Shipping containers offer ideal solutions for storage, conversions, and even providing an office space or business set-up due to their compact size. Commercially, shipping containers are easily unloaded from a lorry onto land with a crane. However, where space is somewhat restricted, with limited room to unload the container from the lorry (not even thinking about the crane), the challenge can seem impossible to resolve. There’s also the weight of a shipping container to consider; originally designed to be stacked onto cargo ships, they’re built to be robust, sturdy and heavy (an empty 20ft unit can weigh about 2.4 metric tonnes, and an empty 40ft shipping container is approximately four metric tonnes).
Therefore, moving a shipping container without the aid of a crane can significantly complicate its placement or relocation. Whether you’re faced with narrow access routes, congested urban environments, or simply looking to minimise logistical complexity, we will explore practical solutions to help you move your shipping container without a crane.
Prepare Your Space
Before moving a shipping container, it’s essential to think about the placement of the unit. Make sure the unit is placed in a convenient location for its intended use – whether it’s in a pub garden, on a building site, or even in a nature reserve – try to find somewhere that is predominantly out of direct sunlight and protected as much as possible from the wind and rain. Although they have been built to withstand the harsh weather at sea, they will last longer the better protected they are.
It’s also important to ensure that the land where the shipping container will be placed is adequately prepared. Essentially, this means that the ground must be flat before the unit is placed. You should also ensure the ground has a solid base – cement, paving slabs, or railway sleepers are ideal.
Although most delivery companies will have their own equipment to load, unload, and move the unit, there might be occasions when you want to move it without having access to this equipment. If this is the case, what can you do?
Methods of Moving a Shipping Container
If you don’t have a crane, there are a couple of options to move a shipping container:
Forklift
A forklift can move a standard unit if it is the right one. Unfortunately, a small, regular-sized forklift will not usually manage this, damaging itself or the unit by putting pressure on weaker points. However, it may be adequate if you have a larger and more robust forklift. It is important to check the maximum weight it can manage before you start.
Tilted Bed Trailer
A tilted bed trailer is the most effective way to move a container without a crane or forklift. You will need to ensure that there is enough space for it to back up straight into the unit. The process of picking up the container is as follows:
- Back the trailer right up to the end of the box and fully tilt the back.
- Using strong chains, attach the lower two corners nearest the trailer on the corner castings to the trailer.
- Raise the end of the trailer, raising the attached end of the unit just enough to get some blocks underneath it.
- Slide a block of wood or something similar under each of the two raised corners, then lower the trailer to take the strain off the chains and remove them.
- Lower the trailer and back up underneath the box until the trailer takes the weight off the blocks, then remove them.
- Continue to back the trailer up underneath the box whilst levelling off the trailer.
Note: It is important to remember that the box will be tilted with this method, meaning that its contents will not be kept level. Make sure to securely fasten your unit in place before you drive off with it!
Summary
Moving a shipping container without a crane is a realistic option, but for successful implementation, planning and ground preparation are essential. A forklift can be ideal because of its agility and power. Alternatively, a tilted bed trailer can smoothly transition containers to ground level. Both methods provide the ideal solution to help you overcome the limitations of confined spaces and the absence of a crane.
If you’re interested in any of our services or have additional questions, please contact us. Our team is available to provide expert advice and support, ensuring you find the perfect solution for your needs.
