Storage containers have just a few things you have to be aware of, they are simple and easy to use and cause fewer problems than you think. However, some parts of the storage containers, like its doors, could cause problems in the long run, if not well maintained. Doors could get damaged easily if unattended, their lock bars and cam retainers could have some problems that will lead to something major like water or windbreak and damage your goods inside or the doors themselves, they can get stuck or get stiff, and this is a problem that occurs frequently if the user doesn’t know how a few tips and tricks on how to operate, fix or where to position the container for long-term usage. If your storage container door is stiff or stuck, the fix is pretty easy and you can do it depending on the circumstances. If there is a major problem, you might not be able to handle it on your own and some professional help could be required. In this article, we are going to talk about stiff storage container doors, what causes them and how to fix these issues.

Why Does It Happen?

Here are a few ideas on why your storage container door gets stiff. There could be many reasons as to why the doors get stuck. Most of the time it happens because you neglected the doors periodically maintenance so rust and corrosion did their thing, or the place you have put the container is not good enough for the container, it either sung or is not leveled anymore so the doors are not working properly. However, you must know that if your container is old and you have been using it for some time now, it is probably getting even older. With time, it might lose its functions partially or fully and there is not much you can do about this, actually. Or some things could happen by phissically affecting the unit. The frames of the doors could be bent, hinge pins conditions get worse, gaskets that prevent the water from coming in could have been damaged with time, the ground might not be level enough for the doors to open without any problem, or rust could be blocking the doors to open efficiently, and so much more. If you can see the problem, then you have to find the cause and understand it, then you are one step closer to fixing it on your own. Understanding the problem is the most important thing and you must know the problem in detail, not only to save the day and solve the problem but also to prevent any further problems arising due to misuse of the container and its doors. Always be aware of any kind of changes in position, sounds when walking on the floor or opening the doors, that you might think it can create problems and investigate. Since you know now why your doors get stiff, now it is time to look for a way to fix them.

 How to Fix Stiff Doors?

For different reasons, there are different solutions you can apply

The first reaction to stiff doors is naturally “apply grease”, but that’s not the place to start. The first thing you’ll want to do is close both doors and check that the top and bottom corners of each door are in line with each other. If they’re not, the container probably isn’t level and that’s the cause of the stiff doors. If the ground is not leveled, the unit sits crooked and it is blocking your doors from opening or closing, the best thing you need to do is to see what corder is sitting crooked, find a jack, and dig out some space under the low corner. Jack the container up until the doors are leveled, then put a piece of  ( treated lumber, rocks, brick, etc.) under that corder level the ground with different materials or carry the container to a different leveled area to make sure that doors and the unit are on the same level as the other sides.  

If the doors are stuck because rust or corrosion, there are different tools you need to use to get rid of the rust. First, you must remove the rusted areas with a wire brush and use sandpaper to finish it off.  If the container has been in the depot for long time, the wind and rain may have washed off some of the grease that’s on the bolts, hinges, and locking arms of the container. In many cases, some WD-40 can get them back in shape and working like the first day you bought your container. Best thing to do is to liberally lubricate the locking bar brackets, door hinges and locking bar guides with heavy duty grease (not WD-40, the kind from a grease gun) and work the hinges regularly until them move freely. It may not happen overnight, but with some persistence you will win out over the doors. Before you start painting it again, use vinegar on the areas you removed the rust from and rub it onto these areas and leave it to dry. Is best to apply a generous amount of grease on the locking bar cams that are welded to the container. You can find these underneath the locking bar cam retainers. Try opening and closing the doors a few times. They should be working a lot better. If you’re still feeling some resistance you can go a little more in. Try using Armor All to spray the gaskets, sometimes is a big help and makes the doors operate better and easier for you. It is a simple process but makes sure to mentain the doors to prevent further rust from happening.

The door seal is too thick and swollen around the doors. Those heavy-duty door seals can prevent the door from opening easily. Shipping containers are designed to withstand heavy rain, wind, sand storms while overseas, and anything else mother nature can throw at them. One of the ways they do this is through a heavy-duty seal around the doors. This seal can be so that when a container is lost overboard it floats just below the surface of the water. In a normal, residential, or commercial storage application, those seals may be to much. This solution is a last resort but has been known to work in the past. Most doors on the container have both a very thick rubber seal, and a rubber flap that covers and openings (you might have similar flaps on a screen or storm door in your house). If you remove the thick seal and leave the flap the container will usually still do a great job keeping out wind, rain, and rodents. The thick rubber seal makes it harder for the doors to close but does seal them up tightly. The thick seal can be cut out with a utility knife.

Bent frame around the doors. The reason why is if the bent is too deep, you might need professional help but if not, you can fix it on your own by basically applying pressure to the area that is bent. This is of course if it can be done without any professional help or change of the doors. If the problem is with hinge pins’condition, it might be a little bit harder to fix this. Because since these pins are made out of metal, they might have problems or get rusted in overseas shipping. If it is because of this, it might be best if you go for a professional for them to check it out and tell you the exact reason why and if it is something you can not fix, let them handle it.

Recommended products to use to lube, grease and make doors operate better: WD-40, Fluid Film, ArmorAll, Rust Check and any other product that can help lube and grease the moving parts of the shipping container doors.

As you can see, there are many reasons why your container’s doors are or can get stiff. Most of them are general problems that happen over time with rust, corrosion, or other conditions and some of them happen because of human error by skipping door maintenance. Either way, there are things you can fix yourself, and there are things you can not. We have tried to explain what you can DYI and what can’t be done by when the doors are stuck or stiff. If they seem too hard to fix on your own and are a major part of the doors, always get help from a professional to make sure everything is ok and is fixed properly.

Everyone would like to purchase an affordable used shipping container that looks like and operates like a new shipping container. However, the prices between the two can vary greatly. And truth be told, if the container isn’t level it won’t matter if it’s new or used, the doors will always be stiff. If your storage or shipping container is suffering from stiff doors, be sure and investigate the cause of the problem before you start greasing the hinges and shimming the corners. A little time spent investigating the cause of the problem can save you both time and money.

If you want to buy, lease or rent a container please email or call us at:

1-800-304-0981 Or info@usacontainers.co / info@canadiancontainers.co

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