Storage container questions

[bentman]

yup...forgot to put that in...
would like to find some kind of cheap tankless so we don;t have to worry about draining it when we're not there and it freezes

They have a little water in them if it gets really cold they will freeze

[BuckySWT]

so what's the best option?
get a small tank water heater (20 gal or so) and just drain it when we leave in dec-feb?

[Tbar]

We heated and cooked in ours. In the right weather conditions it produced and amazing amount of condensation so heavy it was raining on us. Had to mop the ceiling down before going to bed one night.

Insulate them if you can.


Tbar

[phibob808]

I worked for a landscaper in Nacogdoches when i was in college, and we had to go out and do some landscaping for some people. They had a big 40' one and had it installed in a big hill. They had dug it out and filled the bottom with pea gravel and then covered it with the dirt. You would have never known it was there until you drove around the hill to the entrance. Its was 100 degrees out side and we went in there and to my amazement it was nice and cool in there. They used it as a storm shelter but mainly used it to store there wine in it. If i remember correctly it had running water, shower and toilet in there also. It was sweet.

[rocoso]

You could make the bathroom a little wider and put the water heater next to the toilet. Put a small space heater in the bathroom and close the door when you leave. I am thinking of a space heater that has the "freeze" setting. It only turns on when it is at or near freezing.

[TradAg02]

Contact Stikshooter, he sells containers in San Antonio.

Also check out http://square1containers.com/ for layout ideas.

With the international traffic in your area you may want to design it with your fuse box inside the container. Also build a cage for each of your ac units.

Design it so that each unit is self contained in the event you ever have to change leases (exterior lighting, exterior plugs, hose bibs all routed inside the container). Ceiling fans, a garbage disposal, and deep sinks would also be a nice.

Make sure you set them up off of the ground. We have a 10’ container at our lease that is beginning to rust out in the back corner.

[Todd-ty729]

Try to install the window AC units on the outside of the containers on the opposite side from the deck area.

They drip condensation and it may make a muddy spot where you will be walking and such in the deck area between the 2 containers.

[BuckySWT]

no worries about moving them...we own the ranch. They're not going anywhere once they're set in place.

so for getting them up off the ground...how? Slab? When they deliver isn't it on a tilt bed trailer and they just slide it off into place? Might get expensive to pour 2 slabs having the guys come out of Laredo. Don't know of any concrete co.'s in Carrizo...

BUT...I want to do this right so they'll be around for my grandkids to play in. Don't want the taxman to come by and call it a permanent residence and tax the hell out of it though.