Sea Containers For Storage

d-rez

I have been considering buying a sea container for jobsite storage and on-site office. Mobile Mini is selling them here for around $2700. Any of you guys own one, and if so, what are the pros and cons?
I do residential construction, and not all sites can accomodate a 20' box, but some will. I have considered a 20' horse trailer, using the front sleeping quarters as an office, but don't want my sites looking ghetto.

woodmagman

They are a great Idea, the only draw back is the cost of moving, about 450 for a in the city move. They do work for a portable shop and the cost can be justied if you can get a permit to leave on the street in front of the job..

wellbuilthome

Lots of guys use the boxes here like sheds . Ive never seen any one moving them from site to site. My electrician has 2 buried in his yard with the doors showing on the side of a hill . My excavator has 2 30 footers side buy side with a 20 foot space between . Last year we poured footing under them and framed a roof over the top . I think you would be better off with a 8' x7'6" height by 24' long car trailer .You could get one with a office in the front I would like to get one my self but i don't have a place to park it at my house. I would like to keep all my tools in the trailer with power, air , ladders and scaffold on the top . My tools just stay on the jobs and never come to the shop . Next week the tool are coming home for the first time in 20 years Im out of work. What a bummer

woodmagman

Nice thing, is any Joe with bolt cutters and a pickup can take your trailer...only a select few can pick up a sea-can...I have trailers, but the sea-can is the new version of the used semi-trailer. Paint them up with logos and avertisements and you have a bill board that really does not mis-look.

Cdat

Good investment if you can move it yourself...

joasis

They are heavy....like 4500# for the 20, and 7700# for the 40....that said, there are guys starting to put 7000# axles on them and a mobile home tongue and making them into trailers. The last one I saw on a job site was blocked up, probably with a big forklift, and then it was theft resistant. It also had the locking bars changed to an inaccessible interior lock that could not be reached with bolt cutters.

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wellbuilthome

Yea i hear you about having someone roll off with your trailer. I think you could make it roll off a truck like a dumpster ,and get the dumpster company move it from job to job. I would load all my stuff into a half full dumpster and have them move me to my next job. The sea can is great you can just walk in but , I like to be Mobil.

shanekw1

A few people around here have gotten some of those, lined them up in a row and rent them out as self storage/mini storage units.

RobertF

Cdat-

Got any more info on that particular picture?

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-Robert F

pcplumber

I have two 40 foot containers. They cost about $2100 each. The problem is most zoning laws prohibit them. They are not legal on my property and I am waiting for the city to telol me to get them off my property

RobertF

You're in LA City proper? Are these on a residential property or commercial? What part of the zoning ordinance do they violate? Sorry about the twenty questions but I've been thinking about buying one to use at the house, and I'm in LA City itself.

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-Robert F

mrghm

we got a couple of 20's.

we have made a lock box so it means that you will need an oxy to get in.

we use a tilt tray truck to move it from job to job or into our yard.

Cdat

http://www.seabox.com/gallery/workshop/

MALCO.New.York

The only problem with a "Sea Box", AKA Intermodal Can, is the sun and heat.

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pcplumber

There is a city ordinance for everything. My two 40 footers are on a property that is zoned C2. The use for a 'C2' property can be different in each city. I am actually in Gardena, Ca. and I went to the planning department last week to ask if I can build a garage on the propety. They said no. While I was there I asked about the cans and they said no.

I own a half residential and half commercial property on the opposite side
of the street. This is in the city of Los Angeles. I built a storage shed that was only 8 x 12 x 8. They made me tear it down because you cannot build antyhing over 8 feet without engineering, planning approval, and permits.

I suppose the cities take into consideration fire access, structural safety, etc. If not, we will see developers building condos from sea containers, without permits.

shanekw1

Sea can construction

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Chris Johnson

I use a 24' trailer with alarm and GPS tracking (it's very sensitive).

Alarm and GPS are $ 20.00 month, it has been set off by me moving it after hours, response to my cell, wifes cell and home number in under 5 mins. I am happy with the security.

Convenience of moving it when I want and not paying and waiting for a moving company to come and get it.

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Chris

Ironman

I puchased four of the 20 footers about three years ago now, paid 1400 apiece delivered was a very good investment. Two I use for storage of materials , and one is a mobile work shop complete with welding equip. the other has been modified inside to be part storage part office, mostly storage.

playdirt

an alarm/protective coatings would be worthwhile.thieves took nibblers & cut holes in the ceilings.we repaired that then they took a plasma cutter & did the same thing.we had some polyurea left over from a job & applied that.so far so good but i'm sure they'll try again.

cleveman

I used to get containers delivered to my warehouse in another life. It seems that the truckers used to be able to unhook it and leave it. Was this with a trailer underneath, or did they fold down some funky support legs and lift it up a bit and drive out from underneath it?

That would be the ticket, but you might want it down closer to ground level. And you would still need the trailer to move it.