Conex Box Buying Guide: 7 Factors to Consider before Purchase

For the uninitiated, what is a Conex box? It is a shipping industry term for a standard metal shipping container that provides mass storage and transport of goods across the world.

A Conex box seems like an easy sell if you need to ship or store things over long distances. However, these boxes are not just for transportation and storage. They have a lot of surprising uses outside of their main design. 

The Variety of Uses for a Conex Box

There has been a trend that has been building for a while. This trend burst into popularity over the last few years. What is this trend? Using shipping containers as makeshift or permanent buildings.

It may seem like an odd idea, but it has a good deal of benefits. Shipping containers are far cheaper than many mobile homes or offices on the market. They are also designed to be very strong and airtight. So, adding heating and cooling options to a custom shipping container home or office is possible. There can be many more types of modifications that can be made to these Conex boxes, like everything from windows to indoor plumbing. 

Here are just a few factors you should consider before you purchasing a Conex box for your storage or living space…

The 7 Important Factors to Look For

It is always a good idea to do some research before any major purchase. Conex boxes can go for a few thousand dollars, so buying them without thought can cost you later. Once you have reviewed these 7 factors, though, you should be ready to make a more informed purchase decision. 

1. Sealed and Sturdy

Conex box’s main purpose is to prevent damage of products that are being moved great distances. Therefore, they can withstand all kinds of weather in-order to protect their content from harm. In the process however, they tend to get fairly banged up. If you are saving some money by buying a used Conex box, it is important to inspect the Conex box first for any dents and damages. However, if you are buying a new Conex box, this should not be a problem. 

The key factors to check when it comes to wear and tear are damage to the overall structure, the container’s ability to seal, and whether the doors open and close without a problem. If all of these things are fine, then you should be in good shape.

2. Cleanliness

During its lifetime, a Conex box will contain a wide variety of objects and products, often for days to weeks at a time. During this time, the vast majority of places will clean their shipping containers between uses. Sometimes however, the smell will build up. If there is a nasty or odd smell in the Conex box during inspection, ask the distributor when it was last cleaned before considering that box for purchase. 

A Conex box can be easy to clean, but it requires a bit of diligence. Failing to keep a conex box clean can lead to dangerous internal growths that can be hazardous to ones health. 

Obviously, a new Conex box for sale should have no cleanliness issues, although checking it out first will not do any harm.

3. Moveable

When purchasing a Conex box, you must be able to get it to where you need it.

If you do have a big business and a means to transport it, this problem is an easy fix. If not, you need to look for moving services that deal with Conex boxes.

For those in the Houston area, we here at Equipment Management Services do offer easy transport. For those outside of Texas, we do still provide shipping at an appropriate price. 

4. The Right Size for Your Needs

Conex boxes can come in many different sizes. Figuring out which size will fit your need is an easy thing to overlook. The common size for Conex boxes are 20 feet long and 40 feet long. Also, they can come in custom sizes depending on your needs.

5. Locking Mechanisms

With everything stored and locked away, you want to know that everything is secure. Some Conex boxes come with a locking mechanism built into the doors. Most of them do not. 

When determining the cost and need for a Conex box, always factor in the addition of a lock if needed. What kind of lock you set up will depend on your budget and need for security. 

6. Whether to Rent or to Buy

Sometimes if your need for a Conex box is very short term, you may want to rent a unit instead of buying one. However, if your need for a storage container goes beyond 3 years or so, it would be best to buy the Conex box. 

Obviously, if you intend to make modifications to the Conex box, renting would be a bad idea. There are places that do rent already modified boxes, so if you can find one that suits your needs, you can save some money by renting.

7. Modifications

If you are looking to modify your Conex box, you will need to first understand what those modifications will be and then plan ahead. Budget them out first and do your research on how to make these modifications with the least amount of labor and cost.

Contact Us, we will be glad to discuss your modification needs and give you an honest estimate. 

Keeping Your Future Secure

There are a lot of factors that go into purchasing a Conex box. However, keeping some of the above considerations in mind, you should be able to make a more well informed decision about your Conex container purchase.

Interested in learning more about the INs and OUTs of Conex boxes ? We have a lot more information where that came from! Feel free to check out our blog resources or contact us directly to discuss your shipping container needs.