How Make Shipping Container Doors Open Easier

Shipping container doors move the best when the container is sitting level. However, sometimes containers can fall out of alignment and this can be caused by any number of reasons. The two most common reasons are the ground under the container settling over time, or the container could be loaded the distributed unevenly.

How do I tell if my storage container is out of alignment?

Checking if your container is out of alignment is really easy. With the doors closed check the corners of (the seams or gaskets) and see if they line up. If the corners don’t line up, the container has settled and needs to be leveled up.

How do I level a shipping container?

It’s easier than you might think to level up a shipping container. An uneven container can be fixed by wedging the low side of the container up with anything solid enough to support the weight of the container. The easiest way to do this is with a forklift, but if you don’t have one at your location you may need to lift up the corner of the container either with a jack, or by applying some type of leverage.

If they do line up, the container is probably square and you’ll need to investigate other reasons that the doors may not be moving freely. The obvious culprit could be corrosion on the cams or rods, which can happen if the container doors haven’t been opened in a long period of time. The best attempt at correcting this problem is scrubbing with a wire brush and white vinegar, then a liberal application of a lubricant like WD-40 or grease.

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