Shipping Container Cabin?

[mixedgasdiver]

I've searched and searched, but found nothing in this forum about persons using shipping containers as cabins. Anyone try it?

While searching for "small cabin designs" and the like in Google, I ran across the Wee House.

http://www.weehouses.com/projects/weehouse.htm

I thought it looked remarkably like a shipping container so I started searching and came up with this and many, many more.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UvcUe_yPHdg&mode=related&search=

This prompted a call to the Port of Tacoma (near my house) and I ended up going to thier storage yard today to take a look. 30' containers were selling for 1,000 and if you were willing to buy two or more you got a discount. I'm thinking a few things:
    1. They're portable to many people may be able to get around the permitting process
    2. You can have it delivered to your house and remodel it there in your back yard. Thus saving
        hundreds of dollars in expensive fuel and lost man hours in driving to your remote hideaway.
    3. Add a shed style roof that over hangs a porch with some nice size timber and you may really
        have something that looks cool! Transport all this in your container.
    4. You're being earth friendly all at the same time!

Your thoughts please!

Rob

[MountainDon]

Using a shipping container as the basis for a cabin had occurred to me a while back. I guess it would depend on being able to get the transport truck up the backwoods road. My wife looked at me as if I were crazy.  :-/

[mixedgasdiver]

I thought about that just after I posted this... What if you were to have it delivered as close as you could get it. Then jack it up and stick some sort of a pre-fabricated axle and tongue on it? My place is REMOTE, but I could easily tow a 20' trailer there with my truck. Esp since I wouldn't be worried about it bouncing around a little.

I'm just trying to think outside the box here...

From what I looked at today, for 2G I could have 480 sqft of living area. I was quoted 100 a piece to take them from the yard to my house a few miles away, and 500 to get them into the zip code that my property is in. For me, this cost could easily be recovered by not paying engineering fees, etc. Not to mention that every time I go over there it's a hundred bucks in fuel and 6 hours round trip. I could remodel in my back yard at my leisure...

[raybob]

About all you need to know.

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2005/01/shipping_contai.php

There are commercial containers available, already fitted for remote crew housing.  They sandblast standard containers, run them through a giant tank of charged paint, cut doors, install insulation, mount a galley kitchen, RV toilet and shower, a bunch of bunk beds, and a very small sofa.  Just like a submarine.  I looked at these last year (doing it on my own), but am not a good enough welder to cut and fit a door.  Sorry, don't have a link, but Google will probably give you one for "remote crew container" or something.

And you are right, there are stacks of them everywhere.  A friend bought a 40 footer just to store his toys in behind his house for $2000 delivered.

Bob

[peter nap]

I have a 40 footer that I keep ATV's in and some tools. I thought about using a couple to make a nice sized cabin and since they are stackable, a second story. My wife settled the question!

If you do it. be aware that there is a lot of condensation inside, so vent it.

I had a friend who was a gunsmith. He made his shop by placing 2 40 footers side by side and 20 feet apart. He put a truss roof over the openspace, poured a concrete slab and added framing and siding.

Gave him a 32' by 40' building with 3 very large rooms. Cost him about 7,000.00 total.

[desdawg]

I suppose it is doable. Difficult to insulate, wire and plumb. If you frame interior walls you lose some of that precious 8' space. I have seen threads concerning this before. If you purchase the one called the "high cube" it is 9' high rather than 8' which would open up some options using a dropped ceiling. The park model mobile home that I bought cost me $3500 and already had everything I needed including a frame, axles and tires. So it proved to be the best option. for me. The trick was getting it there up that steep hill. But we got it done. I currently have four containers and they make great storage. Very secure and with a little paint they look good. A 20 footer weighs in at about 10,000 lbs empty and once it is on the ground I can drag it around with my backhoe. A 40 footer is another story.

[raybob]

Found it.

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

Bob

[rdpecken]

Over on the TractorbyNet Forum (one of my two favorite forums!), there is a 14 page thread in which a man builds a small home from a storage container.  It starts out as a barn, but ends up as a home. The builder is EddieWalker, and he has many great projects to watch. I don't remember if you need to register to read the posts, but I don't think so.  If you do need to register, just log onto http://www.tractorbynet.com/ and do so.  It's worth the trip.
Here is the link to the container project...
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/projects/33401-my-container-barn.html

Enjoy... Randy P.

[Sassy]

I read through the container barn thread - very nice!  Interesting that he is going to build a conventional stick house... enjoyed reading through the thread, though - lots of great pix & ideas.  

[ellery]

 Might be worth looking at

http://www.johnlsayers.com/Studio/Mainpage/MP-Mark.htm

Ellery

[glenn kangiser]

We had a thread here on this a long time ago.  I'll see if I can find it.

[glenn kangiser]

In the old forum -- Didn't make the trip here I guess.

Here it is.

http://countryplans.com/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi?board=01;action=display;num=1118466660;start=

Come back here to comment as we don't monitor the old forum anymore.

[desdawg]

It is an interesting concept made more so by the fact that we never seem to have enough time on our recreational properties to do everything using the tried and true methods. I have found that using alternate methods and materials usually winds up being more time consuming than anything else.

[Ailsa C. Ek]

Never seen a good explanation on how you'd insulate one of those things, and considering how many news stories one reads every year about animals and children dying of being locked in cars, I think I'll pass on closing myself into a shipping container.

[MountainDon]

I've been thinking about this some more. Like Desdawg stated using one of these as a basis to "build" on will probably result in much more time and effort while at the same time being less than ideal. I've been down that road a few times. Sometimes been satisfied and others wonder what got into me.

I think one of these would make a good just about as secure as you can build storage building for all the big boy toys and tools. A modular like Desdawg used sounds like a great way to haul a pre-built cabin/home onto the land.

[glenn kangiser]

Here's a new one -- I think--

http://www.boingboing.net/2007/10/13/shipping-containers.html

the link referred to

http://nielsenhayden.com/makinglight/archives/009454.html#009454

[NELSELGNE]

http://toolmonger.com/2007/10/18/shipping-containers-your-next-workshop/#more-7606

I found this on http://www.toolmonger.com/

Lots of other information on this "TOOL BLOG."

[Redoverfarm]

I like the idea of the containers. Wish I wasn't 250 miles from a port. I would have more in the transportation than the cost of the units.  One could easily sandwich two together, firing strip for wiring and ridgid foam. Cut a door to connect the two as a bedroom and bath and leave the front one as living and kitchen.  Plumbing and wiring up through a slab to access both bath and kitchen on opposing walls.  Cut opening for windows and rear door, cover both with a regular truss roof and lap siding.  Even a small crane to set would be a cheap way for a small cabin.

[Pritch]

What a strange thread for me to finally jump from my comfortable lurking post!  

I like the idea of having a shipping container to use for temporary shelter or tool storage during construction.  They might also make a good battery/generator building, but they're just SO ugly!  

A huge part of the appeal of building a cabin is the asthetics.  My dream has always to build a small hand-hewn log cabin.  

mixedgasdiver, I read your other thread about not having legal access to your hunting property.  As a Washington resident, I feel your pain!  

[glenn kangiser]

Welcome, Pritch.  

I would suggest painting it light yellow then grabbing a handful of paint brushes and acrylics of many bright colors and painting a nice flowery mural on it.

...or not.

[MountainDon]

.... a 60's hippy shipping container.  :-/