How to Use the OPNBar Shipping Container Leverage Bar

Every OPNBar works the same basic way: the mouth slides over the shipping container door handle, and the length of the bar gives you leverage to turn the lockrods without jerking on the handle by hand. This guide shows how to open and close container and truck trailer doors with an OPNBar, how to handle special cases (rubber-sleeved, triangular, tight-clearance and overhead handles), and how to use the 5th wheel hook and tire thumper built into some models.

Official OPNBar instructions: for the manufacturer's step-by-step instructions for every version, see the OPNBar Instructions page.

What You Need

How to Open a Shipping Container Door with an OPNBar

  1. Start with the right-hand door. On standard containers the right door overlaps the left, so it has to open first. Don't try to open both doors at once.
  2. Check the door before you pull. Look for damage, bulging or signs that cargo has shifted against the door. If the door looks like it's under pressure, get help before opening it.
  3. Lift the locking handles out of their retainers (keepers).
  4. Seat the OPNBar's mouth over the handle, pushing it down as far as it will go.
  5. Pull the long end of the bar with steady force, using your legs and body weight rather than your back. The lockrods turn and the cams release from their keepers.
  6. Repeat on the second handle if the door has two.
  7. Remove the bar and swing the door open while standing to the side, in case cargo falls out.
  8. Open the left-hand door the same way.

How to Close and Lock the Door

  1. Close the left-hand door first, then the right, so the right door overlaps it.
  2. Seat the OPNBar on the handle and push it toward the door to rotate the lockrods until the cams engage their keepers.
  3. Push the handle into its retainer and remove the bar. Check that every handle is fully seated before applying a lock or seal.

Truck trailer doors with similar lockrods work the same way. For stuck, iced-over or out-of-square doors, see our complete guide to opening a stuck shipping container door.

Which OPNBar for Your Handles

Your doors Bar to use
Rubber-sleeved handles V2 Large Mouth or V3 Deep Mouth
Triangular handles V4
Closely spaced lockrods V5 Tight Clearance
Protruding side metal or rear-set lockrods V2 New Angle Bend
Need more reach? V4 Short or V4 Long with the extension
Overhead or hard-to-reach handles Overhead Leverage Bar

Rubber-sleeved handles

OPNBar large mouth leverage bar on a container door handle with rubber sleeve

Many newer and refurbished containers have rubber or plastic sleeves on the handles, which are too thick for a standard bar. Use a large-mouth bar: the V2 Large Mouth or the V3 Deep Mouth. You don't need to cut the sleeve off. The V3's deeper mouth fits farther over the handle.

Instructions: Version 2 | Version 3

Triangular handles

OPNBar Version 4 fitted on a triangular container door handle

Use the OPNBar V4, which is designed for triangular container levers. Seat the mouth over the lever the same way, and use the double ergonomic grip to keep two hands on the bar while you pull.

Instructions: Version 4

Closely spaced lockrods

OPNBar Version 5 on closely spaced container lockrods - made in USA

If your bar won't fit between the lockrods or handles, use the V5 Tight Clearance. It has two leverage holes, which give you two engagement positions. Use whichever position fits between the lockrods, seat it on the handle and pull as normal.

Instructions: Version 5

Protruding side metal or rear-set lockrods

OPNBar new angle bend clearing protruding metal on a container door - made in USA

On containers where hinges or side framing get in the way of a straight bar, use the V2 New Angle Bend. Seat it with the bend pointing away from the side metal so you get a full swing without scraping your knuckles.

Instructions: Version 2

Need more reach? Using the extension

OPNBar Version 4 long leverage bar with detachable extension

The V4 Short and V4 Long come with a detachable extension bar. Seat the bar on the handle first, then attach the extension for more leverage. The V4 Short goes from 14" to 34", and the V4 Long from 22" to 42". More length means more force, so pull steadily and don't jerk the bar.

Instructions: OPNBar extensions | Version 4

Overhead or hard-to-reach handles

Worker using the OPNBar overhead leverage bar on a high container door handle

Use the OPNBar Overhead Leverage Bar. Rotate the head to match the direction of the handle (left- or right-facing), engage it, then pull. The 18.5" or 27" handle gives you reach without overreaching.

Instructions: Overhead Leverage Bar

Using the 5th Wheel Release Hook

Several OPNBars have a 5th wheel release hook: the 5th Wheel Release Hook & Pin Puller, the Tire Thumper, the V2 New Angle Bend and the V5. The V4 5th Wheel Release Version adds a hook and extension bar for extra reach.

  1. Set the trailer brakes and lower the landing gear as you normally would before unhooking.
  2. Stand beside the tractor, clear of the tires, and seat the hook on the 5th wheel release handle.
  3. Pull the handle out with a steady pull, using your legs rather than your back, until it locks in the open position.

If the handle won't move, don't force it. There's usually pressure on the jaws. See our guide on what to do when a 5th wheel won't release.

More detail: How to release a 5th wheel hitch

Using the Tire Thumper

On your pre-trip inspection, strike each tire's tread with the bar and listen. A properly inflated tire gives a loud, sharp thud. A low tire gives a dull thud, so check that one with a pressure gauge. A thumper finds badly under-inflated tires quickly, but it doesn't replace a gauge.

More detail: How to thump tires to check inflation

Instructions for Other Container and Trailer Types

Safety Tips

  • Use the OPNBar for container latches and other intended leverage tasks. Don't use it as a pipe extension on wrenches or tools not designed for that force.
  • Inspect the bar for wear, cracks or damage before each use.
  • Make sure the mouth is fully seated before you pull. A bar that isn't fully seated can slip off the handle.
  • Keep your fingers clear of the gap between the handle and the door.
  • Pull with steady force. Don't jerk or bounce on the bar.
  • Stand to the side of the door when it opens.

How to attach the wrist lanyard:

FAQ

Which door do I open first on a shipping container?
The right-hand door. It overlaps the left door, so it has to open first.

The door still won't open after I turn the handles. What now?
The gasket may be stuck, the door may be iced over, or the container may be out of square. Our stuck container door guide covers each case.

Does the OPNBar fit handles with rubber sleeves?
The V2 Large Mouth, V3, V4 and V5 all fit rubber-sleeved handles.

Can I use one OPNBar on several containers?
Yes. It isn't attached to the door, so you carry it from container to container or keep it in the cab.

Does it work on truck trailer doors?
Yes. OPNBar was designed for opening and closing both shipping containers and truck trailers.

These are general guidelines. Always follow the official OPNBar instructions for your version, your company's safety procedures and any applicable regulations. Use the OPNBar only for its intended purpose. See our full Company and Products Disclaimer.

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