Jon Anderson wrote:

Pete C. wrote:

I've not seen any portable side load rigs that will handle real ISO
cargo containers, only the rigs for the tiny little "PODS" or similar.

I've not seen one either, but as I'm looking into moving my shop to Oz,
I wondered how the heck to get a loaded container down to port. Guy that
sells containers locally came out to see my location, due to the narrow
and downhill nature. He can drop off and pick up an empty 20' container
no problem with his tilt bed. But he assures me there's a guy in
Sacramento that has a side loader that will pick it up with 20,000+
loaded, in addition to the weight of the container! That, I am going to
be -very- interested in watching! Here's one link I found to this type
of rig: http://www.cdkmobile.com/steelbro.htm

Nice rig, I expect they are a bit difficult to find. Of course you can
always have a regular crane come out for an hour and load the container
onto a standard container chassis.


As for tilting a loaded container, that isn't a problem if they are
packed properly. Those containers see plenty of tilting on the slow boat
from China and the cargo generally arrives intact. Well, except for the
few that get blown off the top of the stack in a good storm and end up
at the bottom of the ocean, but I bet the contents are still secure when
they settle on the bottom.

I don't even want to -think- about my shop ending up in Davy Jone's
Locker... But wonder, have you seen any sites on proper loading of
containers for international shipping?

I've not seen any sites, but I can tell you how I would do it:

- Jack the container up on solid concrete blocks to gain access to the
bottom (18" or so).
- Lag bolt the machines onto very solid palettes (temporary).
- Lube up the machines with plenty of rustproofing grease.
- Wrap the machines tightly in stretch wrap (leave access to the bolt
points).
- Load the palettes into the container and position appropriately.
- One by one, remove each lag bolt, drill a 1/2" hole down all the way
through the hardwood floor of the container, install a long 1/2" bolt
through a 4" square x 1/4" thick washer plate up through the hole in the
container, through the palette and through the machine foot and secure
with a washer, nut, lock washer and backup nut.
- For tall items and all other non boltable stuff, secure to palettes,
lag bolt palettes to the container floor, secure additionally with 2"
ratchet cargo straps to the welded in D rings along the container walls.