Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Shipping container cabin

For those who asked for more details on my shipping container cabin I posted on the "cabin porn" thread.......rather than hijack that thread, I thought I'd start a new one. .

I started out with a 20 foot container.......looked around at all the dealers but didn't want to pay their asking price, so I posted an ad on Craigslist and bought this one.





I really wanted a 40 foot container, but couldn't get it positioned near my shop to do the conversion work.

After many hours of figuring out the best layout, I started by cutting out the window openings with a plasma cutter. I built frames from 2.5x2.5x3/16th angle which were installed from the inside of the container......then, I installed additional 2" X 2" X 3/16" angle on the outside of the container.....this "pinches" the container walls between the inner and outer window frame (on the sides). The frames are welded and bolted in place and covered with a 3/16" steel plate shutter, with 1 1/2" X 3/16" flat stock used to stiffen the edges of the shutters The hinges are made from tubing and round stock. The shutters are secured from the inside with pins and latches and from the outside with a locking mechanism I designed and built. The steel shutters are held open with straps when the cabin is occupied.










[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v380/GonHuntin/container%20cabin%20project/IMGP2821.jpg[/img]

[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v380/GonHuntin/container%20cabin%20project/IMGP2819.jpg[/img]

[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v380/GonHuntin/container%20cabin%20project/IMGP2820.jpg[/img]

I then framed the walls and wired the cabin for both 110 and 12 volt lighting, 110 volt recepts. I wired an outside connector to connect a generator and ran that to a breaker box.



I purchased an 8000 btu zero clearance direct vented propane heater and needed to vent it through the side of the container. The vent cap on the heater does not have a screen to keep out bugs, and I am certain that the local mud dobber wasps would have found their way in and built nests in the heater, not to mention all the dust and crud that would have blown in! I also needed a way to seal the intake/exhaust vent pipes through the side of the container......the corrugated sides of the container were a problem to seal, so I came up with this idea.

I had a piece of 6" schedule 80 pvc, so I bought a coupler and then cut it into 3 pieces.

I bought a 10" X 10" outdoor rated electrical junction box and cut a hole in the back of the box to accept the pvc pipe and cut a matching hole in the container wall, mounted the box to the side of the container and slid the pipe through the container wall and into the junction box. I used a piece of the coupler to flange the pipe, then sealed the pipe/flange at the back of the junction box. I cut another piece of the coupler to match the contour of the container wall and slid it over the pipe on the inside of the container and sealed it.







I used 3/4" Advantech "engineered wood" over 1" Dow "blue board" rigid foam insulation over the factory container floor........this gave me at least some insulation on the floor without leaving it exposed under the container where critters could dig it out.



I debated about insulating the container........they tend to sweat and I was concerned that fiberglass insulation would hold moisture resulting in rust, mold and rot.......so, I bit the bullet and had it sprayed with expanding foam.......lots of $$$......but really the best solution.



[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v380/GonHuntin/container%20cabin%20project/IMGP2773resize.jpg[/img]

I then framed an interior wall about 3' in from the double doors.......this wall would serve as a divider between a dry storage area and the living space and would house the AC unit and both walk and storm doors......it also served as a convenient location to mount the breaker box......this 3 foot space provides storage for the generator, batteries and propane tanks when the cabin is not occupied. The propane tank is fitted with a quick disconnect that couples to a matching fitting on the end of the cabin opposite the doors.

[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v380/GonHuntin/container%20cabin%20project/IMGP2823.jpg[/img]


[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v380/GonHuntin/container%20cabin%20project/IMGP2802.jpg[/img]

[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v380/GonHuntin/container%20cabin%20project/IMGP2823.jpg[/img]

The interior was sheathed with 7/16 OSBI, followed by trimming out the windows, I built and installed a folding table, counter top, stove/oven combo out of an old travel trailer and the heater. I built twin size bunks and purchased 2 "bed in a box" from Sam's Club.......these beds were not cheap, but are VERY nice.












The 6500 BTU AC unit kept the inside temp at 76 when it was 105 outside and the heater keeps it toasty warm on the lowest setting.......the spray foam insulation was worth the cost!

This is the last photo I have.....this was taken the day the cabin was moved to my hunting property......since then, I have set the cabin on large flat stones mortared in place and leveled.......added a sheet metal roof, an awning over the doors and finished the side awning.......I still need to build the porches.





The cabin sits just a few yards from my pond and I intend to spend time sitting on the porch just enjoying the view!!

A true tail of making a real silk purse out of a sows ear. Really great job of designing and working through the problems. You did well.

Lookin' good Bro! One of my old friends has one made from an old rail car and as much as it gives my wife convulsions, I' want to convert an old scholl bus into a rolling camp.

Outstanding!

What does a basic container in perfect condition, (meaning for the task) cost?

Thanks for taking the time to share.

What size bus, LT?

George

Really, really long.

Finkster.

Very nice GonHuntin!

Laffin'!

I was just curious if it was going to be a sort, solo camp or one big enough for the entire family.

George

I am forbidden from even bringing up the school bus thing. She will not listen to another word about it.

I knew exactly what you were looking for. Remember, I'm recovering from all the [bleep] you're just now considering.

Don't know where you are, but around here (Oklahoma), a 20' container goes for about $2500........it took awhile, but I managed to get this one for about $1450.
Should be cheaper the closer you are to a port.

I don't understand it. Women just seem to have some kind of prejudice against school bus RV's.

I gave up trying to understand long ago and just accept it as fact.

looks great

Very nice, I like that a lot!

Nice work. I like it.

nice job, and yes I understand the wife vs. school bus camper problem, I even had a deuce and half running gear ready to go to make a, 4x4, multi-fuel, school bus, attack camper, and she wouldn't have any part of it.