If it's boxes, skis and a raft, rent a storage unit. If it's a job site, a ranch or a long move, get a steel container delivered to your property. That's the whole decision in two sentences. Below is how Durango residents tend to sort it, what a local container company charges, and what to keep out of storage altogether.
Why does Durango run out of garage?
Four real seasons, each one handing you gear the last one didn't need. Winter wants skis, boards, chains and a shovel. Summer wants a raft, two mountain bikes and a cooler the size of a dog crate. Durango in winter alone can swallow a mudroom, and when mountain biking season stacks on top of it, the two-car garage stops being a garage. It turns into a gear closet with a car parked half in the driveway.
Renters feel it worst. Many downtown apartments come with a coat closet and little else, so the bike lives in the living room. Somewhere around year three, most people go looking for more space.
Should you rent a storage unit or an on-site container?
They do different jobs.
| Self-storage unit | On-site steel container | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Seasonal gear, boxes, a bike or two | Job sites, ranches, moves, big projects |
| Where it lives | At a facility, across town | On your property |
| Access | Drive over each time | Walk out your door |
| Setup | Sign and move in | Delivery and placement |
A unit handles skis, rafts and camp boxes without fuss. Swap winter gear for summer gear when the snow melts, and repeat.
A container fits a different life. Construction crews, ranch hands and anyone mid-move can't drive tools back to a rented unit every night. A lot with no shed has nowhere to lock up a ladder, a generator or a pallet of lumber. An on-site box shows up, gets locked, and stays put for the length of the job.
What does Hercules Containers offer?
Hercules Containers is a family-owned Durango company at 281 S Skylane Dr, Unit C. Its website lists steel containers from 8 to 40 feet for rent, for sale or for custom modification, including high cubes and double-door boxes. It delivers across southwest Colorado, northwest New Mexico and the Four Corners, with Pagosa Springs, Cortez, Farmington and Aztec named on its service list.
A few extras matter for gear. The company says it offers heavy-duty shelving racks rated to 3,300 pounds, which turns a bare box into usable storage. It also moves containers you already own, with rates starting at $200 an hour. The site shows a 5.0 rating on Google from 21 reviews, and the office is open Monday through Thursday 8am to 5pm and Friday 8am to 4pm.
What does a container cost?
Hercules lists rentals starting at $70 per four-week period for compact units, $85 for its most popular size and $115 for the largest. Treat those as starting prices from October 2026. Delivery, placement and length of rental change the final number, and the company promises a quote within 24 hours.
If the need looks permanent, ask about owning. The site offers rent-to-own from $99 down, starting at $149 a month for 12 to 36 months, plus lease-to-own through Clicklease, subject to approval. That turns a monthly expense into equity.
When should you book, and what should you skip storing?
Book as soon as you know the date. Hercules says availability changes daily, so a July project is worth a call in spring. In winter, plan for slack, because snowy roads can slow a drop-off if your property sits outside town.
As for what not to store, keep electronics, photos and anything that dislikes temperature swings somewhere heated. A steel box and a standard unit are fine for skis, bikes, patio furniture and tools.
Not sure which fits? Boxes and seasonal equipment go in a unit. A site, a ranch or a move goes in a container. Sort it out before next season's gear arrives. And once the gear is out of storage, our best things to do in Durango guide has plenty of ways to use it.
