Cargo Container for long term auto storage in Houston, thoughts?

[Al Kal]

I'm looking to buy a cargo container to use as car storage here in Houston , 20 or 40 ft.
It will probably be stored for 340 out of 365 days a year.
My concern would be the high heat and humidity during the summer months.

Any suggestions on what to look for when buying a container (standard vs refrigerated)? Any tips on keeping it relatively cool during the summer months?

I was told adding air vents similar to the this (http://www.containersforsale.co.uk/conversion/32VENTSFITTED.jpg) on the top would help with air circulation. I was thinking possibly 3 vents on each side and 2 on the back (all placed near the top of the container). I was also considering installing a metal panel cover, sitting about a foot above the container to help with the heat.

Will these 2 items help? Should I look into getting the electric fans? I do have access to electricity on the property and plan to leave the car on trickle charger.

Any thoughts or suggestions appreciated.

 

[930dreamer]

In Houston, TX I'm guessing the container would be a sauna in the summer.

 

[frugalscotty]

In Houston, TX I'm guessing the container would be a sauna in the summer.

Beyond sauna, I would say pizza oven. IMHO I don't think any combination of vents or fans will keep the contents of such a container from completely baking. A panel cover to keep the sun off would probably help along with painting it white. Hard to say if that would be enough.

Honestly, I wouldn't want a vehicle I cared about subjected to that much heat.

 

[930dreamer]

I'd look at renting a climate controlled auto storage space. What kind of vehicle are we talking about?

 

[rsanter]

Install vents top and bottom of the walls to allow natural convection currents.
Other than that keep the sun off the container.
I would build a second roof over the container with a gap of a foot or so. That way the sun hits the upper roof and heats the air under that which will escape easily.

Paint the whole container white

Bob

 

[DTE]

I am in NC and have a 48ft containner that I've owned for 15 yrs. I have never had any condensation issues, no surface rust or mold issues on stored items. I have ramps and have kept 2 cars at the time for a year or longer. There are no ents at all that I now of , but yeah it is hot during the summer. But to me it is the best shelter for the money.

 

[hippie2cams]

Humidity is going to be a killer here in Houston. I like the vent idea with the seperate roof over the top for an air gap insulation, let the container breathe. but like some asked what kind of car if high dollar climate controlled storage would be a lot better

 

[PCO6]

Just do what this guy did ...

 

[Al Kal]

Thanks for the responses. The car is an older hummer h2. Rsanter if I do paint, vent and install a roof cover, will it help substantially in humid areas? I am even considering making small windows and leave them open for better ventilation.

I found this on the web, which was helpful:

Like a properly functioning roof system on your home, your shipping container should be vented in order to keep the interior healthy from mold and the contents dry. You can install fancy automatic vents or vents with solar powered fans or just simple vents, it doesn’t matter. In this situation, placement is more critical than style. A single vent is not going to help; you need multiple vents to create an air flow through the container in order to remove the humid air. Some have cut standard roof vents into their container roof and this works well, but I prefer to minimize future leak potentials by minimizing roof penetration so I like to place them high on the side walls. At the bare minimum, you should install four vents on the side walls about 4’ from the corners up near the roof with another set of vents on the middle of the side walls on 40’ containers. While not perfect it will move some air and limit some condensation.

As air warms, it rises so the best fix is to use this convection by installing vents on all four container sides on the side walls down by the floor and up by the roof (and an extra set on the middle of the side wall on 40’s) creating an air flow through the entire container.

http://containers4sale.com/2013/10/...the-to-keep-the-air-and-contents-inside-safe/

 

[Hornman]

I just moved from Houston after living there for ten years, so I know the rules to this game. If it was my shipping container and I was storing a vehicle I cared about, I would install a 3 ton air conditioner to control the heat AND the humidity. If that is not an option, then put a row of vents along both sides about two feet off the ground shielded from the rain. Then put a row of turbine vents down the middle of the top. In Houston it's not a question of IF you have mold, but where it is and how bad it is.

 

[rsanter]

One issue of humidity is temp astute change so,if,you can reduce the range of tempature it will see that will help
Also you can install fans to move the air in the container anD one that will exchange air from outside to inside.
If you do that you will be making the conditions similar to if you left it in a carport or garage as far as the humidity goes

Also, do not be afraid to spray a little light weight oil on things that you don't want to rust. The light oil will come off with a pressure washer

Bob

 

[Al Kal]

The only purpose of this container is to protect it from the low income area it will be in. It will be on a property where many people live, there are cameras and I have a maintenance guy that lives 30 seconds from where the container will be. But it is a mid crime area. If I leave it outside I would suspect rims and stereo would be stolen within a few months.

I will put an aluminum roof one foot over the container and im willing to butcher the thing with as many small windows, vents,etc. to keep the thing from deteriorating (small enough no one can climb through).

Would this be enough, any suggestions?

 

[Playwme]

They'll probably steal the aluminium from the roof. My other thought is that a big strong shipping container may shout out "valuable items" in that area. It's not that hard to get into if someone really wants to.

Also, will a H2 fit?

I've got a 20 footer in my backyard. I'm not anywhere nearly as hot as Texas but it gets pretty warm in there.

 

[bigdav160]

We've purchased several shipping containers at work. Now, all have rust holes in the roof. Some as large as a frisbee. I wouldn't do it.

 

[Beemer533]

With the amount of time, effort and cash to store the H2 using a container, why not just rent a space in a storage unit? You wouldn't need to worry about security or anything else...

Is this going to be for the foreseeable future? If you are set on storing it yourself, I would line the inside with 1" foam, install a mini split A/C (only need a small hole, so if someone rips it out, they can't crawl in unlike a window unit), paint the whole thing white and put up that solar shield.

I wouldn't use AL for the roof though, I would just use big box tin roofing in white...

 

[Al Kal]

We currently have a 40ft container (filled with tools) we have had no issues with theft in the past and I meant to say sheet metal for the roof, not aluminum. As far as the self storage option, it would not be cost effective/convenient at all for me, that is why I am trying to find some solution for on site storage. The car will be left there indefinitely and paying $100 a month for storage wouldn't be an option. Here is a vid where an H2 will fit in a container, its a super tight fit but I only plan on taking it out 3-4 times a year:

I would rather spend a few thousand and get a secure garage for it on my property.
My current vehicle (old beater) sits outside under one of these sheet metal roofs for year on end and I don't have any issues with it from the heat.

AC would be a PIA for my maintenance guy to constantly monitor, I was hoping it was something I can just throw in the container put some vents in it and forget about it but that doesnt seem to be the case.

I guess another option would be to putting it back to stock (removing rims, tires, stereo) and putting a car cover on it. No one would really mess with it and this might be the cheapest/easiest solution.

Edit: I just saw this on CL. Maybe installing a regular storage unit with a roll up garage and having ADT extend the alarm system from my house into it might be an option.

Will figure this out, one way or the other.


Thanks for all the responses.

 

[rsanter]

The only purpose of this container is to protect it from the low income area it will be in. It will be on a property where many people live, there are cameras and I have a maintenance guy that lives 30 seconds from where the container will be. But it is a mid crime area. If I leave it outside I would suspect rims and stereo would be stolen within a few months.

I will put an aluminum roof one foot over the container and im willing to butcher the thing with as many small windows, vents,etc. to keep the thing from deteriorating (small enough no one can climb through).

Would this be enough, any suggestions?

Yes I think that will do most of what you want out of the project. It will still get warm in there but all those things will keep the tempature down.
If you want you can even use one of those free standing shade covers for parking like you showed verses building your own.
Anything you do to keep direct sun off the container will help a lot to keep the tempature down

Bob

 

[motofool33]

You could put RV Fantastic fan vents that are temp and moisture sensitive, cheap and cost effective. For instance if it rains mine close. If it gets to hot they open and kick in the fan to remove Heat. they are abut 150$ and work awesome. 2 or 3 would be sufficient to keep temps into reasonable areas.

another idea is put a Window A/C unit on the back side of the container they are cheap.

 

[TexasK5]

I have a storage container in Texas near the panhandle that I use to store a tractor and a small utility vehicle. That area gets temperatures well over 100 in the summer, but the humidity is generally low. I have had no issues with heat inside the container being an issue. In fact, whenever I first arrive and open the container when it is very hot outside, the interior is cooler than the ambient outdoor temperature. The container is 53' and only has the tiny vents (maybe 2" round with screen) that I believe are standard for most containers. I would not install any larger vents because they would provide easier access for vandals (or critters in my case).

 

[DodgeMech]

What part of town you putting it in? Moving a ways past the loop into like Katy or Crosby or Stafford should help with the crime issues

 

[Bogey won]

pics of the car please.

 

[Bogey won]

Still no pics, probably fainted from the heat

102 degrees North Texas till next weekend, then what ? probably get to 104 week after maybe ?, glad you moved to Texas ? Price of property in Santa Fe and Taos will continue to be high, cause the Texans that can, go and hide out, just like the Comanches did in the pala duro canyon. Even they couldn't stand it, and they were true preppers. **** its hot.

New rumor, hells freezing over, Texas not so much.

 

[over40pirate]

I would think of getting a container that was a reefer. A relative in CA has 3-4 containers and recommends the reefer ones. Much cooler.
Reefer Madness!

 

[Bogey won]

Default Re: Cargo Container for long term auto storage in Houston, thoughts?
I would think of getting a container that was a reefer. A relative in CA has 3-4 containers and recommends the reefer ones. Much cooler.
Reefer Madness!


I wonder if that reefer would reflect the infra red from the choppers that scan your property for a lab or for weed ? Without a warrant of course.

They busted a buried boxcar here once, that was cooking underground. No reefer i guess.

 

[Al Kal]

Well after much deliberation a shipping container would not be a good match for my needs. I have decided to go with a traditional metal building and hook it up to my ADT alarm.

From a brief search I was told to have the panels riveted in and the interior lined by plywood to prevent break ins. Everything should roughly cost about $3,000 which is more a less a container delivered with mods would have cost.

Thanks again for the all the responses.

 

[Beemer533]

That should work out better, I think..

What type of building for that price range?

 

[Al Kal]

Similar to this one but without the car port.

 

[SALIV8]

2 of my buddies have a 20' shipping cargo container in s/w michigan under a bunch of trees. It gets warm in summer but not all that bad. Since they're container is not vented at all, I figured they would get moisture issues, rot, bugs, etc.

2 summers and winters later their stuff is not rusting, no blatant moisture issues, and no problems that I know of. They store 4 quads, a dirt bike, a dual sport bike, a kids dirt bike, tools, chainsaw, etc. they even store their gasoline in there.

I'm impressed and was a non believer at first. They have a good condition container that has perfect condition rubber weatherstripping on the double doors, and it has a wood floor. Def get one you'll be happy. Inexpensive and secure.

 

[over40pirate]

How are you going to deal with condensation? = Rust

 

[Al Kal]

I dont think that should be an issue, maybe add a few vents?

 

[Al Kal]

Bump on this thread. I looked at a container and it was not a match. I looked into the metal building option and it was about $4,000, I had to wait several weeks for it and give a hefty deposit to some random company (which I wasnt comfortable with).

We already had a metal panel roof held up by 6 poles where I currently parked. I decided to go the cheap route and put an 8ft commerical grade fence around it, 10 ft gate and wrap it with the black mesh tarp you can buy online (8x50 ft, $50 shipped). It worked out well. Even if you come up close and try to look through the mesh you can barely see a silhouette.

The materials cost roughly $1,000 and so far it worked out well for my needs. I do have cameras on site, motion sensor lighting and other precautions. The beauty of it is that I can take it down within a few hours or can expand very easily.

Thanks for all the advice.