Cheap garage alternative - Cargo Container

Had to kick the roadster out of the garage before starting on the 39
Merc. Anyway I found a 20' cargo container for $1200 locally and turned into a garage for a smallish car (not so suitable for 50's barges with long doors).
Delivery cost me $200, most tow trucks with a tilt flat bed can handle the job no problem.

Used railroad ties and crushed shell to prep the site. Cargo containers are watertight and in order to get some air into it and the gas fumes out, I installed a turbine fan and a 16" register.





The ramps are detachable because the lower door locks make it hard to have permanent ramps.
Check your local regulations before putting one up, but since it is not considered a permanent structure it should not be a problem unless you are in a HOA. Being out in the country helps...;-)


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Does that make them easier to steal too?

 

Great idea if you have the space, I know a guy that bought one USED from a local church that wanted to get rid of it he paid a couple hundred for it and another couple hundred to have it moved. He put it next to his shop for storage, it has been there a couple years and it works great.

 

yeah, ive had 3 or 4 of them. 40'ers. I slide them around the yard with the back bumper of the work truck. set 2 18' apart and built a roof in between. i set them on a railroad tie on each end. Got a buddy who buried one and made a shooting range..

 

Hey,

Cool storage alternative

Be sure you check and inspect the roof areas of all sea boxes you're considering for purchase. Many of these are taken out of service because of age and structural issues


" Humpty Dumpty was pushed "

 

Be sure to check for water tightness after a rain. Had a good friend store a 63 Studebaker Avante in a container during a winter break from a restoration. When he opened it he found the car under water and pretty much ruined. Water got in but not out.

 

I intend to stake it down. Mostly for hurricane protection. The container is 5000 pounds empty, 12 gauge welded steel and the doors have 8 locking points. It's a lot more secure than your average garage.

 

Additional security feature...

 

Nice Schmidt-Rubin!!!

 

Good point! Installing the roof fan required a little more work because the roof is corrugated as well. I saved the cutout so I can easily weld the holes back up when I ever want to get rid of it.
I keep a car cover on the car because my shop has the occasional drip as well.

 

Pretty interesting idea.

But where do you begin to find them for sale?

For a non-coastal cat (like me), what kind of buy-in are we talking?

 

Those things work well.I just put my metal lawn chairs in mine today.I rent the heavy one and have two cars in it with room for parts.The construction office trailer I have at home is aluminum skinned with a roll up door at one end.I had it towed home and my son and I got it moved next to the shop behind the fence to hide it a little.I removed the axle and lowered it on timbers.My tub is in it as well as tons of parts ,engines,trannies etc.The town hasnt bugged me yet.I,ll pay the fine.

The only way to get into the steel can is to cut off four locks under the eye of the camera and home much the same.The cost compared to a block or wood frame just for storage is a huge savings.No electric at least the structure cant catch on fire and its separate from the main shop.If I move the axle goes back under the one and it goes with me or to someone elses place.As long as the town keeps its nose away its a win win for me.Its still considered a trailer.

 

Check in humid weather to see if you are getting enough air circulation through the container with the one roof turbine and vent. We have one at work and it sweats something terrible during humid days. Ruined a bunch of stuff we had stored in it. Other than that great storage option.

 

Friend of mine's dad sells them. Not sure on price.

They do really sweat without good ventilation, too, as mentioned.

 

Being on the coast makes it a little easier. Found mine on Craigslist. They are all over the country because cargo is being shipped to the final destination in those containers in many cases. Search for "cargo container sale" and find tons of places that sell and deliver them, even customized with garage doors, windows, etc.
Prices depend on shape. They usually go for $1500 to more than $3500. 40 footers are not much more expensive.

Really cool are the conversions into homes, cottages, etc.

 

This is good info. I plan to build a home with them some day. It can be tough to find them if you're not around water. Lake Superior brings them in though.

 

We had a bunch of 40 footers sprayed with foam insulation to store parts in, no problem with leaks or condensation.

 

I'm glad we didn't have to build this bastard.

 

I really wanted to look into these or even the boxes off back of U-Hual type box trucks, but my local zoning said no way...
I said Id paint it to match garage, put a roof and they still veto'd it.

Not sure, if painted and made to look nice etc, why they hate the idea but they did.

You guys who can do this are lucky.

 

..but then you also don't live in the antechamber of hell!

 

Of course they will say that when you ask. Look it up yourself to be sure. People have storage pods in residential areas all the time. Wonder how long it will take for them to figure out you painted the Pods logo yourself and its not going anywhere?
Can you keep a trailer or camper by the house?

 

I like the Additional security feature...

 

Yeah, it will shoot your eye out ... and whatever's behind.

 

I am a hoarder. We have five 40' ers

 

They are great storage for sure,theyre everywhere up here.The only issue I have ever seen is REALLY bad condensation from the fluctuation in temerature. I think you've taken that issue away with the fan. I plan on getting one to put out out at our cabin with a woodstove,and a workbench so I have a place to work on winter toys !

 

I've used them before and like the fact that it isn't taxed like a garage or considered a permanent structure.

Pretty available everywhere because of the truck dollies and rail roads.

 

Best look for one used to haul produce. Insulation is the key to these. Otherwise they sweat like a bugger. We had an insulated one, wired it with lighting and some plugs and had a dehumidifier in it with the drain through a hole to the outside. Be real careful and check on it frequently, don't just close the door and come back 6 months later, you might have a bad surprise.

 

I was told (at least around here) that you could get taxed as a structure with a container on the ground like that, so I have a semi trailer with the wheels still under it at my shop for storage. That's just a trailer that's parked in my lot, hard for them to bitch about it and impossible to tax. Can't park a car in it, but I keep all my loose stuff in there and it saves me lots of floor space in the work shop.

When scrap prices are down, semi trailers can be had pretty cheap, I have $350 in my 48 footer, delivered, but I had a pretty lucky deal.

 

When your looking for these things-look for them labeled as "sea containers" in Craigslist adds.

Yep,I got me a 40".

Oldmics

 

No..
They claim we cant keep our 63 airstream globetrotter here more than 24hrs at a time.
We argue and say we're working on it, but after 2wks they come bitching. And give 24hr notice before writing citation.

I move it 6' front to back or to the side, then they have to give me another notice..


And I dont live in any fancy development or fancy area..

Just zoning pricks...

I may look for a 12 or 14 foot box from boxtruck. Sneak it in on a sat evening, paint it sunday, and see how long til they notice...