Ideas for Shipping Container Mini Storage Conversions

Storage facilities are a popular business model and constantly growing in need, but you don't necessarily need to rent the expensive garage if you have a little extra room. You may even be able to make a little extra money in the process. Converting a shipping container into a mini storage unit can be done inexpensively with only a few simple modifications and additions like roll up doors, custom shelving, and some basic lighting.

Roll Up Doors Roll up doors are a great feature to install on a shipping container to make it easier to use for storage. The wider doors allow trolleys to move in and out of the container with ease, making it much easier to organize the items being stored. Additionally, since the door rolls up and out of the way no space is lost inside or outside of the container as is when a man door is installed. If you'd like to generate extra revenue, add extra roll up doors to the side and install a partition between them so you can rent out the other units.

Custom Container Shelving / Pipe Racks Keeping items off the floor means more storage space and better organization. Items on the floor eventually have more things piled on top of them over time, rendering them inaccessible and often forgotten about over time. Hanging container shelving from the D rings instantly adds more space that is strong enough to hold just about anything you can fit on it. Alternatively, if pipes or similar cylindrical items stored on the floor it won't take much to step on them and twist an ankle. Pipe racks help to keep this from happening.

Basic Lighting

As the storage unit fills up, you'll quickly find that the back of the unit will get very dark. A flashlight is the easiest solution, however it's hard to hold a flashlight when you're searching through a box. The cheapest and lowest maintenance solution is to install some type of skylight. Heavy duty yellow PVC works great as it allows ample light in, while not allowing thieves to look into the storage unit and see if there's anything they'd like to steal. If you need something with stronger lighting that can also be used at night, fluorescent tube lighting is highly efficient and very low maintenance. Keep in mind to do this you'll need some type of access to power.

These three ideas are just a starting point for converting a shipping container into an affordable mini storage unit, and it's easy to build out from these ideas. ContainerAuction.com supplies new and used shipping containers throughout the United States and other parts of the world, and its affiliate company ContainerLockBox.com can provide shipping container shelving, pipe racks, and other custom features built to meet your specific needs. To learn more about shipping containers for sale in your area just search the map to type in your specific location to see what's available or inquire about having a container delivered to you.