The best place to buy used shipping containers...

"Where is the best place to buy shipping containers" is a question that isn't as straightforward as many people hope it would be.  If you're in the market to buy a shipping container; new, used, or any condition in between, there are several factors to consider before you decide on where to buy one.  In general, the two easiest places to find containers for sale are shipping depots and container dealers, but it's important to also consider the delivery cost in all circumstances.


Read more about how to buy shipping containers.

Cargo Container Conversions and Summer Projects

Cargo containers are a highly versatile, secure, and readily available item.  It’s no wonder that as the summer comes into full swing many people and companies are using them for their events or as a component to their "summer project".  There are a great number of cargo containers are being converted and delivered all over the United States and world for that matter; and it’s hard to attend any event without noticing a cargo container that’s being used for on-site storage.


Read more on ContainerAuction.com

Storage and Shipping Containers for Sale

Storage and Shipping Containers for Sale Spring is quickly closing in and, as the ground thaws in many parts of the United States and Canada; many people will begin to build new houses, garages, or other types of buildings.  Undoubtedly, one of the issues that will come to mind is where and how to store all of the items displaced during the construction process, and "where can I find shipping containers for sale?" Shipping containers can be found in most cities, towns, and municipalities around the country.  Sometimes they're obvious to see, while other times they can be passed by every day without notice.  Regardless of this fact, it's not always easy to find a shipping container for sale.

To find a shipping, cargo, or storage container in your area it's good to begin by checking the yellow pages in the telephone book, or perform a search in Google for mobile storage, portable storage, or a similar term.  Google will provide you with a list of companies and websites that sell or rent the type of container that you need.  However, many times the companies do not include pricing on their websites and it may take a lot of work to compare the offers they have given to you.

If you prefer using the internet there are several well known websites that provide information on local shipping containers for sale.  The first and most obvious of these web sites is eBay.com.  eBay provides a large, international marketplace where people can buy and sell all types of things, storage containers included.  The people that sell on eBay are both companies and individual sellers, and you can review their reputation based on other sales.  However, if you can't find a container in your area you may not be able to contact anyone to help you.  The other option is to search for shipping containers for sale on ContainerAuction.com.  ContainerAuction.com provides a widely used resource for locating containers anywhere in the world.  If you're not able to find a container, you can use the request form and ask them to find a container for you.  They'll check the available inventory at shipping depots in your area and present you with some possible options.

Finding shipping containers for sale isn't as hard as it used to be, and it's getting easier to find a shipping container at a cheap price that will fit almost anyone's budget.   If you are in need of extra storage space the best thing you can do is find a shipping, cargo, or portable storage container.

Finding Cheap Shipping Containers for Sale

Shipping containers seem to be ubiquitous, even more so when you're in need of one. During the course of a normal day you may pass by them in the street, drive by a shipping container riding on a chassis as it cruises down the highway, or even notice that construction site that you've passed five days a week for the last six months is loaded with converted shipping containers - on converted shipping container office, and several modified shipping containers being used as portable storage containers. The burning question that people typically ask is, "where can I buy a shipping container at a cheap price?"
As with anything, when you begin shopping for used shipping containers the first thing to do is find a few prices and compare them. Your definition of "cheap" may be greatly different than someone else's. Many container traders and retail locations have websites, but they don't always provide online pricing (keep in mind; these are typically container depots and terminals, and typically not people that spend their entire day behind a desk). If you don't have any luck finding a local business that sells used shipping containers, the next stop is to visit an ecommerce website that sell shipping containers. The first obvious choice is eBay. There are a usually a few shipping containers listed on eBay, but the inventory tends to be limited and centered in only a few specific areas. The next choice is ContainerAuction.com. ContainerAuction.com specializes in used shipping containers, and many companies (some of which may be local to you), have accounts on ContainerAuction.com and either list their used containers on the site, or you can contact them directly through the site to inquire about their inventory.
To help you get the best price on new or used shipping containers, you'll want to have a few bits of information ready to share with the company selling the container.

• How long do you want the shipping container to be?
• What do you plan on using the shipping container for (storage, housing conversion, shipping)?
• Do you know what condition you need the container to be in (typical conditions are "cargo worthy", "wind/water tight", "one trip", and "as-is, where is".
• Will you need the container to be delivered?
• If you need the container delivered, do you have a forklift on site, or will the truck need to drop the container to the ground?

Obviously, location and condition are the two biggest factors in shipping container prices. An "as is where is container", which is the lowest grade condition, will be much less than one that's "cargo worthy". In most circumstances, you'll want to find a container that's at least in wind/water tight condition. You can expect a 20' used shipping container in wind/water tight condition to be at least $1500 anywhere in the United States or Canada. If you find one that's less, be sure to inspect it closely - there may be problems with it.
If you have those questions answered and do a little homework, there's no doubt that you'll be able to find a used shipping container for sale.

Six Great Ways to Use Surplus Shipping Containers

Over the last few years exports in the U.S. have dropped off. This has left many shipping yards and shipping container retailers with extra used containers. Surplus shipping containers, known for their cheap prices, are reusable in a multitude of ways. Here are six of the best uses.

Shipping containers of any size make a great place to store items for either your business or your home. Solid steel containers are known for their ability to protect goods. When they were used for overseas shipping they had to endure harsh seas, corrosive salt water, being stacked upon one another, and even strong winds. So their use on dry land is perfect for ensuring that your most valuable of items are safe from Mother Nature. You can even have a locking door mounted to keep potential thieves from stealing your belongings. Using a container for item storage is as simple as purchasing one, having it delivered and moving your items in.

Surplus containers are also great a great low cost way to move or ship your personal belongings. Maybe you just got a new job in Paris and you want to take along your grandmother's antique desk. Buying a used container can be a great way to get your items safely to your destination. They are also great for land based moves. You can rent or buy a container and even rent a chassis to carry it on. Once you fill it up and attach it to the back of your truck you are ready to go. This is great if when you get to your new location you do not want to unpack everything at once. You can just leave the items in your container until you are ready for them.

Small businesses and offices can also benefit from the utilization of various shipping container sizes. These sturdy boxes make great office space. You will, of course, have to make some changes such as adding electricity and windows. This would even be a great idea for your new pyrex glassware store. With a few container modifications, you can set your container up anywhere and start selling your products. This is good because if you find one location does not work for sales, you can move to another location.

Containers also provide the option for extra room in overcrowded schools. They can be a cheap way for schools to get by until they can afford to build an addition. Shipping containers, with windows, power, and heating and cooling installed, can provide comfortable classrooms. In schools, containers can also be used to keep harmful cleaning chemicals or equipment away from children.

One area that is an unknown use for containers is in wilderness areas. Because some containers are refrigerated units run by generators, they can keep large food supplies safe from the elements and from wild animals. Containers can also be used for forest ranger sheds and rest areas.

Perhaps the best use of surplus shipping containers is for cheap shelter. This is especially beneficial in areas with a high homeless rate. Those who need shelter can use an insulated container to keep warm in the winter. Usually, though, containers are converted to permanent houses with electricity, running water, and heating. Use in this manner provides lost cost homes for many people.

Shipping Container Foundations: Part 2, Concrete Footings

Concrete footing are another option for the foundation for your used shipping container. Building concrete footings are more complex and involved than the wooden beam option, but if you're planning on keeping your container in one place for a long period of time it may be worth the investment.

Materials Needed:

•         Premix Concrete - total amount depends on your geographic area
•         Loose stone or gravel
•         1/4" plywood to construct the form
•         2"x2" or similar wood planks to construct the form

Using concrete footings as a foundation for your shipping or storage container falls in the middle cost range of the three options. It's cost effective, durable, but requires more time and attention when building the container foundation.

Before you being to build the concrete footing foundation for your container, you need to decide how deep the footing must be. If you live in an area with no frost this decision may not be necessary. However, if your area is prone to frost the freezing of the ground can shift your foundation and cause problems later on. The only way to prevent "frost heave" is to build your footing at least 6" below the frost line. The frost line is the maximum depth where the ground will freeze in the winter and this depth varies from 50" in North Dakota, to 0" in Florida. To learn more about the frost line in your area you can refer to the National Snow and Ice Data Center.

The second step is to decide how large your footings must be. As a general rule, one or two stacked 40' ISO containers will require 10" deep, x 20" wide, by x 20" wide (not included the extended frost footing). The chart below offers suggestions on how large your footings should be.

Footing Size	Cubic Feet	Cubic Yards	80lbs bags
8" x 16" x 16"	1.2	.044	2 bags per footing
10" X 20" X 20"	2.3	.086	3.8 bags per footing
12" X 24" X 24"	4	.15	6.75 bags per footing

The third step is to mark off the area that the storage container will take up. Measure the area out, making sure that all corners are square so that your footings are in the correct place. It's a good idea to post the area with stakes, and then tie them off so you have a strong visual idea of the size and space required.

Decide which is the highest of the four corners and begin the process here. Dig out an area wider and slightly deeper than required by the footing and compact the soil in the bottom. Follow this up by adding a 3" base of loose stone. Using the plywood and planks, construct a concrete form to the dimensions decided earlier. If you're going to reuse the same form for each footing it's better to assemble the form with screws so that it's easier to take it apart and reassemble it for each footing. Lining up the footings properly is key to this project, and the first footing will be the point from which the others are built. It's also advised to add rebar to increase the strength of your footings and prevent them from cracking. Rebar should be cut 8" longer than the depth of the hole, and driven into the ground so they are flush with the top of the footing form. The rebar should be a few inches apart in each footing, and the amount of rebar depends on the size of your footing.

Once the form is placed in the hole and the concrete poured, allow it to set for 48 hours before removing the form.

The next footing must be measured and placed based on the height of the first one. To do this accurately you'll need a laser level with which to measure the height. With the proper height and distance lined up, you're ready to pour your final three footers or more if you require the added security. Repeat the same process of digging the area out and installing the stone and concrete form, and pouring the concrete until all footers are in place.

Ideally, this should be complete several weeks before the container is due to arrive. The actual time may vary depending on the heat and humidity in your area, and it's best to ask a professional the appropriate time to allow the concrete to cure.

Storage Container Foundations: Part 1, Wood Beam

Once you've decided to purchase a shipping container and convert it into a storage unit, it's important to decide where it's going to be placed. A solid foundation for your container isn't an absolute requirement for your container, along with making keeping it stable and square, it can greatly reduce your storage units exposure to moisture and the corrosion that follows. Depending on your budget and the length of time that you expect the container to remain in it's place there are several options available to you. The three most common are: wooden beams, concrete slabs, and concrete footings. In this article, we will discuss wood beam footings.

This article provides a general outline for building a suitable foundation. Before you undertake a project like this on your own it's always important to check with a professional to make sure that there are no environmental or other issues that must be considered in your planning.

Wooden Beam Footings

Materials Required:

• Rail road ties, treated 4"x4" Wood beams, or similar skids.
• Loose stone or grave for a gravel bed.
• Spade shovel, gloves, etc.

Wooden beam footings are the least expensive, easiest to install, and the better than leaving your storage container rest on the ground. With minimal site preperation they can be installed shortly before your container is delivered. Before you start, you'll need pressure or oil treated rail road ties or skids, and loose stone or gravel; both of which can purchase from most local lumber yards or at Home Depot. Since steel containers get their support from their frame, you'll only need enough material to support in the four corners. If you'd like extra stability, you can also place support at the middle points on the long side of the container.

Begin to build your foundation by laying out your area and digging a 4" to 6" gravel bed at each end, the length of the end. The gravel bed will provide necessary drainage to keep the beams dry and prevent any premature rotting. Once the gravel beds are in place you can lay out your beams accordingly. It's best to have your container at least 6" off the ground to allow for air circulation. Skirting or fencing can be installed later if you are in an area where there are small animals that may decide to take residence under your storage unit.

Once your container arrives the lift or truck can place it on the ties, however it may require some adjustments to keep your foundation in the proper place.

Part 2: Concrete Fotting Container Foundation

Part 3: Concrete Slab Container Foundation

This article was contributed by ContainerAuction.com, where you can find shipping containers for sale.

Link to article: Storage Container Foundations: Part 1, Wood Beam