burying a travel trailer

[greenhouse]

gotta be rounded tops

I recall reading that the branch davidians dug holes and buried old school buses in the ground. Those were possibly "temporary", meeting the requirements for their needs. Putting something into the ground for years, it will take more than just putting a trailer or other container down under and hoping that it will stay fresh down the road.

The idea of putting a travel trailer under the earth, I doubt would work well. Maybe in the dessert, where there is little moisture/humidity. It was already stated, mold will be a problem. The internal walls would succumb to the elements, and thus one would end up with a metal box with soggy cardboard inside.

I am not a structural engineer (but I have stayed at a Holiday Inn), but the top will hold more if it is in the form of an arch. Example: a pipe in a culvert, a school bus top, arched bridges, etc.

I like the container idea, but it would need to be reinforced on the top and possibly the sides. Paint it with some sort of anti-moisture/corrosion paint, and cover it up.

Too, I like the idea of a bus. you will have to do something with the windows, but you can use some sort of metal sheeting with the corrosion paint, etc. The nice thing about a bus, if it still has its wheels/tires, you could maneuver it into place, then block up the frame for stability. I am not sure if the roof will hold 3 feet of topsoil, but it may hold enough to cover it to mask the existence and provide some insulation.

Regards
greenhouse

[txcorruptor]

concrete

Why not dig a hole build a form pour the floors and walls and then use steal and concrete to form the roof? You could put all your drainage and ventalation as you wish and make walls as thick as needed?

[flight or fight]

Hey guys. Found this website. I havent read all into yet but about the living container ...http://www.shipping-container-housing.com/ check it out

From the article "The project utilizes about 3000 shipping containers, stacked eight high on a 345,000 square feet footprint for commerce and for building of shipping container houses. The project is a winner of the Boston Society of Architects 2003 "Density: Myth and Reality" competition."

If they are strong enough to stack 8 high shouldn't they be strong enough to put a few feet of dirt on top? Also couldn't you spread tar over them like you do the outside walls of your basement to prevent moisture from getting to the metal?

[Rustyshakelford]

Thought this would help.

http://odessa.craigslist.org/grd/969110642.html

[flight or fight]

Thought this would help.

http://odessa.craigslist.org/grd/969110642.html

It would if the blonde comes with it.:D

[flight or fight]

Here is a better deal:

http://dallas.kijiji.com/c-For-sale-...QAdIdZ85274339

[Rustyshakelford]

It would if the blonde comes with it.:D

I think that is Bill, the local transvestite. I am sure he would love to be part of the packaged deal. :D

[Omegaman]

There are pre fabed concrete structures called box culverts these can be as big or as small as one needs. They are used to go under road beds for water flow or vehicle traffic or animal traffic. I have put them under highways, so they will hold the weight. They come in sections so that they are easy to handle. You link the sections together to make them as long as needed. Down side they have no floor or end walls so you would have to form and pour those yourself. But my boss had us use one as a salt bunker and for that we built plywood end walls and doors, this was big enough fo me to drive a loader in to.

[Edisto]

Container load bearing

Containers are load bearing only when stacked on each other. The Roof's are weak! There are typically only 4 load bearing points (on each corner). As you may know the strongest load bearing part of construction is usually at the intersection of 2 walls. Same applies here. You can not use a container as is, unless you block traffic from moving over the top. I would not reccomend placing very much dirt on the top of it. Ground water will also cuase them to rust.

I have consided the idea of using one for a concrete form. Dig the hole 3 feet wider on the sides, reenforce the concrete with rebar.

Still nervouse about a colapse.

[Legionnaire]

If you are going to bury a structure and expect it to last you might as well dig a hole and make yourself something outta concrete, like the post above says containers are meant to stack and will rust out. A good call would be to find a natural cave or natural structure and work off that.

Since none of you seem to be too near me to compete and I would let most of you join up or live near me anyways since everyone here seems to have some sense and value I'll show you the general region and what one of my BOL looks like.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Castle_Crags

If you are worried about protecting your BOL look into history at the areas Native Americans chose to make their stands at.

[prairie dog]

burying a travel trailer

I sure wouldn't use one to bury, they're not strong enough and how would you get in if you buryed it?
I've checked on comercial made bunkers, and they are extremely expensive, on big enough to live in and store a little food, are around $59,000, not practical for most of us, or at least myself.
My plan is to dig post holes in a remote area and put pvc water pipe containers full of supplies in them. You can buy caps for both end, glue and seal one end, fill it up, put the top cap an, stand it up on end and stick it in the post hole. They come in large diameters, mine will be ten to twelve inches.
two or three feet long. They can be stashed in remote area's and then I can take a tiny tear drop trailer in and live out of it, and my supplies will already be there. Am also considering using a deer cart to take the stuff into a wildlife habitat area, then when I'm ready, use the cart to haul in my Tent/cot, sleeping bag, and I've already got everything else there. Lots of options to consider. could even sneak a tiny trailer in such a place, and conceal it, then take the pickup out and do away with the tracks. ?.........

[Ragnar Redbeard]

For a cheap bunker couldn't you just buy a junked school bus and strip it out and remove the motor and whatever else. Dig a hole and put the bus in using a tow truck and then cover it. I would think that you could make the rear door as you access. I would suppose that there is a lot of room once all of the seats are removed. Just an idea....

[lazer128]

Make sure you close all the windows! :eek:

[Big_Saw]

For a cheap bunker couldn't you just buy a junked school bus and strip it out and remove the motor and whatever else. Dig a hole and put the bus in using a tow truck and then cover it. I would think that you could make the rear door as you access. I would suppose that there is a lot of room once all of the seats are removed. Just an idea....

You mean like this?

http://www.jamesspann.com/blogpix/redneck-storm-shelter.jpg

[Ragnar Redbeard]

Wow, great pic. Personally I would try to bury it atleast three to four ft deeper. This would aid in the concealment and avail better protection from radiation. I would also place a simple garden shed type encloser w/ a concealed "trap door"over the entry point.
No reason for everybody to know you have a "secret squirrel" bunker.