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TOOK a few days to digest that post Mark.If I wasn't so stubborn or stupid I would be intimidated,though I know that is not your intention.I actually look forward to the hard work and travails.You have some great ideas for the 40 on a 20 escape hatch and all I'm very visually programmed,your description had me visualising your plan for days I think it would be pretty unique.I have done the tons of research on line as you suggested.Then I did two tons more.I don't see multi container home in my near future.The second/storage container would be great just not gonna happen.A 40 will have to do.I'm in the process of becoming unburdened by most of my belongings I must say it is liberating.I think downwardly mobile may be the new upwardly mobile.I'm leaning towards APH I only plan on one more move and puna is it so I'll get the 1 trip 40 with the ceramic paint (I don't believe paint has r value either).I'm led to believe by APH such a container will last 50 years in Puna!That would make me 98 so that will do.other than the paint just a few of the small high Windows they recommend as do you.Delivered to and set level on blocks on my prepped future site.I will resist cutting any holes as long as possible.I figure covered Lanai with small mostly secure composting toilet,propane 2 burner to be moved inside when not in use and passive solar hot water shower.Take that no hole statement back just one for the wood stove with cook top and improvised oven.As far as my date being ugly that's ok but she's gotta think she's pretty.I will paint one bad ass graffiti mural right over that ceramic paint on the outside.Inside I hear thin set and ceramic tile can be installed over existing floor.I've done lots of tile (not as cool as Carey does) but I do it well.I figure a couple of bright pastel colours for inside walls and blue and green checkerboard pattern for tile to clash with wall colours.A secondary roof and a small tank for catchment.A modest p.v.system ok maybe one more hole for that.I have primitive camped a lot from Maine to Florida to California.Not homeless but by choice.I also have some experience in the third world.Places that I believe would make Puna seem plush.I never considered those times hardship just another life experience and continuing education.If I can accomplish these modest goals then the ability to grow my own fruit/veg raise animals/hunt for meat manufacture my electricity and catch my water will be the gravy.Thanks for the great info it's been very enlightening and inspiring.
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I once visited a guy (single) in Pohiki who had a container with a truss roof over it which extended about another 16 ft over a screened lanai. I cannot remember if he had a slab or gravel floor, but a slab would be nice. He had his living room on the lanai and slept there unless the weather was really bad. Inside/outside living with a barbeque and a TV outside. I never saw inside the container, but it seemed like an ideal life for Hawaii (Puna Hawaii), at least for those who don't fit in ticky tacky boxes.
You are right fishenjim it would be a palace in many parts of the world. To me it seems like a better life than that for most in the first world also.
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@fisherjim,
Lol, sure if stacked end to end
Nothing fancy, just a rectangular box. A place to keep the rain off the head and the frogs out.
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Kander, I thought you were stacking 6 hi I've seen pics of 9 hi.3 sided square.with center covered lanai is a popular design and one of my favorite multi container homes.I like the joining better than the stacking.
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Hi. I have 3 x 20' high cube containers (9.5 ft) in the desert of Southern California. Winter temps 32 - 45F and summer temps 75 - 120F. I've made them comfortable to live in during most of the year. I'm hoping my breakdown will be helpful for Hawaii lifestyles also. FYI my wife is Hawaiian and her family is spread over all of the Islands.
The containers are welded together with the inner walls cut out - giving an open area. The ceilings are supported by leaving approx. 7" of metal across the full length of the ctrs. the uprights (container corners) have spray foam in the cracks so that heat and cold doesn't come through the welds. 1 20' ctr has 2 sliding doors - each sliding door is 8' x 8' with dual pane low E argon gas windows (to minimize the temp transfers). To support the sliding doors a 3" x 2" steel rectangular tube was welded for the header and support tube welded on the sides to make a frame for the windows and have enough strength to support the roof. The opposite wall of the second container has 1 8x8' sliding window to give a cross breeze and views. Outside - tinted elastomeric paint was put on the ctr walls. Then I built a frame connected to the corner posts and stretched shade cloth to cover the whole wall (about 3.5" from the wall). Oh, I used 4" x 4" posts on the corners. Then I covered the shade cloth with lattice 4 x 8' to keep the wind from blowing it away. Did that on the sun affected walls. Inside: I put 2" urethane foam 4 x 8' panels that have an R 12.8 factor. This is not the syrofoam 4 x 8's Home Depot sells which has an R 7.8 factor. The urethane foam has aluminium covering both sides. It keeps the inside walls cool - even in 105 F outside temps and warm during winter months. I have a test wall where I used the urethane foam and sheetrock to give it a room look which seems to be cooler than just the foam alone w/o being covered.
To make it more comfortable I added:
wood burning stove......great fireplace
5 cuft chest freezer converted to a refrig
car stereo with large speakers 12 v
42 led lg tv
12 volt evaporative cooler for the summer months
3000 watt inverter
440 amp hour battery bank
4 x 135 Kyocera solar panels
Solar water heater
250 gallon water tank
This has given me great pleasure to build since I'm retired and use this place for the majority of the year.
I truly hope this gives you some help and ideas. If you have any questions please let me know. I don't know how to add photos but can send them via email.
All the work was done by myself over a couple of years. It's not hard as long as you have patience. Good Luck.
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It is always interesting to hear from someone who has actually done this. I can't for the life of me see how you can live in a container in the winter due to condensation issues, but then again you are in the desert so that must help a lot.
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A flatbed tow truck with a tilt bed, can carry an empty 20' container.
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I have plans on 3 20's placed in a "U" pattern, with screened lanai in middle. Cooking area in the back one to extend lanai, then one side master suite, other guest suite. Guest suite container is slightly offset to make generator/battery room even with back kitchen edge and make lanai a side entry, so to speak.
Are you a human being, or a human doing?
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As the days get longer there is less noticeable hot wall effect in the morning since the sun is more nearly overhead and the roof overhang keeps the sun off the wall. Generally it is warmer in the container because the air temps are warmer but the roof does a good job of keeping the sun from baking the container.
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saw some cool stuff on this site
www.pacvan.com. Ends up they are 20 miles down the road from me.might just get one here and use it to ship my stuff.Really seems to be a booming industry.Cargotecture I love it.I saw on another site a condensation reducing ceiling application. Cant remember the name ill see if i find it again.might be proprietary.
