looking for some input on what you guys have used. I don't have a garage. Do have a cal cover. Looking for something a bit more sturdy keep in away from snow and rain. I know harbor freight has a portable garage. What are other options, shy of renting a garage?
go to amazon, read the reviews http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias=aps&field-keywords=portable+garage
Northern Tool.... I have a 12X30 "Canvas garage" that came from them, works good..... If you get one, make sure you anchor or weight it well. I have a 5 gallon bucket of sand on each and every leg... Has stood up to some pretty stiff winds... You might have a big problem with these if you have much snow...... Lynn W
Where do you live? It will determine how much snow you get. For a bit more money you can get a carport with a metal roof, ( around here about $600-$800 erected, no permit needed for single car size) and for a bit more money they can put sides on it, And for a bit more money they will put a back wall and a garage door. You get what you pay for. If you are someplace that only gets an inch or two of snow at a time the HF will last about a year and then need new tarps.
.................Exactly. How can we give you logical advice on protecting your car from the weather if you can't even bother to tell us where you're located?
I had a California Cover porta garage/car port that I used for years. I built a couple of cars under it before I had a garage and needed/wanted to be out of the weather. When it snowed I just went out and knocked the snow off of it, I do know that it held up to a 2' wet snow once at least until I got off work. and could knock the snow off of it. granted I did knock the snow off if it so if one doesn't have time or has some other reason that they can't knock the snow off of it that may be a problem. I had a friend once that went to a surplus store and bought a Korean war era field hospital tent, it had provisions for wood heat and was sturdy and big enough to build a car in and then some. it is still an option if you know where a surplus store is, they were designed to withstand snow and etc.
I had a crap load of old bricks I used as my foundation. I build a shed on top out of free pallets and covered with tar paper. It is really solid and once I get some siding nailed up it will look pretty. If you go the pallet route try to get the larger ones. The wood is sturdier and less are needed for your build.
LOL that is so 3rd world. One time when I was living in the Ozarks there was a single middle aged woman that bought some property up the road from me and she built the first room of her house out of pallets and discarded lumber from a building project. One of my neighbors found an old 8 wide trailer house that he could have for hauling it off and we pulled it and set it behind her first room. She eventually built a second room off the back door of the trailer. Used wood is good. Pretty hard to find decent pallets here, they sell 'em. But good idea, nice to have a garage/shed isn't it.
LMAO! my lady said the same thing!!! It's actually not that bad really. I am close to an industrial area rails, trucks etc... The homeless guys have free firewood all winter I found pallets that are covered (no spaces) on top and and have three slats on the underside. They were in really nice shape, were used for tiles. The three slats side went on the inside and hold the insulation in. You can't really tell it is built out of pallets especially once I get the siding on it. The best part is that it is not a permanent structure so taxes and permits are not part of the equation.
the best car shelters are the ones with round tops ,snow don't collect but falls off by it self,my friend has one going on 10 years, shelterlogic,
I live in Canada and there are a lot of portable garages used around here. They will last a long time if you take care of them right. You can get 10 years or more out of one. First make sure you anchor it down so there is no possibility of moving. Every time we get strong winds a few of them blow over and get wrecked. Second you can fasten plywood to the roof area before you put the cover on. The cover will last a lot longer especially in snowy areas. If you get a lot of snow go out and brush it off with a broom. I have thought of painting the cover to preserve it but haven't seen anybody do this. Of course you couldn't tell if the used beige paint. There is a way to make a solid damp proof floor for a couple hundred bucks if you are interested.
Talk about 3d world... every time I go thru my favorite junkyard I notice all the pickup trucks with bed liners. These have 0 value as scrap because they are plastic. I thought of cutting out the middle and using it for corrugated roofing. I bet it would last as long as a steel roof, especially on a garage made out of pallets lol.
Apache if you want some cheap siding you could do what my uncle did when he built his garage. Got sheets of 1/4 chip board, cut in strips and nailed it on like clapboards. Once it was painted it looked like everyone else's garage. You can also nail the chip board on in sheets and nail strips of wood every foot or so like board and batten. You can get free paint if there is a recycling center near you.
Somewhat relevant... We started our fuel car under our newly purchased "pop-up" needless to say it wasn't one of my better ideas!
I had a Costco one for about 5 years, but I just pulled it down recently, and the top cover was falling apart. I am on the west coast, so it is really wet here, that may have something to do with it. It would also catch and hold water in heavy rainfall, so when it started to rain hard, or snow, I would prop the top up with 2x4's from underneath. I had it bolted down with lag bolts into asphalt, and I also had it attached to the front of the garage with metal straps. We get some pretty heavy winds here, it held up pretty well, but in a wet climate, I think a cover will only last about 5 years. One thing I would do, when it got real windy, I would open the front doors up, helps prevent pressure building up inside. Later, I will probably get a new cover and move it up to my front yard and park my driver under it. Painting the cover might help, that's a good idea.
I hope I'm not hijacking this thread, since there's a good discussion going already I figured I'd ask here. I also have a couple cars that will have to be stored outside this winter. Both need a total restoration, the cover is mostly to keep looky-loos from bothering me about them, and to keep leaves out of all the crevices. Neither has good paint that I'm worried about. Does anyone have any suggestions for a car cover that would last for maybe a year or two without just being a moisture trap like a tarp? I always hear that outdoor covers do more damage than good, is that really true? I don't want to make them worse, but one car in particular, left in my parking lot uncovered, is going to bring a lot of unwanted solicitors.
Thanks Rusty, That's not a bad idea, I already promised the boss siding. She is particular about the yard and she was a good sport about the pallets. Squablow I used empire covers for an OT car that likes to leak. I don't have it covered all the time but I have had it covered a few months and it does a pretty good job. No stains in my paint or bubbling.
One more tip, if you want to make clapboards out of cheap chip board, Lowes and Home Depot will cut the pieces for you. They have a big machine that makes perfect cuts a cinch.
Thanks for the replies. I live on Long Island ny. Last years so was insane. My town is a bunch of anal sphincters when it comes to permits for structures. I may just go ahead and get a rounded top port. Garage tent. Also thought about using the cal cover I have. Placing a tarp on floor, drive on it and then tarp over the top to create a pocket. Rolling over the edges of the tarps and clamping to prevent snow from coming in. Thoughts?
If you do that, make sure that you get a can, or two, of desiccant to remove any moisture that can/will build up. You can get them at most places, but I know for a fact that they have them in the paint departments of the big box stores. "Dri-z-air" was a brand that I saw a lot.
You have to make sure the moisture doesn't get trapped under the tarp and ruin your paint or rust out your car. Same reason why you shouldn't use plastic car cover. Your money might be better spent on a port or tent. On Long Island you're 10 miles away from any Harbor fright. They are having a sale on tents this weekend 10x17 for $179
This is good timing....... I bought a Harbor freight style of 10X20 portable car port real cheap from a neighbor after the tarp disintegrated away. I found a pool contractor who had 2 large new pool covers which were warranteed replaced because of a slight discoloration. I bought a 20' X 80' cover for $65. It has wire reinforced edges and super thick construction. supposed to last 7 years or better in direct sun. I bought a grommet kit and installed a piece to my car port frame. I have enough for at least 2 more covers. I used rebar tie wire through the grommets in a stitching pattern, doubled so when one went inside two grommets, the other went outside, alternating the whole distance. I then used my zip-ties through each grommet, and around both wires to anchor the tarp to the frame. This removes a point-source of stress so I anticipate the grommets and tarp should hold up for a long time. -Andy Carlson Ojai CA
Have you thought about renting a storage unit,a lot of guys I know that live in apartments rent them. HRP
Don't do that. Car covers breath, tarps don't. You'll trap moisture in there with your car, and the results won't be pretty.
go to one of the outdoor sign places and ask for one of there old signs. the one i got is a 16x30 tarp. put the lettering in side and you have a white tent+it was free. it has lasted 10yrs . for a frame i used 1"pvc
The above would be my choice but peaked tops also shed snow to a point.. Just watch for accumulation and go in it and shake the cover and the snow slides off..One shed [8x10] I made a perimeter pt wood 2x4 frame, crushed stone, plastic and cheap plywood for a floor soaked with preservative [stunk for years] and lagged the frame to the perimeter floor/frame..Plastic just getting tired after 12 years, floor still fine and no issue with moister or condensation...Never worried about wind as anything in the shed holds it down but if I felt threatened I'd put a couple ratchet straps from center pole to the 1400# garden tractor..In my larger [12x20] I inherited from wife I didn't get as fussy..Perimeter frame on dirt/grass ground, frame lagged to it, ground stakes to kept from moving around..Scrap wood piece meal thrown down with HF tarp over for floor [for insulation & moister barrier] ..Zero condensation issues..If worried about big winds I again rachet tied to car and tractor inside..On each the door zippers gave up with in 4 years..Mice issue got to be considered..D-con and fabreeze dryer sheets..
I use a round top wigwam. It snows up here so now and then have to move snow away from sides of wigwam. Mine is for vehicle storage in winter. You MUST put vapor barrier on floor or you will end up with a crapload of moisture inside as these things are like a green house. I used Stegawrap tm,,,very tough stuff! Currently sandblasting my '48 sedan delivery and with "Stegawrap" on floor recovery of sand is very easy I also built a false front, swinging doors to protest wigwam from the beatings of a prevailing NW wind. Minimum of 6 42" stakes driven into ground to keep it anchored!
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