20Ft X 8Ft Used Shipping Container Open Top

20ft Used Open Top Container

An open top replaces the fixed corrugated steel roof with removable bows and a weatherproof tarpaulin. That changes the loading angle completely: instead of everything having to fit through a 2.34 m wide by 2.28 m high door opening, cargo can be craned straight down into the box from above.

It is the standard answer for machinery and crated plant that cannot be rolled, driven or forked in horizontally. The door header above the doors also swings clear, so long items can be fed in lengthways as well — useful when the load is too long to drop vertically but too tall for a standard door.

Lashing rings secure the load in transit, over a 28 mm marine plywood floor. The bows and tarpaulin are not optional for shipping — they contribute to the structural rigidity of the container and must be fitted when it travels. If your load is over height and will not go under the tarpaulin at all, you need a flat rack rather than an open top.

Build and load securing

• Removable bows and weatherproof tarpaulin in place of a fixed steel roof
• Crane loading from directly above
• Door header swings clear for long items
• Lashing rings for securing cargo in transit
• 28 mm (1.1 in) marine plywood floor
• Cor-Ten steel construction
• Ex-shipping-line used condition
• Must be shipped with bows and tarpaulin fitted — they provide structural strength
• Over-height loads need a flat rack instead
• Covered by our standard 12-month warranty

BENEFITS

• Removable roof allows for craneage of large or heavy items from above

A larger 40ft open top container is also available for sale.

Loading Through the Roof Instead of the Door

The practical difference with an open top is the loading angle. A standard box only accepts cargo through a 2.34m wide, 2.28m high door opening, which rules out anything that cannot be rolled, driven or forked in horizontally. With the bows lifted out and the tarpaulin rolled back, a crane or telehandler can lower a machine, tank or crated assembly straight down onto the marine ply floor, and the swing-out door header adds a second option for items that are long rather than tall.

Points to Confirm Before You Buy

• Overheight loads. The tarpaulin has to close over the cargo for shipping. If your load stands proud of the top rail, a flat rack is the correct unit, not an open top.
• Structural role of the bows. The bows and sheet are part of the container’s rigidity, so keep them with the unit rather than discarding them.
• Crane access. Overhead loading only helps if the siting position gives a clear lift path — worth checking before delivery is arranged.
• Used condition. This is a pre-owned shipping unit, so expect surface marking and previous repairs consistent with cargo service.

Compare and Order

Our container condition guide sets out what used, cargo-worthy and one-trip grades mean before you commit. For lower lifting heights and easier top access, look at the half height open top containers; for genuinely overheight or oversized plant, the 20ft used flat rack removes the sides as well. You can view all current stock in the open top container range or call our Long Bennington sales office to check availability.