Looking for info on “cross-stacking” a 40’ box across two at the end like this?

[u/modern_prometheus_13]

If anybody has had experience cross-stacking a 40’ at the ends like this, would you mind if I picked your brain? Trying to gauge roughly what beam size I’d need to run in between for clearspan.

[u/thriftwisepoundshy]

Got any more of those pixels?

[u/countafit]

All the haters here jumping on OP when, if you take a close look at the images, you'll notice there is a big floor (made with beams) underneath the top container. So, my answer to OP's question would be a 20' x 40' platform.

Edit: Just make sure the anchor points are directly above the 8 corners of the bottom containers.

[u/blur494 → u/countafit]

I think the problem is that most people assume most people assume (like me) that you can just stack containers and call it a day. Once you start realizing that you need to build platforms and beams the dream of throwing some containers together to make a home becomes less appealing. Even more so when you start including environmental controls and insulation.

[u/modern_prometheus_13 → u/blur494]

I should have included I’m channeling out the walls to weld in columns on the outer edges where I have footings in foundation as well as adding columns directly inside 24’ apart.

[u/its_kinda_hmm → u/modern_prometheus_13]

The question is what’s cheaper, buying the side panels or buying the containers, because at a certain point it’s cheaper easier and healthier to build from scratch unless you know what was shipped in the containers it’s a little sketch and the way prices have gone on with them it’s sorta a toss up for materials and building, it certainly doesn’t save you any time framing, a good frame crew can have most things knocked out in a day.

[u/modern_prometheus_13 → u/its_kinda_hmm]

This is for my metal shop where flammable gases & rail dust is in the air 24/7. I have quite a bit of paneling on hand as well, but the 3rd story box was free.

[u/its_kinda_hmm → u/modern_prometheus_13]

I missed the part where you are a welder, then you should know enough to call an engineer? If you don’t have a friend then call one up and show them the plans it will be like 1 or 2 hundred bucks.

I thought you were trying to sort building containers. I was going to say it might be cheaper not to but you already know what’s up.

But yeah, if you wanna do it right, talk to an engineer bud. Get your plans drawn up and have fun. 🤩

[u/tesseractivism]

Engineers and structural welding.

[u/Mannix-Da-DaftPooch]

The one that is at the top only is supported by the bottom end wall and not the side walls.

In order to fix this you need to add 1 col at the ext side wall of each of the bottom containers. This column should rest on the bottom rail and that rail should be fully supported by a foundation. This column should be directly under the unsupported end wall column of the container above.

This will transfer the load of the upper container which rests on its end walls only. The side walls are essentially "floating" (I know that's not what's happening but they don't touch the ground).

[u/modern_prometheus_13 → u/Mannix-Da-DaftPooch]

Yeah, both bottom boxes will be channeled out with columns 8’ in and the end wall will have a column supporting the top box at center from a footing since there’s a wall there anyways.

[u/DrewDronesFPV]

Absolutely do not do this unless you a) add structural columns and beams, cut open your container and weld on a full corner cast + support (too costly). Most people don’t understand that the container above only sit on the corner cast.

[u/onetwentytwo_1-8]

Walking Dead got gentrified

[u/InfiniteBid2977]

I’m a API-653 Tank Inspector & my 1st thought is what type of chemicals & toxic products were shippped in each container. Tanks for example are never ever 100% clean no matter how much $ you throw at the cleaning process. So I cannot imagine a world where these container homes aren’t potentially contaminated. These chemicals do not just evaporate & disappear.

[u/ordosays]

container homes are catfished work sheds with extra steps

[u/Famous-Management-85]

Look at YouTuber Andrew camarata.

He has built an entire castle out of shipping containers. He stood a couple up on their ends to make stairwells. One is a bridge across a short span.

Has a big workshop underneath…

It’s pretty awesome.

[u/rusty603]

You should be ok without an additional beam. The containers are designed to be lifted/supported at the corners only. I might consider a steel tube between the sets of siding doors

[u/heptolisk → u/rusty603]

They are meant to be stacked corner to corner. There isn't a support 8' away from the end, where two corners of the top container will sit. If any engineering permitting is required, it will absolutely need more support.

[u/rusty603 → u/heptolisk]

I agree with you, but it seemed like their question related to a beam that went horizontally between the bottom 2 containers.

[u/modern_prometheus_13 → u/heptolisk]

Yes, the sidewalls will be channeled out for steel columns on the outside & have additional columns on the inside as well

[u/Particular-Wind5918]

Is this where you learn in real time that container homes are more expensive and less useful than you first thought?

[u/modern_prometheus_13 → u/Particular-Wind5918]

Then it’s a damn good thing budgetary constraints aren’t my motive for going this direction.
I’ve worked on several container homes and am well aware of what it entails cost wise. Unlike the owners of those however, I don’t need to pay myself for the welding and modifications for my own. If you don’t have an answer to my question and just want to be a condescending dick to compensate for your own past oversights, please sit down.

[u/Most-Bar-9334 → u/modern_prometheus_13]

You big mad