Buried Shipping Container as a Root Cellar

[Tofu]

As I was looking at those photos from Utah Shelters I began to wonder if they got their inspiration from a WWII submarine?

[Klayton]

LOL Tofu!

Did you see the prices? YOUCH!!!

[Tofu]

I didn't look at the prices, but then again all of these ideas are nice, but they are all cost prohibitive.

[Mikeg175]

How secure are these containers ? I was thinking of ordering one and setting it on a slab and then maybe framing around it to conceal it ( make it look like a shed ) . I know they are metal , but would they be safe enough to toss a few atvs and other items in one and make it hard work for someone to open , kind of like a huge safe deposit box . I know they arent a safe , but I would think it would be enough to deter all but the most determined thief . Most thieves are lazy and if it would require torching or something major , it might be a decent , safe way to store items while away ..

[Klayton]

@Mikeg175: might be much more practical just to hire a house sitter?? :)

[Monel]

I think they are more secure than most homes. Just look at how many business use them for storing extra merchandice. I have been thinking of putting one at my property in the country. The biggest draw back that I see is that it would get quite hot inside in the summer.

[Klayton]

@Monel: just put up some camo over it. Will cut down greatly on the radiated heat absorbed from that big yellow ball. :)

[Mikeg175]

It would be easy to frame around it , put a set of swinging doors , so can open both , and then when I make the move full time , can drag it out and have use of both storage facilities . I was just hoping would be a secure enough storage to keep the local idiots out , while Im away .

[jmsneorrcom]

There was a Mythbusters recently on TV - they buried a shipping container to stimulate Hitlers underground bunker and it collapsed from the weight of the dirt put on top of it

[Monel]

@Monel: just put up some camo over it. Will cut down greatly on the radiated heat absorbed from that big yellow ball. :)

That would help but the netting would last onle a season. Putting a roof and sides over it would be better but then you may as well just build a shed and be done with it.

[Klayton]

@Monel: not sure how you think only one year. We have a permanent EFMB training site in Germany, with a perfect roof of camo nets posted at a 10foot heigth over everything in the command area. Net has beenup for atleast 5 years that I know of when I left Germany, not sure if the same net is still up however... But again, it was a permanent site, and the camo never was broken down (minus when the weather knocked it down)...

@jmsneorrcom: i put very little faith into mythbusters, but as for Hitler's bunker, been there done that, the US Army controlled the Eagle's Nest and the site directly below it, I believe it was called Burgess Gardens... The bunker below the Gardens had a hidden entrance near the cafeteria of the hotel, you had to have seen it, the place was HUGE! They still had the submarine diesel engine down there that they converted to a massive generator, tour guide said it was still functional (??) ... Unfortunately, the US Army returned the property rights to Germany in the 90s, and the first thing that the Germans did was LEVEL IT!!! Yep, thats right if we bury our history it never happened... small minded people...

[Monel]

I was really just guessing. Most fabrics dont last too long exposed to sun and weather. I will have to see if i can find some for sale.

[SuperCubes]

Like the previous posters, this is a great idea! However, I would recommend using a steel shipping container, not an aluminum one. All international shipping containers are made of corten steel and come in 20', 40', 45' and 48'. Aluminum ones are only used domestically - primarily by the rail - and are only in 45', 48' and 53' long. The reason I say go with steel is that it is stronger, but more importantly the construction is way better. The aluminum ones are like van trailers, riveted together to plywood on the inside. The steel ones can handle much more abuse before they have issues. All you need to do is pop one rivet on an aluminum one and you'll have water problems.

As for the support issues, it really depends on where you are and how you plan on burying it. I posted some ideas, including a video of a guy burying on, on my blog: http://www.supercubes.com/blog/2010/...storm-shelter/

[runtothehills]

Anyone seen the movie, RED? love his bunker! , gotta go thru the hood of a old crappy car. I would perfer a old stump or big fake rock to hide the entrance.

[Benn Gleck]

@Monel: not sure how you think only one year. We have a permanent EFMB training site in Germany, with a perfect roof of camo nets posted at a 10foot heigth over everything in the command area. Net has beenup for atleast 5 years that I know of when I left Germany, not sure if the same net is still up however... But again, it was a permanent site, and the camo never was broken down (minus when the weather knocked it down)...

@jmsneorrcom: i put very little faith into mythbusters, but as for Hitler's bunker, been there done that, the US Army controlled the Eagle's Nest and the site directly below it, I believe it was called Burgess Gardens... The bunker below the Gardens had a hidden entrance near the cafeteria of the hotel, you had to have seen it, the place was HUGE! They still had the submarine diesel engine down there that they converted to a massive generator, tour guide said it was still functional (??) ... Unfortunately, the US Army returned the property rights to Germany in the 90s, and the first thing that the Germans did was LEVEL IT!!! Yep, thats right if we bury our history it never happened... small minded people...

It was Berchtesgaden. ;)