Shipping containers

[seabreeze]

Has anyone used shipping containers (like those used for tractor trailers) for either hay storage or as a tack room? Pros? Cons?

I need another storage shed or structure for either hay or tack. I want it to be mobile because there is a possibility I might build another horse barn on my property in a different location in about 5-10 years, at which time I could use my current barn as storage.

Our area is prone to strong nor’easters and tropical storms now and again, so I need something sturdy. The nice Amish sheds run about 40% more per square foot than a shipping container does.

Any feedback? Thanks in advance.

[jawa]

We have two containers (one large, one small). They are used to store my husbands hunting supplies, our beach and snow toys, and our tools and small engine equipment.

We added a regular people door to the side of the large/long trailer to make the items more easily accessible.

Be sure you get one that doesn’t have any leaks. You will need to develop some way to allow for adequate ventilation to keep the moisture from creating mold. It wasn’t overly difficult to add the people door to the container. I would think you could talk to a handy person to figure out some ventilation ideas.

The main issue you will need to address is ventilation to keep moisture build up from being a problem.

[ElementFarm]

My friend in Maine has two that she uses for hay storage and misc/jump storage. In my opinion they are very ugly but also durable and effective. Hers have been in use about 15-20 years now, and still going strong.

I wouldn’t want one, just for aesthetics, but if you had some sort of screening around it, or shrubs or something, it is a convenient storage solution.

[seabreeze]

[QUOTE=jawa;8965443]

The main issue you will need to address is ventilation to keep moisture build up from being a problem.[/QUOTE]

Do you get a lot of moisture inside yours?

[seabreeze]

[QUOTE=ElementFarm;8965613]

I wouldn’t want one, just for aesthetics, but if you had some sort of screening around it, or shrubs or something, it is a convenient storage solution.[/QUOTE]

I don’t particularly like how they look, either, but for semi-temporary, durable storage on a budget, it seems like they are hard to beat. My barn is set a ways from my house, so it’s not like it would be in my back yard.

[rb5007]

Yes, I have two - one for hay and one for “junk.” As a general matter, you can normally purchase different quality containers - for hay, get the highest quality and tell them that’s what you want to use it for. Haven’t had an issue with moisture in the hay container but we situated it so we can leave the door cracked at all times. And we feed it relatively quickly so it’s not sitting in there for more than a month at a time. PM me if you would like some recommendations on suppliers.

[vxf111]

I think if painted allover in a neutral color, they’re not SO ugly.

[ladyj79]

A barn local to me in Maryland had their hay delivered in a shipping container, which was left and then switched out at each hay delivery.

The system worked for them and I don’t think they had any issues with storage/mildew/etc.

I presume the trailers were pretty well cleaned by the hay guys between loads.

[rothmpp]

I use a old shipping container to store shipping supplies for mailing - so tons of paper. Mine is sealed well - never have lost anything to moisture. We set in on cement blocks - so it sits about 12 inches above the ground. It’s definitely not the most attractive thing on the property - but we installed it behind the workshop so you can’t see it from the house. Painting it would definitely help. And with the inherent moisture in hay, you’d need to figure out the proper ventilation.

There is a thing now where they convert shipping containers into condos. There is one near where I live and you’d have to know that it used to be a shipping container to think anything other than someone got creative with the exterior siding. I was only able to find it as I had seen it on a HGTV thing so knew what I was looking for.

[Mukluk]

Invite your local college or high school art program to make a project out of it? I bet they could make it look pretty awesome and hopefully only for the cost of materials.

[Foxtail]

The paints used on shipping containers to keep them seaworthy can offgas quite nasty stuff. Depending on what you’re using it for, you should keep that in mind.

[vxf111]

Around here when people say shipping containers they mean the ones used for truck shipping, not boat shipping. I don’t know if there’s a huge functional difference but when I looked into the option these were land shipping boxes. The paint seemed like the normal paint on trucks/cars and not anything unusual.

[Angela_Freda]

Check town codes, they are not allowed in mine.

[LawsofMurph]

[QUOTE=ladyj79;8966136]
A barn local to me in Maryland had their hay delivered in a shipping container, which was left and then switched out at each hay delivery.

The system worked for them and I don’t think they had any issues with storage/mildew/etc.

I presume the trailers were pretty well cleaned by the hay guys between loads.[/QUOTE]

This is what my college did for hay delivery.

It worked out well except there was the occasional time when either the trailer was not sealed or there was some sort of damage that resulted in lots of water and moldy hay.

Their hay guy always replaced the bad stuff for free, but they had to put it aside and wait for the next hay delivery which could get a little dicey if it ended up being later than planned.