When you need to move a container across town, you’re going to need a trailer or chassis meant for shipping containers to hold it. Moving a shipping container across your city Even if your container is rollable, it still weighs thousands of pounds! You could buy them, or if you’re handy with metalwork and automotive parts, you could potentially make some yourself.Īll of these moving options assume you have a large truck, tractor, etc that could actually pull a container. We’ve covered some of these wheel brackets in our article on shipping container attachments. If you need to turn the container, you can put two wheels on one end and pick the other end up with a large piece of construction equipment like a bulldozer or tractor. If you only need to move the container in a straight line, putting wheels on all four corners will work great. One step better is attaching special brackets to corner castings that let you mount car wheels to your container. But it will be very difficult to turn the container, and you’ll have to continually move the back pole to the front as the container progresses. Depending on the condition of your yard, this might work. If you’re feeling really bold, you might try rolling it across wooden or metal poles. Instead, you should jack up the storage container and put it on top of something so it can roll. But that’s absolutely going to tear up your yard and create a lot more stress on the towing vehicle as well. If a container is empty, you might be able to drag it across the ground. We aren’t talking about something you can just push with your hands. However, remember that even an empty 20 ft container weighs over 5,000 pounds. And depending on what equipment you have on hand, you may be right. Many people like to think this is something they can do themselves. If you’re just moving a container a few hundred feet, it can quickly seem like overkill to pay someone to come out with a bunch of heavy equipment and spend just a few minutes on the task. Moving a shipping container across your property Let’s cover the options, from shortest to longest. Depending on how far it’s going, you’ll need different equipment and different sources of assistance. But when it comes to moving a shipping container, the distance of the move is usually the most important factor affecting overall cost. Obviously the weight of the goods in your containers (if any) and the container sizes you need to move are important factors. Moving a Container: The Distance Makes the Difference
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We’re here to simplify it as much as possible and discuss what needs to happen from end to end. We’ll look at factors to consider with a container move, rough ideas of cost, how to prepare your containers for moving, and even some alternatives to using containers if your requirements allow. There’s a complex web of people, systems, and infrastructure at work, and getting all of the pieces in sync to coordinate a container movement is no simple task. The challenge of moving something as mammoth as a shipping container is exponentially more difficult than mailing a small package. Many of us are used to clicking a button online and having a package show up the next day, but moving a large, heavy shipping container is much different. And whether you have a container leaving or coming into your property, you’ll need to think through things like maneuver clearance, overhead obstructions, equipment selection, etc. Unless you happen to own a heavy equipment business, odds are high that you’re going to need to pay someone to help you with moving your shipping container.Įven if you’ve already purchased a shipping container, the company that sold it to you may not be able to help with all of the steps required. Not to mention, the complex process of loading and offloading. Figuring out the logistics of getting a shipping container delivered to your home, business, or project site can be challenging.