I’m interested in using one of these shipping containers as underground storage and storm cellar. Does anyone know sources & locations that sell used ones and cost range?
They should be cheap.
They come here full of Chinese crap, but there’s nothing to send back.
So they sit, idle and empty.
If you are near a major port, like just about anywhere in NJ, or Philadelphia, or LA, there will be people that are selling them.
Prices range from about $1000-1500 on up, plus delivery charges.
They are usually graded for condition in some fashion. Note that you want to buy the ones that are no longer good enough to meet the tough marine standards - they will still be serviceable for other duty, just not good enough to bear up under tough sea conditions.
Any place that has a container shipping dock will have a place that sell these. Most areas have dealers/resalers that buy them from the docks transport them and resale the containers.
I bought a 40 foot delivered 150 miles from the ship docks for(IIRC) $2400...
There are also depots inland as these are loaded off ship and onto trains.
There are basically two grades for sale, one ways that are new and sold after one trip and condemed which have been patched & repaired, made several trips and are deemed unable or hard to seal (they are almost air/water tight when new).
The roof is NOT strong. Do NOT bury one and expect it to withstand any amount of pressure. They are strong only at the corners and edges.
These containers are readily available in most areas. People use them for temporary storage, for construction storage and actual moving their own goods. They cost about $3,000 around here. There is such a surplus of these containers because it doesn’t pay for the shipping companies to send them back empty.