Comments on: Global Portable Buildings

By: ORGuardGuy

ORGuardGuy — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 15:25:28 +0000

Negative, Units are made to have a certain amount of weight on top, but opening them up to create doors, etc. changes the structural capabilities of the storage container, also, they can and will rust over time. Covering them in dirt would exacerbate that issue.

By: Terry

Terry — Tue, 19 Apr 2011 23:28:33 +0000

I remember, being in Iraq back in 2008, they had housing like this- nowhere near the quality, but the same idea, which is really neat.

By: Adam

Adam — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 00:12:15 +0000

Hi Tyler,

The difference between these and a single wide is about 4000-5000 pounds. An F1 level wind will destroy a single wide. A container anchored down is capable of handling 180+mph winds.

Also, in the southeast these can be moved for around $100-$150…no production considering how difficult it is to move a singlewide.

Good luck,
Adam

By: Greg

Greg — Fri, 04 Feb 2011 02:24:51 +0000

These units should be placed on the ground and then dirt piled up on top to form a mound.

Sprinkle grass seeds on the dirt and you have a hobbit house with good insulation.

In the event of a natural disaster or FEMA relocation you could haul your house to any location and the home would be able to withstand rough handling.

The furniture and appliances inside the container house can be bolted down and with the self contained water, fuel and food supply this secure home would offer mobility, security and survival.

By: Hope Henry

Hope Henry — Tue, 28 Sep 2010 20:35:12 +0000

I saw on one blogsite that they run around 2-3000 for the 20 and 40 footers, plus shipping. Don’t know what the larger ones cost, but it would make sense that they would be about 1000 more or so…

By: Hope Henry

Hope Henry — Tue, 28 Sep 2010 20:32:16 +0000

Think ceramic paint(improves insulation) and increased quality and amount of insulation on the interior…less living space, but better temperature regulation.
These make a bunker-type house available for those who have property that is far away from law enforcement and fire departments…they can also be bermed, if proper precautions are taken to do it properly.
I can see one with a lush, shaded rooftop garden (they can support so much weight), and myself drinking a nice cuppa as I enjoy the morning breeze.

By: Me'chelle

Me'chelle — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 09:43:19 +0000

Thanks for posting that comment and here I was wanting to purchase one.

I never would have known it could be so unbearable to live in one.

Which now that I look at it, seems too boxy for my taste.

By: Hal

Hal — Sat, 03 Jul 2010 21:56:22 +0000

I lived in one of these when I was deployed to Baghdad a couple years ago. It had two bedrooms and a bath (no need for a kitchen since the dining facility was within walking distance). While they do serve as easily installed and sturdy shelters, their steel structure makes them very inefficient for maintaining a comfortable temperature inside. In the summer, I had the air conditioner running all the time except when the generator went out, when it did the temperature climbed to an unbearable level within minutes. In the winter lows were often in the 30s and although I had the heat on all the time I still had to sleep with several layers of blankets, pajamas and a knit cap just to stay warm, which is saying a lot considering I normally sleep with little more than a bed sheet for covers.

These are good shelters for rapid installation, but should only be considered for short term and emergency housing, and not as a permanent dwelling. Anyone considering installing one should insure they have an adequate power source to run nearly continuous AC or heat.

By: George

George — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 04:41:35 +0000

Containerized Living Units (CLU) have been around for many years. I first saw them in the middle east in the 80′s. In 2003 they began to use CLU’s extensively in Iraq for the military, and still use them today. They are not used in Afghanistan at this time, at least not common.

They are great as you can easily haul them, or stack one on the other, they are durable, and can take much more punishment than a standard single wide.

The last one I lived in was in Baghdad, it was a 40 footer, I had a kitchen, very nice bathroom (shower no tub), room for a queen size bed, desk, shelving units, AC with heating element for colder weather, walls were finished to with paneling.

We powered them from generators, just like 99% of all CLUs in Iraq.

Once we got our “trailers” we felt we were living high on the hog. lol Sure beat the tents with dozens of bed mates.

By: Maz

Maz — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 05:51:28 +0000

G’day,
Check these guys out in Oz, that are doing the second story homes from shipping containers http://www.royalwolf.com.au/products/accommodation.aspx and these guys at Outdoors Direct do a great job in the interior department http://www.outdoordirect.com.au/relocatable_buildings.html

Cheers Maz