Open top container rental suits a load that has to go in from above rather than through the end doors. The roof is a removable PVC-coated tarpaulin over steel bows, so a crane or gantry drops cargo straight in.
Rent one for a single over-height load or a construction phase rather than buying a unit you will use once. Rentals run month to month with no minimum period and delivery lands inside 48 to 72 hours from the nearest of five CMG-owned yards.
You can also rent storage containers in other sizes and configurations from the same yards.
Read the roof opening, not the internal width, when you plan a crane lift. It is about four inches narrower than the interior. The table below is the standard specification for a new-build 20ft open top container.
| Specification | 20ft open top |
|---|---|
| Roof opening | 7 ft 3.75 in wide by 17 ft 6.125 in long |
| Door opening | 7 ft 8 in wide by 7 ft 5.75 in high |
| Internal length | 19 ft 4.125 in (5,895 mm) |
| Internal width | 7 ft 8.5 in (2,350 mm) |
| Internal height | 7 ft 8.125 in (2,340 mm) |
| Cubic capacity | 1,149 cu ft (32.5 m³) |
| Tare weight | 5,402 lb (2,450 kg) |
| Maximum payload | 66,248 lb (30,050 kg) |
| Maximum gross | 71,650 lb (32,500 kg) |
A load that fits the floor can still be too wide to come through the top.
The roof is a system of three parts, and all three come off. With the header bar out, the unit loads through the doors as well as from above.
The bows span the width of the container and carry the tarpaulin.
Roof opening 7 ft 3.75 in wide
The tarpaulin lashes to rings along the top rail.
Weather resistant cover
A header bar sits above the doors and comes out too.
Door opening 7 ft 8 in wide
Top loading by crane or gantry is the reason to rent an open top storage container.
In-gauge cargo fits inside the standard container envelope. Exceed any dimension and the load is out-of-gauge, or OOG, which changes the equipment and the handling.
| Equipment | What it handles |
|---|---|
| Open top | Over-height OOG that can be lifted in from above |
| Flat rack | Over-width and over-length loads that come in from the side |
| Platform | Extreme OOG, and most breakbulk and project cargo |
An open top is the answer for over-height OOG that can be lifted in from above. Over-width and over-length loads need a flat rack instead.
Open tops rent on the same terms as the rest of the CMG fleet, with the monthly rate quoted per job rather than listed.
The monthly rate is quoted per job rather than listed.
Priced per job
No minimum period, and the rental ends when you request pickup.
No minimum period
Delivery lands inside 48 to 72 hours and collection at the end of the rental is in the rate.
48 to 72 hrs
Open tops are specialty stock, so availability and lead time vary by market. Check both before you fix a crane date.
Open top rentals ship from the closest CMG yard. Five owned yards serve the states below, with every delivery planned by address.
Owned yard
Delivery planned by address, typically 48 to 72 hours.
Owned yard
Delivery planned by address, typically 48 to 72 hours.
The roof opening on a 20ft open top is 7 feet 3.75 inches wide. That is about four inches narrower than the internal width, so measure against the roof figure.
Open top rentals are quoted per job rather than listed at a flat rate. Send the site location and rental length and CMG will price the unit and the delivery.
Yes. The tarpaulin and roof bows lift out, leaving the full roof opening clear for a crane or gantry. Lashing rings along the top rail are rated at roughly 1,000 kg each.
The PVC-coated tarpaulin is weather resistant rather than a sealed steel roof. It sheds rain in normal weather, but it is not the right cover for goods that must stay perfectly dry.
An open top loads from above and suits over-height cargo. A flat rack has no side walls and suits over-width or over-length loads that have to come in from the side.
CMG provides office containers for rent in 20ft and 40ft sizes with all necessary amenities.
Cargo doors at both ends
From $500 / mo View specs
Opens along its long wall so a forklift reaches any pallet without working through the run.
Side openings up to 39 feet
From $400 / mo View specs
Use the lifter to place your equipment from side and come out easily from the other.
Bought outright
From $200 / mo View specs
Open top container rental gives you a full roof opening for crane loading, on month-to-month terms with 48 to 72 hour delivery. Tell us the delivery address and we quote the exact rate.
