Idea for a Shop?

[ryry278]

Hey guys so I am looking for a shop, well my family and I are looking for a shop to build. I am 20 and still in college so i am staying at home for a bit since we got 5 acres in the city which is perfect for all the equipment and no payments. Anyways we have been planning on building a pole barn with a partly enclosed section, but the cost is very big. So our idea was to get a used cargo container or back of a box truck. We can get one for almost free from a friend who owns a metal recycling center. Our idea is to really organize it and put most of the tools and shop stuff towards the back then have an open front so i can just pull in the mowers to work on. I am getting an enclosed trailer so it will house all my mowers and trimmers, but for the household stuff and to do work i thought this might be a good idea? any thoughts or anyone done this? WE would also build a lean to the side to house my landscape trailer and tractor we are getting. We would also run lights and electricity and some kind of air and heat to it so we can work year round?

[P.Services]

sounds like it will be cramped to say the least.

cheack out mortonbuildings.com

[ryry278]

Those are some awsome looking shops, but main thing is money. When i move out i plan on building a huge shop, but this was a pretty much free shop for my family and I and when i leave they can use it for what they need.

[Jay Ray]

Seems like materials are sky high and if the box will work for you instead of big bucks for a pole barn I think you answered your own question.

[ryry278]

Yea i was mainly just wondering if anyone has done this or seen it done? I think with some work it could be pretty nice and user friendly atleast for the price

[STIHL GUY]

seems like a good plan

[GravelyNut]

Get two of the containers. Put them side by side with the door ends pointing opposite directions and level. Weld the tops and ends together to form a watertight junction. Cut the sides that are together out as needed. They do it down here all the time and sometimes only put a membrane over the joint to keep out the weather. Just don't get too cut happy as you do need the strenght of the sides to hold up what becomes the center of the roof.

[ryry278]

Thanks gravely for the info. I have seen some people on tv one time actually buy these and make them into houses. A little extreme for me but seems like this might work great. I guess i will just have to wait and see what i get from the guy since it will be cheap if not free.

[TOOMUCHWALKING]

Maybe you could find some salvage lumber from guys who knock down garages ?. It would only cost you 4-5 thousand to build a two car garage. That gives adequate room to work. Remember that your containers are metal and are going to absorb a **** ton of heat in the summer.

[triadpm]

I know a guy who took two containers and placed them about ten feet apart. He put a roof over the opening then closed in the ends and put a large door in one end. He has a door cut in the sides of both where he stores parts and whatever. Does the majority of his work in between.

[SILVERSTREAK INC]

yeah i always wanted to stack two on top of each other, then stack another 2 across the back and another two about 18' apart, make for a pretty huge garage enough for the triaxle , i have steel roof joists that are 28' to go over top, then its just a deck, isoboard and rubber roofing

also thought about doing it with concrete bin blocks, which i could get for free awhile backm but dont know how sturdy theyd be stacked 15' high