I'm thinking of getting a shipping container for temporary storage and
making a base with some railway sleepers. Google images doesn't seem
to have any pictures of the underside of a container so I don't know
what to expect.

The sleepers I have are about 8ft long, and the container is 8ft 6
wide and 20ft long.

Is there any suitable longitudinal structure under a container away
from the edge so that I can fit the sleepers crossways every four or
five feet or will I have to run them longways down each edge?


--

Mike
wibbled on Tuesday 08 December 2009 17:21

I'm thinking of getting a shipping container for temporary storage and
making a base with some railway sleepers. Google images doesn't seem
to have any pictures of the underside of a container so I don't know
what to expect.

The sleepers I have are about 8ft long, and the container is 8ft 6
wide and 20ft long.

Is there any suitable longitudinal structure under a container away
from the edge so that I can fit the sleepers crossways every four or
five feet or will I have to run them longways down each edge?


--

I'm not an expert on containers, but looking at how they mount to a lorry, I
suspect you'll want primary support under the lockdown points and additional
support along the edges of the frame - ie sleepers all along the edges as
you suggested second. Some of the base is going to be just skin, so don't
think there's much point in putting sleepers there unless you know where the
internal framing is.

The 20' container I'm renting (in the yard down the road, not my garden)
just sits directly on flat concrete and the floor structure is about 4"
thick, though that is an insulated container - others may have thinner
walls.

--
Tim Watts

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Tim W wrote:
Mike
wibbled on Tuesday 08 December 2009 17:21

I'm thinking of getting a shipping container for temporary storage and
making a base with some railway sleepers. Google images doesn't seem
to have any pictures of the underside of a container so I don't know
what to expect.

The sleepers I have are about 8ft long, and the container is 8ft 6
wide and 20ft long.

Is there any suitable longitudinal structure under a container away
from the edge so that I can fit the sleepers crossways every four or
five feet or will I have to run them longways down each edge?


--

I'm not an expert on containers, but looking at how they mount to a lorry, I
suspect you'll want primary support under the lockdown points and additional
support along the edges of the frame - ie sleepers all along the edges as
you suggested second. Some of the base is going to be just skin, so don't
think there's much point in putting sleepers there unless you know where the
internal framing is.

The 20' container I'm renting (in the yard down the road, not my garden)
just sits directly on flat concrete and the floor structure is about 4"
thick, though that is an insulated container - others may have thinner
walls.

I hired on of these: we did nothing special. A few scaffolding planks
laid crossways IIRC.

Unless you are using a forklift to get it up again, no base is strictly
necessary.

If its going to be there a year or more, by all means shove down some
transverse sleepers: It will at least reduce low level corrosion a bit..

On Dec 8, 5:21 pm, Mike wrote:
I'm thinking of getting a shipping container for temporary storage and
making a base with some railway sleepers. Google images doesn't seem
to have any pictures of the underside of a container so I don't know
what to expect.

same as rest of it - corrugated steel, with a thick ply floor for
forktrucks etc..

what's the purpose of the base? if only temp storage the delivery
truck will (i expect) be able to reverse the drop-off procedure
whether a base is there or not... worth a call?

cheers
JimK

"Mike" wrote in message
...
I'm thinking of getting a shipping container for temporary storage and
making a base with some railway sleepers. Google images doesn't seem
to have any pictures of the underside of a container so I don't know
what to expect.

The sleepers I have are about 8ft long, and the container is 8ft 6
wide and 20ft long.

Is there any suitable longitudinal structure under a container away
from the edge so that I can fit the sleepers crossways every four or
five feet or will I have to run them longways down each edge?


Shipping containers are immensely strong.
I use a 20ft for secure garden storage and a 40ft for field storage.
If you have good and firm ground, all you need is a decent hardwood sleeper
centred & levelled beneath the twistlock sockets. On soft ground a simple
foundation might be recommended.
Intermediaries if you wish, but not required. IIRC the things can withstand
8G without buckling. Make all level, otherwise the doors can be a pig to
close & secure.
The width of a container is 8ft / 2.44m, this is set in stone.
http://www.sjonescontainers.co.uk/dimensions.htm
No connection, just Googled.

If you use good hardwood sleepers they, and the container, will last you
out. Providing of course that said container is in decent nick at the
outset.
For security, manufacture a lockbox for security.
Not an ad but I have a few containers for sale. They really are fantastic
safe garden, or site storage. 3m-12m.
Nick.

On Dec 8, 8:22 pm, "Nick" wrote:
"Mike" wrote in message

... I'm thinking of getting a shipping container for temporary storage and
making a base with some railway sleepers. Google images doesn't seem
to have any pictures of the underside of a container so I don't know
what to expect.

The sleepers I have are about 8ft long, and the container is 8ft 6
wide and 20ft long.

Is there any suitable longitudinal structure under a container away
from the edge so that I can fit the sleepers crossways every four or
five feet or will I have to run them longways down each edge?

Shipping containers are immensely strong.
I use a 20ft for secure garden storage and a 40ft for field storage.
If you have good and firm ground, all you need is a decent hardwood sleeper
centred & levelled beneath the twistlock sockets. On soft ground a simple
foundation might be recommended.
Intermediaries if you wish, but not required. IIRC the things can withstand
8G without buckling. Make all level, otherwise the doors can be a pig to
close & secure.
The width of a container is 8ft / 2.44m, this is set in stone.http://www.sjonescontainers.co.uk/dimensions.htm
No connection, just Googled.

If you use good hardwood sleepers they, and the container, will last you
out. Providing of course that said container is in decent nick at the
outset.
For security, manufacture a lockbox for security.
Not an ad but I have a few containers for sale. They really are fantastic
safe garden, or site storage. 3m-12m.
Nick.

where are you/they?

JimK

On Tue, 08 Dec 2009 17:21:17 +0000, Mike wrote:

Is there any suitable longitudinal structure under a container away
from the edge so that I can fit the sleepers crossways every four or
five feet or will I have to run them longways down each edge?

Why on earth do you want to support the base? They aren't supported
in use they are just stacked or fixed via the "feet". You'll need to
spread the load from them and I'd also keep a free flow of air
underneath as well to keep it as dry as possible.

--
Cheers
Dave.

Dave Liquorice
wibbled on Wednesday 09 December 2009 09:39

I'd also keep a free flow of air
underneath as well to keep it as dry as possible.


I'd read that as one of the reasons the OP was asking.

--
Tim Watts

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