I get plastic 55 gallon drums and 5 gallon buckets from the carwash free. I was however wondering if they can hold up to a hard freeze with water in them. I'm usually out of rain water by fall though so haven't had to worry about it so far. I've seen smaller steel drums full of water burst from a hard freeze. I would think the plastic would flex more but maybe not when cold or brittle from age and UV exposure.

You must drain your rain barresl in the winter. You are not using them anyway. They will freeze and burst.