Open Top Containers
Our ISO certified open top containers for sale from Intermodal Equipment are exactly what it says on the tin, instead of having a solid roof, the top can be covered with a soft covering of strong rubber tarpaulin.
They are designed to carry oversized loads which cannot be loaded from side doors, or in a regular-sized shipping container and need to be loaded via the top using a crane.
Usually made from corrugated steel, an Open top containers for sale still has accessible side doors giving you complete flexibility.
Open Top Shipping Container Applications
There is a wide variety of shipping containers on the market available to buy or hire but if you are looking to transport goods that cannot fit inside a closed top container or goods which cannot be loaded via the side doors including:
- Scrap metal
- Ore, coal or other materials
- Trees
- Long steel bars
- Big Truck Tires
- Cables and cable spools
- Tall, awkward cargo
then an open-top container is perfect for you.
Once loaded, it may be over the average height so cannot be stored with closed top containers. This does mean they are more expensive than a regular container.
Cargo Containers
Cargo containers (also called shipping containers or Conex boxes) or Cargo containers, or intermodal containers, are standardized steel boxes built for global freight transport across ships, trains, and trucks without unloading contents. The most common sizes are 20-foot and 40-foot lengths, serving general dry goods, cold storage, and specialized industrial shipping needs.
Common Types of Cargo Containers
- Dry Van: Fully enclosed steel box for everyday boxed or palletized cargo.
- Reefer: Refrigerated unit for food, meat, and medical products.
- Open Top: Removable tarp roof for tall items loaded from above.
- Flat Rack: Open sides and collapsible ends for heavy machinery or boats.
- Tank Container: Built inside a frame to haul liquid chemicals or food grade fluids.
Standard Sizes and Uses
- 20-Foot (TEU): Best for dense, heavy loads like metal, sugar, and machinery.
- 40-Foot (FEU): Best for high-volume, lighter goods like furniture and clothes.
- High Cube (40ft HC): Extra foot in height for bulky, light cargo.
Open Top Containers Specification
Buy New open top containers come in a range of sizes similar to Dry ISO shipping containers. Furthermore they are available in standard tarp top or Hard Top options.
All specifications are indicative. Individual container’s dimensions may differ.
|
Specification |
20ft |
40ft |
External nominal dimensions |
6m x 2.43m x 2.6m (high), 20’ x 8’ x 8’ 6” (high) |
12m x 2.43m x 2.6m (high), 40’ x 8’ x 8’ 6” (high) |
|---|---|---|
|
Internal dimensions |
5.8m x 2.35m x 2.4m, 19’ 4” x 7’ 8” x 7’ 10” |
11.8m x 2.35m x 2.4m, 39’ 4” x 7’ 8” x 7’ 10” |
|
Cubic capacity |
33.2m³, 1,173ft³ |
66.4m³, 2,348ft³ |
|
Tare weight |
2,300 kgs, 5,070 lbs |
3,650 kgs, 8,046 lbs |
|
Max Gross weight |
30,480 kgs, 67,200 lbs |
32,500 kgs, 71,650 lbs |
|
Max Payload |
28,180 kgs, 62,130 lbs |
28,850 kgs, 63,603 lbs |
|
Structure |
Steel doors and panels, timber floor, tarpaulin roof |
Steel doors and panels, timber floor, tarpaulin roof |
|
Accessibility |
Removable tarpaulin and roof bows, swinging header |
Removable tarpaulin and roof bows, swinging header |
