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Main Forums => The Roundtable => Topic started by: Ben on September 03, 2021, 10:28:26 AM

Title: Conex Containers for Storage?
Post by: Ben on September 03, 2021, 10:28:26 AM
Any of you guys with property have one (or more)?

While I have a pretty ginormous shop, I cannot believe how fast it's filling, not just with stuff, but stuff I don't really want in there, like all my farm chemicals and sprayers and stuff.

I have room for a pole barn / metal building, but the last quote I got on one was $52/sq ft. That's $26,000 for a 500sq ft building (admittedly including concrete), which is not that big. It looks like I can get a "once used" 40' shipping container (320sq ft) delivered locally for around $3000.

I could get all my chemicals, extra fuel containers, etc. in there, plus maybe even stick one of the ATVs in there (I currently park both in the shop). Then in the Winter, I would have room for my little tractor in the shop, and the rest of the year have a lot more room and efficient space in the shop, plus not have to smell chemicals in there.

Then I might spend another $3000 on one of these nicer looking 10x12 wooden sheds a local guy makes, and stick all the gardening, landscaping, and snow stuff in there.

Anyway, just wondering if any of you use one and any pluses or minuses of using them. I realize they can get hot (and cold), but I could probably get those 4x8x1" sheets of insulation and line it with those to at least mitigate extreme temps.
Title: Re: Conex Containers for Storage?
Post by: peteinct on September 03, 2021, 11:17:08 AM
Ben, We have them at work and they work but not great. Theyre pretty small and narrow.For smaller items you can put shelves in them but larger items ie big lawn mowers block off the space. You would hae to put the tractor or atv at the end and maybe move it to get to the back.You can lock them if you need to. We dont put anything temp sensitive inside them. Ive found that any storage space you have fills up as more space is added more stuff collects in it. There is no getting ahead for me.  At home I built a shed exactly that was designed for what we needed to store which works well and wasnt hard to build. But I think lumber might as well be gold. Any building material seems to be pricey now. Maybe im just an old man "things were cheaper back in the day" Pete
Title: Re: Conex Containers for Storage?
Post by: cordex on September 03, 2021, 11:22:55 AM
I know a guy who has both a shipping container and an insulated trailer (for different purposes) and have considered the shipping container for my own purposes.

Pete is right that they are narrow, but that might be just the ticket depending on what you're wanting to put in it.
Title: Re: Conex Containers for Storage?
Post by: Larry Ashcraft on September 03, 2021, 11:39:56 AM
We have two of the 40' ones. We bought them almost 5 years ago when we decided to build the new house. My son put his stuff in one and we put ours in the other one.   They do get hot (and cold), but we just use them for storage anyway.  Best part is, no insects or rodents.  No need for a foundation, ours sit on two railroad ties each.

Ours was used more than once though. The hinges and latches are rusty and hard to work, even after several applications of PB Blaster and Kroil.  My son's is newer and works easier.
Title: Re: Conex Containers for Storage?
Post by: MillCreek on September 03, 2021, 11:44:56 AM
Out here where I live, lots of people have the used 40' containers, although I occasionally see a 20' model.  Here in the wet part of the PNW, they advise that you elevate it off the ground to minimize the bottom rusting out. Most of my neighbors use them for toxic or flammable chemical storage, snowmobiles, ATVs, motorcycles and farm equipment.  I am told that the key is leaving a pathway from the front to the back so you can access your stuff.  A couple of the neighbors have free-standing 6' shelving units along the sides, and they can get amazing amounts of stuff in there.
Title: Re: Conex Containers for Storage?
Post by: MechAg94 on September 03, 2021, 11:49:56 AM
IMO, they rust at the drop of a hat, but maybe that is salt air where I am.  As mentioned, you do need to keep them elevated a bit off the ground.  Where I work near the coast, the paint/coatings don't last long and they will rust.  Other places it might be better.  The get hot and damp here, but it is normally hot and damp.  I have seen at least one with an A/C mounted on it, but you need to cover the container to make that work.  Where you are, it may not be that bad.

If you can get one cheap, they can work well.  Prices vary depending on the market and cost to transport it. 
Title: Re: Conex Containers for Storage?
Post by: Grandpa Shooter on September 03, 2021, 12:04:55 PM
I have a 45 foot high cube in the back area outside the fenced dog yard.  The back portion is shelved for storage and the front is misc. storage.  Ours is elevated 3 feet on the downhill side.  Here in rural Kentucky you can get one for around $2200 delivered.  With high humidity they do rust and sweat in the summer.  Anything important is in a heavy duty black tote with yellow lid, commonly available at any big box store..
Title: Re: Conex Containers for Storage?
Post by: Brad Johnson on September 03, 2021, 12:07:28 PM
We use several of them for storing chems, equipment, and misc stuff. Decently secure and pretty good about keeping most critters out. Most of ours have racks down one side which we made from scrap pipe and expanded metal. Rust isn't an issue in our drier climes. They are great for long-term storage as-is, but using one on an everyday basis is kinda a pain unless you install a standard door. It's no problem to do yourself if you have a torch and welder, you just need to make sure you get everything leveled and squared before burning it in.

Brad
Title: Re: Conex Containers for Storage?
Post by: MechAg94 on September 03, 2021, 12:19:43 PM
One other thing, I don't know if you have trouble with wasps, but they like to get into the door latch areas and around those things sometimes.  Just something to watch form.
Title: Re: Conex Containers for Storage?
Post by: Brad Johnson on September 03, 2021, 12:24:39 PM
One other thing, I don't know if you have trouble with wasps, but they like to get into the door latch areas and around those things sometimes.  Just something to watch form.

Ditto and then some. The worthless buggers love containers for all the nooks and crannies.

Brad
Title: Re: Conex Containers for Storage?
Post by: Ben on September 03, 2021, 12:49:00 PM
Thanks for all the replies. Taking the caveats into account, I don't HAVE to put an ATV in it. If I did, it would be my Honda Rancher, which is not my every day driver. That is the Polaris SxS, and I keep that in the shop. As for wasps, noted, and don't get me started.

I'm in an arid climate, but would definitely plan on elevating it. The plus for me is that where I would plan on putting it is not the same area where I still have room for a pole barn. So maybe I could get the conex for now, store all that chemical and other crap in it, and if pole barn prices get reasonable again at some point, still get one later. Space isn't an issue. If I end up not doing much with it, it won't be in the way. If nothing else,  Iguess it could sit as a giant Faraday cage for apocalypse preps.  :laugh:

The place that sells them and gets good reviews is just over the border in Oregon, so I'm going to drive by there in the next week and have a look-see. Their website says they also have modified containers with regular and rollup doors, so depending on cost, that might be worthwhile.
Title: Re: Conex Containers for Storage?
Post by: PEfarmer on September 03, 2021, 05:03:35 PM
Thanks for all the replies. Taking the caveats into account, I don't HAVE to put an ATV in it. If I did, it would be my Honda Rancher, which is not my every day driver. That is the Polaris SxS, and I keep that in the shop. As for wasps, noted, and don't get me started.

I'm in an arid climate, but would definitely plan on elevating it. The plus for me is that where I would plan on putting it is not the same area where I still have room for a pole barn. So maybe I could get the conex for now, store all that chemical and other crap in it, and if pole barn prices get reasonable again at some point, still get one later. Space isn't an issue. If I end up not doing much with it, it won't be in the way. If nothing else,  Iguess it could sit as a giant Faraday cage for apocalypse preps.  :laugh:

The place that sells them and gets good reviews is just over the border in Oregon, so I'm going to drive by there in the next week and have a look-see. Their website says they also have modified containers with regular and rollup doors, so depending on cost, that might be worthwhile.

I put one up adjacent to my pole barn for my FIL, who is living on the property.  The 3k you were quoted is a significant decrease from this spring (Willamette Valley) when we paid 4500 for a W&W Tight 40' High Cube.  3k for a one trip is very good.  I cut a man-door sized hole in the non-door end and welded in a 2x2 box section frame for a man door.  This gives cross ventilation and easy access to both ends.  May not be necessary for your purposes, but FIL uses his as a wood shop.
Title: Re: Conex Containers for Storage?
Post by: Larry Ashcraft on September 03, 2021, 05:59:21 PM
I put one up adjacent to my pole barn for my FIL, who is living on the property.  The 3k you were quoted is a significant decrease from this spring (Willamette Valley) when we paid 4500 for a W&W Tight 40' High Cube.  3k for a one trip is very good.  I cut a man-door sized hole in the non-door end and welded in a 2x2 box section frame for a man door.  This gives cross ventilation and easy access to both ends.  May not be necessary for your purposes, but FIL uses his as a wood shop.
We paid $2650 each for our two high cubes, delivered.  It helped that they were friends and only a mile away. They brought a big articulated loader over and positioned them exactly 10' feet apart so we can put a tin roof between them for more storage.
Title: Re: Conex Containers for Storage?
Post by: Ben on September 03, 2021, 06:05:20 PM
Looks like several of you have high cubes. Can I ask reasoning? What does the extra foot(?) in height get you? The place by me also sells them but has none in stock right now. Is a high cube something that's worth a wait over a standard conex?
Title: Re: Conex Containers for Storage?
Post by: Bogie on September 03, 2021, 10:57:44 PM
A bit over another 10% of cubic space.
 
I have a friend who has two. I may end up buying a few square feet from him (handshake deal, as the local zoning doesn't allow that) and putting in a pair myself. He's got a quonset hut to span them with. I don't know if he has done that yet. Gonna be about 20' on the inside.Spanning a pair, on the pad, allow you a LOT of shop room (20x40), with good walls, lots of storage, and enough room for a high lift or two.
Title: Re: Conex Containers for Storage?
Post by: Larry Ashcraft on September 04, 2021, 11:42:12 AM
Looks like several of you have high cubes. Can I ask reasoning? What does the extra foot(?) in height get you? The place by me also sells them but has none in stock right now. Is a high cube something that's worth a wait over a standard conex?
Ours were almost an accident.  My friend went to pick them up in Denver and they were overstocked on high cubes, so he got them for the price of the regular ones.  We don't really use the extra foot, but it might come in handy someday.
Title: Re: Conex Containers for Storage?
Post by: BobR on September 04, 2021, 12:06:09 PM
All of the fireworks companies here in town use them for storage (something the FD hates). When I was looking at houses several of the properties had them set up as either storage or shops. They are a pretty popular item here in the desert where rust really isn't an issue, snakes and scorpions on the other hand. ;)

bob
Title: Re: Conex Containers for Storage?
Post by: French G. on September 04, 2021, 12:22:00 PM
Well, I grew up with the king of junk. His original storage was two aluminum reefer trailers. More added per decade. One good idea he had was making the containers the pole barn. Put two parallel containers down, roof in between and park the tractors in there.
Title: Re: Conex Containers for Storage?
Post by: Ben on September 04, 2021, 12:36:24 PM
One good idea he had was making the containers the pole barn. Put two parallel containers down, roof in between and park the tractors in there.

I saw above that Larry did that same thing. I really like that idea. That would actually be a good place to park the tractor and to keep a few other things out of the rain. If I did it though, I'd have to find a different location that the one I have planned. Right now it would go next to the corral and there's no room between the corral and the fence for two boxes plus space for a roof.
Title: Re: Conex Containers for Storage?
Post by: MillCreek on September 05, 2021, 10:14:26 AM
https://interestingengineering.com/guy-builds-a-modern-castle-out-of-shipping-containers?utm_source=Facebook&utm_medium=Article&utm_campaign=organic&utm_content=Sep05&fbclid=IwAR2vh7fyqq9zN4rXFWAID0o0yKl2wqHbMZRy3WNP0xfw7OAcyG-cmx4u-m4

Go big or go home.
Title: Re: Conex Containers for Storage?
Post by: Ben on September 05, 2021, 10:36:14 AM
https://interestingengineering.com/guy-builds-a-modern-castle-out-of-shipping-containers?utm_source=Facebook&utm_medium=Article&utm_campaign=organic&utm_content=Sep05&fbclid=IwAR2vh7fyqq9zN4rXFWAID0o0yKl2wqHbMZRy3WNP0xfw7OAcyG-cmx4u-m4

Go big or go home.

Quite a few companies are turning containers into homes - doing modular multi-container stuff and the like. There is one in Boise that has made national news, and had Ben Carson touring them during the Trump administration.

I kinda thought the concept was cool early on, and I guess still do, but it appears the expense of making them liveable is just not working out. The Boise company seems to be staying afloat more from gov handouts to build affordable, portable housing than from any sales to private parties.

Cost-wise for the concept, I would probably be more inclined to buy a Boxable home, at $50K per module.
Title: Re: Conex Containers for Storage?
Post by: MillCreek on September 05, 2021, 11:08:33 AM
On the Net, I have seen a lot of apartments made of containers in Europe.  They rehab the containers into a modular apartment, truck them to the site and start slotting them into a framework that has electrical, water and sewer connections built in.
Title: Re: Conex Containers for Storage?
Post by: just Warren on September 05, 2021, 03:44:43 PM
Quonset huts are still a thing. (https://www.steelmasterusa.com/quonset-huts/kits/)
Title: Re: Conex Containers for Storage?
Post by: Bogie on September 05, 2021, 10:04:28 PM
My bud RIch has two of those. One is about 25-30 x 120ish long. It is tall enough, even with sprayfoam, for his engine hoist and a mid-size lift.
 
One is in the process of going over two shipping containers, and he'll have plenty of headroom.
Title: Re: Conex Containers for Storage?
Post by: JTHunter on September 05, 2021, 10:37:45 PM
There are a couple of shows that sometimes features cargo containers or steel structures.  The shows are "Building Off the Grid" and "Homestead Rescue".  On Dish satellite, both shows have been aired on the DIY channel and on the Discovery channel.  Some have been turned into living space, storage and feeding stations for livestock (usu. goats), and workshops.  What they seem to be able to do with these boxes is quite interesting.
Title: Re: Conex Containers for Storage?
Post by: Bogie on September 05, 2021, 10:46:06 PM
IMHO, the real utility of the things is as "outside walls."
 
Frickin' steel. Thick steel. Three of 'em with an open end, and something over the inside, and you have a good sized square footage.
 
Spray foam does wonders.
Title: Re: Conex Containers for Storage?
Post by: JTHunter on September 05, 2021, 10:57:42 PM
https://interestingengineering.com/guy-builds-a-modern-castle-out-of-shipping-containers?utm_source=Facebook&utm_medium=Article&utm_campaign=organic&utm_content=Sep05&fbclid=IwAR2vh7fyqq9zN4rXFWAID0o0yKl2wqHbMZRy3WNP0xfw7OAcyG-cmx4u-m4

Go big or go home.

That is actually a real interesting article.  I'm just at the point where I don't want all those STAIRS !!  :old:  :rofl:
Title: Re: Conex Containers for Storage?
Post by: Bogie on September 05, 2021, 11:04:01 PM
A micro near me has the front of their outfit as shipping containers. I suspect that it is more image than substance tho...
 
https://www.google.com/maps/uv?pb=!1s0x87d8b4ef408fffff%3A0x6d7face385da9e49!3m1!7e115!4shttps%3A%2F%2Flh5.googleusercontent.com%2Fp%2FAF1QipPpRS4LWfm3xCFzn_ztPAEeOcap_yAApvrEnCKV%3Dw119-h160-k-no!5svandeventer%20microbrewery%20-%20Google%20Search!15sCgIgAQ&imagekey=!1e10!2sAF1QipOYz1mxcNfZQWqqz0Jk12b3YgdrlxvRb6CiKG3X&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjtyZyBrunyAhUEZc0KHTQ6B2AQoip6BAhZEAM
Title: Re: Conex Containers for Storage?
Post by: Ben on October 06, 2021, 05:46:47 PM
Well, that place's website was WAY out of date. As of today and $6000 later, I have a 2018 once used 20' container parked next to my corral. The prices are ridiculous right now, and they can't keep them stocked. They had two one trip 40 footers on the lot for $10K each. Used 40s, and they didn't look pretty, were in the 8 grand range. The cheapest container they had was a beat to hell 20 footer for $4800.

Oh well, it's a tax deduction at least.  :laugh:
Title: Re: Conex Containers for Storage?
Post by: charby on October 06, 2021, 05:52:39 PM
Read the labels of the chemicals for upper and lower storage temps.

We were going to buy a 40' Conex box for clay target storage at the gun club, but the inside gets too hot in the summer for storing clay targets and will cause them to start breaking down.
Title: Re: Conex Containers for Storage?
Post by: Ben on October 06, 2021, 05:56:24 PM
Read the labels of the chemicals for upper and lower storage temps.

We were going to buy a 40' Conex box for clay target storage at the gun club, but the inside gets too hot in the summer for storing clay targets and will cause them to start breaking down.

See my new thread on insulation.  :laugh:

Also, the other project I've got going is instead of a pole barn (because prices on them are outrageous right now too), I'm just putting up one of those enclosed metal buildings the carport guys do next to the shop, where I will park the tractor and ATVs, and I think that's where I'll store fuel and chemicals and use the conex for more "clean" storage.
Title: Re: Conex Containers for Storage?
Post by: MechAg94 on October 06, 2021, 06:01:33 PM
https://interestingengineering.com/guy-builds-a-modern-castle-out-of-shipping-containers?utm_source=Facebook&utm_medium=Article&utm_campaign=organic&utm_content=Sep05&fbclid=IwAR2vh7fyqq9zN4rXFWAID0o0yKl2wqHbMZRy3WNP0xfw7OAcyG-cmx4u-m4

Go big or go home.
Not a house, but a really nice shop.  I love articles with good pictures.
(https://inteng-storage.s3.amazonaws.com/img/iea/nR6bKxyAwo/sizes/dogs_resize_md.png)