

My 2 cents is they are great. I have set them on the ground leveled on concrete pad 6”thick and on rail road ties. On 2 of mine they can with doors front and back I weld one set completely to never open again.

The down sides are people suck. They have been shot, vandalism is an understatement painted them they got tagged and shot up, vents are hard people destroy any that works good.

You have to weld box’s over your pad locks and I recommend @ least 2 different locks. One of the round storage locks under the welded box and a master lock on the bottom under a box.

It is very weird to me. How many shitty people go out into the middle of nowhere in the desert in Nevada and think it must be theirs or it’s left here for me now. I am very fortunate now that someone has built a home and stays near my property full-time, so the vandalism has stopped just some things to consider.