20' storage container ?

[sams64]

Has anyone thought about or actually tried building a sugar shack from a storage container? I know they get used for all types of mobile quartes and reconfiguring the roof should be pretty easy. I'm not sure if this would be a practical thing to do and I'm curious if it has been done before.

Sam

[Bucket Head]

Yes they have. There are posts and pictures on here somewhere of folks converting them for sugaring. I know of folks who have made them into small workshops. One guy had his full of small machine shop equipment and had a little machining business going from it. A tiny woodstove heated the thing up without any problem at all!

Your steam vent will keep it a little cooler than his, but your storage container will still be better than outdoors!

Steve

[maple flats]

On another forum I also saw a large workshop made by using 2 containers as sidewalls, setting trusses on them and roofing it, then fill in the ends. The one I remember actually had 2 containers stacked for each sidewall, and they made doors for entry from in the building.
Getting back to your question, a small sugarhouse could be made of one, but the clearances would be tight. Most are between 94" and 98" wide inside (lets assume 8'), if you set the arch centered and have a 2' wide arch, you only have 3' each side. Will be tight, but many on here have similar width sugar houses and some are not as long as you suggest.

[farmall h]

I live in one....just kidding! :lol:

[1arch]

We considered this too. One major shortcoming for us was head room too tight with a steam away and hood

[Buffalo Creek Sugar Camp]

I have two pumps sheds made out of containers. The only disadvantage is they sweat a lot inside when the temperature changes.

[optionguru]

I had planned on doing this with a 40' container but they were very expensive locally. Instead I bought a tractor trailer, just the trailer. I'm cutting the wheels out from under it and setting it on blocks. The trailer was in good condition for my purposes (borderline road worthy) and I got it for $700. 40' long so I can use it for storage as well. 7 1/2' wide inside and 8' tall, I'm lining the walls around the evaporator with flashing to avoid too much heat transfer. I'm still in the process of setting it all up so any ideas or opinions are welcome.