Can you store items in existing containers or will loot respawn delete them?

[Arndell]

I found a storage unit area I want to setup a permanent base in, got a van full of stuff and an inventory full of stuff, can I use the existing weapon crates and washing mashines as my own storage or should i only use crafted containers?

i have set my game to respawn loot over a long time passing, will the restock tick delete anything i have in that container or will it be left alone if player items are already in them?

[anrkyuk]

I have a base at E3 at the builders yard, inside the cabin there are 2 tool box containers and outside are 2 skips, I have been using these for storage for over 30 days in game and nothing has ever vanished and nothing new ever spawns in them (even when they are not full).

The only thing I will say is, I have an active respawn marker close to them, so not sure this has any effect on it. Or it might simply be that if a player puts something in an existing world container that it disables loot spawn on it until it is emptied.

Take from this what you will.

[J.Vaxx]

For what I saw until now, if you put something in the existing containers it will not respawn any loot, it will respawn loot only if you take off all items (after some time); and if you put that sign to mark a base, the loot in the existing containers doesn't spawn either.

[Frankie Mahovolich]

I threw a backpack and some worn out tools on the ground in my shop and on the 4th day they are still there.