What You Need to Look for Before Buying Used Shipping Containers

You’re considering buying used shipping containers but you’d like to make sure they’re reliable enough.

On the one hand, the shipping container cost will be lower. On the other hand, it’s natural to be concerned about potential safety issues.

This is why it’s important to know how to distinguish mere cosmetic damage from risky structural problems. Read this article to learn about what to look for when purchasing a used shipping container.

Structural Integrity of the Used Shipping Container for Sale

Naturally, when you buy a used shipping container, you don’t want it to fall apart. You’ll need to inspect the container to check for any structural issues.

These issues might consist of dents to essential structural components such as the frame. Look at the used container’s overall shape, which should be orthogonal as much as possible.

You should also examine the locking bars. These bars have an important role in helping stabilize the container. They don’t need to be in perfect condition, but they should be stable enough.

Lastly, the undercarriage should be in good shape. To check for issues with it, take a look at the floor inside, which shouldn’t be uneven.

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The Seal

If you want to buy shipping containers, another important thing to check is how well the container’s doors shut.

While cargo doors can be heavy, you shouldn’t encounter issues opening and closing them. Any excess difficulty in doing so might indicate problems with the frame or hinges.

Additionally, these problems might create gaps under the door, which is bound to compromise your shipment’s integrity.

Dents

While most containers will have some dents, they don’t present a safety hazard. As long as they don’t compromise the container’s overall shape, its structural integrity should be preserved.

However, you should pay attention to potential dents on the roof. They can cause water to pool and eventually rust through.

Rust

Rust is usually harmless and a bit of it is to be expected. It is possible to clean it if you have cosmetic concerns, but it takes a fair amount of work.

Rust can however pose a problem in the case of cancerous rust. Cancerous rust doesn’t simply affect the exterior of the container, it eats into the steel. You can recognize it as it creates lumps under the paint.

A shipping container with cancerous rust is most likely defective. Thankfully, it remains rare.

Used Shipping Container Sizes

There can be slight differences in the dimensions of containers. One-trip containers and used containers have different specs. After all, they fulfill different roles.

If you want to stack containers, however, you should make sure to examine the manufacturer’s specs.

Examine the Containers

It’s important to examine a used shipping container before purchasing it. You should make sure that it doesn’t have significant structural damages that would compromise its function.

For this, you should check the frame and make sure it can be sealed properly. Dents and rust aren’t usually an issue, except if you notice dents in the structure or cancerous rust.

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