Replace Shipping Container Doors With a Roll-Up Door for Easier Access
Shipping container cargo doors are extremely secure, but they are not always convenient to open and close throughout the day. Bent hinges, damaged lock rods, and heavy doors can make frequent access frustrating, especially on older used containers.
In this build, Channing showcases a new Container Modification World Roll-Up Door Framing Kit designed to replace the original shipping container doors with a much easier-to-use roll-up door while still allowing builders to keep the factory cargo doors for security.
Why Replace Shipping Container Doors?
Standard shipping container doors usually require two hands and a fair amount of effort to operate.
For a container that is being opened once or twice a week, that may not be a problem. For a job site, workshop, or storage container that is accessed constantly throughout the day, it can become inconvenient very quickly.
A roll-up door provides much faster access and can be opened or closed with one hand.
The original shipping container doors can also remain attached and stay open during the workday. At the end of the day, they can be closed and secured again for the added protection of the original steel cargo doors.
Installing the Roll-Up Door Framing Kit
The new Container Modification World Roll-Up Door Framing Kit installs directly into the structural corner posts at the end of the shipping container.
The frame uses only six main pieces, including four identical vertical components and two header components.
Once installed, the framing creates the clearance required for the roll-up door to coil above the opening.
It also provides a strong interior flange for attaching the roll-up door tracks with self-tapping screws without sending fasteners directly through the exterior container wall.
Choosing the Correct Roll-Up Door Size
For this application, a 7-foot-wide roll-up door is used.
While sidewall roll-up door installations can sometimes accommodate a 7-foot 3-inch opening, the container end wall has less available space because of the corner structure and center components.
A 7-foot door fits properly between the end-wall structural members.
For standard-height shipping containers, the door is approximately 6 feet 8 inches tall. High-cube containers can typically accommodate a 7-foot 3-inch-tall door.
Adjusting the Door Tracks
Depending on the exact roll-up door supplied, the vertical tracks may arrive slightly too long.
If the tracks interfere with the container roof, they can be shortened using an angle grinder, portable band saw, or similar cutting tool.
After shortening the tracks, the slide-latch opening may also need to be relocated.
It is important to position this latch carefully. The door should compress firmly against the lower seal when locked without leaving daylight underneath.
Working slowly and adjusting the latch opening upward as needed can help create a tighter finished seal.
Balancing Accessibility and Security
One disadvantage of a typical roll-up door is that the thin corrugated steel curtain is not as secure as the original shipping container doors.
That is why keeping the factory cargo doors can be such a useful combination.
During the day, the cargo doors can remain open while the roll-up door handles regular access. At night, the roll-up door can be closed, and the heavy steel container doors can be secured using a lock box.
This provides the convenience of a roll-up door without giving up the security that makes shipping containers such useful storage structures.
A Better Shipping Container Door Setup
The Container Modification World Roll-Up Door Framing Kit is designed to make frequently accessed shipping containers more practical.
With a simple bolt-on framing system, a 7-foot roll-up door can be installed at the container end while retaining the original cargo doors.
For construction sites, workshops, equipment storage and other applications where people are constantly moving in and out of a container, this setup provides a useful balance between accessibility, convenience and security.