A one trip 20ft open top container is a near-new 20ft container with a removable roof. Steel roof bows and a heavy tarpaulin replace the solid steel top, so you can lift the cover off and lower cargo in from above. The container has made a single loaded voyage since it was built, so the frame is straight, the paint is fresh and the tarpaulin is in excellent condition. Prime Cargo Box sells this one trip 20ft open top container wind and watertight and CSC plated.
Open tops are the standard answer for tall, heavy and crane-loaded cargo. Here is what one trip means, the full specification, how the roof works and how to get the best from it.
What Is a One Trip 20ft Open Top Container?
New containers usually carry export cargo on their first journey instead of travelling empty. After that cargo is delivered, many are sold locally rather than going back into service. A container sold after a single load is called one trip.
An open top has the same steel walls, floor and end doors as a standard container, but no fixed roof. Removable roof bows span the top and support a tarpaulin, which is tied down along the top rails. Put the two together and a one trip 20ft open top container gives you top-loading flexibility in near-new condition.
One Trip 20ft Open Top Container Specifications
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Container type | 20ft open top container (20′ OT), standard height |
| Condition | One trip, near new |
| External length | 20 ft (6.06 m) |
| External width | 8 ft (2.44 m) |
| External height | 8 ft 6 in (2.59 m) |
| Internal length | Approx. 19 ft 4 in (5.90 m) |
| Internal width | Approx. 7 ft 8 in (2.35 m) |
| Internal height | Approx. 7 ft 8 in (2.34 m) to the roof bows |
| Roof opening | Approx. 17 ft 6 in long x 7 ft 3 in wide (5.34 x 2.23 m) |
| Door opening | Approx. 7 ft 8 in wide x 7 ft 5 in high (2.34 x 2.28 m) |
| Cubic capacity | Approx. 1,150 cu ft (32.5 m³) |
| Tare weight | Approx. 5,400 lbs (2,450 kg) |
| Maximum gross weight | 67,200 lbs (30,480 kg) or 71,650 lbs (32,500 kg), depending on build |
| Payload | Approx. 28,000 to 30,000 kg, depending on the gross rating |
| Roof | Removable steel roof bows and tarpaulin cover |
| Floor | Marine-grade plywood |
| Doors | Double cargo doors at one end |
| Certification | CSC safety approval plate |
Open top dimensions vary slightly between factories. Carriers publish similar figures, such as this Hapag-Lloyd 20ft open top specification. We confirm the plate details of your unit on the quote.
How the Roof Works
The roof bows drop into sockets along the top side rails and hold the tarpaulin up so rain runs off. A cable or rope runs through eyelets around the edge of the tarpaulin and locks it to the container, and on cargo-going units the cable can take a customs seal. To load from above, release the cable, fold back the tarpaulin and lift out the bows. When loading is done, replace the bows and pull the tarpaulin tight again.
Many open tops also have a swing-out header above the end doors. Releasing it gives extra height at the door end, which helps when loading tall items with a forklift.
Why Choose a One Trip 20ft Open Top Container?
On an open top, condition matters most in the roof parts. A one trip unit has a near-new tarpaulin with no patches, straight bows that drop cleanly into their sockets, and undamaged top rails. That means less maintenance and a better seal than a used open top, at a lower price than factory new.
The 20ft length is the natural choice for heavy cargo such as machinery, stone and steel, because it reaches its weight limit long before its volume limit. With a payload of around 28 to 30 tonnes, a one trip 20ft open top container can carry very dense loads.
Open Top or Standard Box?
A one trip 20ft open top container earns its place when cargo is too tall or too heavy to go through end doors safely, or when crane loading saves time on site. For goods that go in on pallets, a standard container is cheaper and has a fully solid steel roof, which is more secure for unattended storage. Many businesses run both: an open top for crane-loaded items and shipping work, and standard boxes for everything else.
If you need a solid, lockable roof that can still be removed for loading, ask us about hard-top containers, which use a removable steel roof panel instead of a tarpaulin.
Who Uses a One Trip 20ft Open Top Container?
A one trip 20ft open top container is popular with:
- Machinery dealers and engineering firms shipping equipment
- Quarries and stone merchants handling heavy blocks
- Steel stockholders moving coils and bundles
- Builders storing scaffolding and tall plant
- Exporters whose cargo must be crane-loaded
Loading a One Trip 20ft Open Top Container
Lower cargo centrally and keep the heaviest weight over the middle of the floor. Use the lashing points on the bottom rails to secure loads before refitting the bows. If cargo stands higher than the side walls, shipping lines treat it as out of gauge, so talk to your forwarder before booking. When closing up, tension the tarpaulin evenly so water can’t pool, and check every eyelet is secured.
Compare Open Top Options
| Option | Condition | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| One trip 20ft open top | Near new | Heavy cargo, long service life |
| Used 20ft open top | Visible wear | Budget top-loading |
| 40ft open top | Various | Long or bulky top-loaded cargo |
For a lower price, see the used 20ft open top container. For longer loads, the one trip 40ft open top container and the new 40ft open top shipping container double the length. If you only need standard storage, the one trip 20ft shipping container has a solid roof.
See all open tops on our open top shipping container for sale page.
What to Ask Before Buying
One trip is a trade description, and some sellers use it loosely. Before buying a one trip 20ft open top container from any supplier, ask for the manufacture date on the CSC plate, photos of the actual unit with the tarpaulin on and off, and confirmation that all roof bows are present and there are no repairs. We include this with every quote.
Markings and Registration
Every container carries an owner code and number registered with the Bureau International des Containers. On a one trip unit those markings may still be visible. They don’t affect use and can be painted over.
Site and Delivery
Prepare a firm, level base of about 6.5 m by 2.5 m with room at the door end. If you plan to load from above, check there is safe access for a crane or telehandler to reach over the container and no overhead cables in the way. Our shipping and delivery policy explains how delivery is quoted.
Care
Keep the tarpaulin tensioned so rain runs off, and inspect it every few months for wear. Store the bows safely when they are out so none get lost or bent. Grease the door hinges and locking bars, and keep the top rails clean so the bows seat properly.
How to Order a One Trip 20ft Open Top Container
- Send your details. Quantity, delivery address and intended use.
- Get your quote. Price, delivery and plate ratings.
- Confirm access. We check truck and crane access.
- Pay and receive. See our billing and payment policy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a one trip 20ft open top container watertight?
Yes, with the tarpaulin fitted and tensioned correctly. Keep it tight so rain runs off the sides instead of pooling, and re-tension it after the roof has been opened.
Are the tarpaulin and bows included?
Yes. Every unit comes with a full set of roof bows and a tarpaulin. Spare tarpaulins can be ordered if the roof will be opened often, since they are the part of an open top that wears fastest.
Can I ship goods in a one trip 20ft open top container?
Yes. It carries a CSC plate and is accepted for shipping. If the cargo stands above the side walls, book it as out of gauge with your forwarder.
Can I load it from the end as well?
Yes. It has standard double cargo doors at one end, so everyday items can go in through the doors while heavy or tall cargo is lowered in from above. Releasing the swing header, where fitted, gives extra height at the door end.
Do you deliver worldwide?
Yes. Contact Prime Cargo Box for a delivered price on a one trip 20ft open top container.
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