How to Purchase the Right Secondhand Shipping Container

If you are facing shipping large items or a large quantity of items, then you may be considering buying a secondhand shipping container. Though there are many used containers available, you may not know the key points that can help find the best options. Here are a few of the tips and tricks that can help you find the right secondhand shipping container that not only fits your needs but fits your budget and your quality needs as well.

Sunlight Can Help

You may not think that sunlight would be on your side when you are choosing a secondhand shipping container. The truth is, sunlight can actually benefit you a great deal. The trick is to walk into the shipping container and look for any spot you can see sunlight showing through. If sunlight shows through, then the elements can get into the container as well.

Elements like cold temperatures, wind, rain, snow, and ice can damage your goods and make the safety of a shipping container useless. If the container company will not let you step inside the container, consider a different company that will.

Check the Hinges

You may know to look for spaces or cracks in the foundation of the shipping container, but an area you may overlook is the hinges. Make sure you check the door hinges and any area where the container is welded together. You are looking for rust, metal breakdown, or any hinges that don't seem to work properly. This can lead to the storage container breaking apart under weight or the doors having issues with opening or staying locked.

Give a Bounce

The flooring is very important when you are buying a secondhand shipping container. If the floor is not solid or has weak points, it may cause problems with your shipment. These problems include allowing weather conditions to access your items or even the floor falling out if the shipping container is moved from one location to the other.

When you walk into the container to check it out, give a small bounce in areas to see if you can feel a weakness in the flooring. You don't have to jump up and down to feel the weakness. If there are too many weak spots or if the weak spot feels like it may give way with your weight alone, then the flooring may be below your quality level desires.

These are just three of the things to check when you are considering buying a secondhand shipping container. Make sure to also check your contract when you buy, any warranties, and for anything that the company says they will do prior to you picking up the container.

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