For more than 30 years, customers throughout the Northeast have turned to A.B. Richards – the leading supplier of ground-level storage containers in the Northeast since 1982 – for all of their portable storage needs.
Chief among the reasons they do so are the security, convenience and ease of use of our mobile storage containers. However, those who aren’t familiar with portable units or are renting or leasing them for the first time might wonder how to open and secure portable storage containers.
How to Open a Mobile Storage Unit
At A.B. Richards, container customers can choose from 20ft, 40ft or 40ft jumbo (hi-cube) containers. All feature strong, 14-gauge stainless steel exterior shells and thick, metal interior walls. At one end there’s a set of swing-out, side-by-side doors for easy monitoring and access control.
It’s an impressive, sometimes intimidating sight once they are expediently delivered right to your location at your home, office, retail store or construction job site. However, don’t worry. These doors are made to easily open and close each time, and once they’re closed, customers have the peace of mind knowing all they store inside will remain secure behind a vault-like set of doors, thanks to a high-tech interlocking system.
To ensure maximum clearance and ease of opening every single time, A.B. Richards’ mobile storage experts say it’s important the containers are placed atop a level area when delivered. The area should also provide enough clearance to fully open and close the doors. Containers shouldn’t be placed on top of tilted or sloped land or uneven driveways or pavement.
In addition, contents of the containers shouldn’t press against the doors in order to further ensure easy access.
Our storage pros also strongly recommend checking the top of the doors before opening or closing to make sure your gasket corners (or edges) of your doors line up properly. The ground can also settle causing doors to become misaligned after contents are loaded inside. A good tip is to evenly distribute the weight of the contents throughout the container.
If customers should experience a problem, then we don’t recommend using crowbars, screwdrivers, crescent wrenches, ball pin hammers, 2’x4’ lumber or other inappropriate devices to open the doors. This may cause damage to the doors and containers and/or yourself. Instead, simply call the experts at A.B. Richards at (800) 597-5971, and we can help troubleshoot the problem right away.
How to Secure a Portable Storage Unit
While A.B. Richards’ mobile storage containers’ rugged, weatherproof and fire-resistant construction makes them a less-likely target of thieves and other unwanted intruders, there are some things that will give customers additional peace of mind.
For instance, adding a heavy-duty exterior lock will thwart and deter unwanted visitors. If your containers are for residential purposes, then make sure the units are placed in a secure portion of the property that’s equipped with motion-sensor lights. Adding security cameras or guards, plus perimeter fencing for containers on commercial property or construction site locations also adds an extra layer of security.
In addition, though they’re safe, it’s a good idea to carry insurance for the storage units or for the items stowed inside.
To get more tips and learn more about our storage container renting and leasing options, contact A.B. Richards right away to speak to our mobile storage pros.