All these people stacking containers 3 high is a bad idea

I see everyone posting builds with three containers stacked and it drives me nuts. I talked to a structural engineer in Houston who told me most shipping containers aren't rated for that kind of vertical load without serious reinforcement. Has anyone here actually checked the corner casting specs before stacking?

2 comments

2 Comments

michaeladams8h ago

You're absolutely right to be concerned about that. I've seen those builds too and it makes me nervous just looking at them, especially without any bracing or reinforcement between the stacks. It's one of those things where people see it working on YouTube or Instagram and just assume it's fine, you know?

ninam866h ago

The whole point of those social media builds is that they work fine as long as you're careful about the weight distribution and center of gravity. If someone's stacking rocks in a dry, stable area with no wind or water flow, bracing might actually make it less stable by adding unnecessary weight in the wrong spot. It's kind of like how a dry stone wall can stand for centuries without mortar if the stones are placed right, sometimes less really is more with this stuff.