Another reason to insulate them.....we didn't and one cold evening after cooking and heating with a propane heater the ceiling became heavily coated with condensation. I am talking it was literally raining on us. Had to mop the ceiling before going to bed.


Tbar

like this one?

Shipping Container Home - Imgur Album

Great advice above....

to recap my experience...

1. you must cut another door for safety and the locking doors in the wind thing, yes a long shot but you are screwed in a fire.

2. A flux core or MIG welder is best...dont stick weld them.

3. The weigh a lot, about 6000 lbs for a 40 foot one and thats with minimal outfitting. Moving is not trivial.

4. My design includes a mud room on the big door end. I build a wall several feet inside and put a door in that wall. Then we pin the steel doors back all weekend. The mud room is where we lock up the generator and anything else we leave there including a ATV.

5. Seal up the gap underneath from snakes etc.

6. Dont go crazy with insulation, say R5 is plenty. It is a small space and heating it up is easy. More insulation than that is a waste.

7. They are sucure if you put plates or bars on the windows while away. This is a big issue in South Texas. I perfer plates on windows and bars over doors.

8. Twenty foot units are fine for a kids rooms or storage but its a waste of time as a cabin unless you are solo or you and missus...

9. I like flourescent lights, since they are cool...not generating a lot of heat.

10. One window unit in each end seems to do the trick. Size depends on where you are....bigger in far south texas or smaller in far west...

11. cost to finish out is in the eye of the beholder. some guys spend weeks in one notch better than cardboard shacks and are happy. Some want a sofa and sat dish. You can do anything to a container.

12. buy a 40 foot if primary quarters and get the tall one, for the extra foot of head room. Well worth it.

whats the total price tag not counting furnishing's?