Anybody here use portable garages?

[NSBound]

I never have before, but I ran out of room in the 3-car garage (workshop-old convertible-tractor). So I bought this one to put my daily driver in for the winter. And there's room left over to put my new riding mower!). These types of garages seem to be very popular here in Nova Scotia, and I think also in Quebec. I put it far enough from the house to be able to get one swath of snow pushed put of the way with the tractor, and it's one tractor's width away from the garage too.

 

[tallyho8]

When I read portable garage I thought of this one I saw in the Ozarks.

 

[NSBound]

That would sure have been easier to assemble!

 

[aczlan]

When I read portable garage I thought of this one I saw in the Ozarks.

I wonder if they used that for hauling white water rafts on, when my scout troop went whitewater rafting there were buses setup like that that they stacked rafts several high on.

Aaron Z

 

[radioman]

I never have before, but I ran out of room in the 3-car garage (workshop-old convertible-tractor). So I bought this one to put my daily driver in for the winter. And there's room left over to put my new riding mower!). These types of garages seem to be very popular here in Nova Scotia, and I think also in Quebec. I put it far enough from the house to be able to get one swath of snow pushed put of the way with the tractor, and it's one tractor's width away from the garage too.

I never really liked them in my area- way too windy. I hated going out all the time to push the snow off the roof. If I dont, it looks like it wants to cave in .

 

[NSBound]

I never really liked them in my area- way too windy. I hated going out all the time to push the snow off the roof. If I dont, it looks like it wants to cave in .

Time will tell! This one seems pretty sturdy.

 

[jimmyj]

Knock the snow off the roof regularly and make sure it's anchored really well. I've had them actually snap right off the anchors (broke the metal poles right off with the feet still staying on the ground). Now I make sure they are well anchored at the feet and higher up too.

 

[Ray2210]

I have a Shelter Logic one from Canadian Tire. It has lasted 3 years with the only problem being the ends blew out the first year. Can Tire replaced them and it's been fines since. I am not betting on it lasting another winter but hey for 249 bucks I can't complain. You absolutely must anchor them properly and on one like mine it requires a very level surface to keep the slip joints from pulling apart. Some pins in the joints help alot and the holes are there but they don't supply any with the package. If you can find a kit from Cover All they are at least twice the price but include anchors and base channel and in the end are not really much more money. They are at least twice the product in the end too.

 

[NSBound]

....... You absolutely must anchor them properly .......

Hi Ray, I don't remember the manufacturer of this one but it seems sturdy. And I sure know about high winds, we have them regularly here on the north shore of Nova Scotia. I have it staked in the 4 corners, and also plan to park a riding mower inside (800 lbs) and tie a rope from it to the topmost pole, to try to keep the shelter firmly stationed where I put it! If the wind blows the shelter away, it'll take my riding mower with it. The ends do seem like they will be the weak spots though, they aren't well attached, except the zippers for the doorway are super-heavy duty. The other end seems too loose, and I'm not sure what I could do to improve it.

 

[Ray2210]

I'd anchor it at more than 4 points. My shelter has 8 points on the ground and I used 8 anchors. If air gets inside it can lift the middle like a parachute or sail and the shelter will fail. If that happens it will beat the crap out of what ever is inside it or tied to it. On a 20 ft shelter I wouldn't use less than 8 anchors.

 

[CurlyDave]

Don't laugh too hard at that one from the Ozarks.

It gets pretty hot around here in the summer and I mount a piece of plywood on my lumber rack with some U-bolts so I don't have to spend a lot of time looking for a shady parking space when I want to leave the dogs in the truck.

 

[NuBota]

I've had mine, ShelterLogic 12x24 for over two years now. It has held up much better than I ever expected

The only place I have any wear is the bottom of the door flap from rubbing on the ground when blown by the wind

 

[NSBound]

Thanks for that, NuBota - yours looks exactly like mine! I was looking at my door and will have to make sure the bottom edge doesn't get frozen in the snow and ice. Actually, once the ground freezes, mine will not move - when I was putting in the corner stakes, I dug down in my gravel driveway and found standing water down about 6", so the stakes will freeze right in place when it gets cold enough!

 

[George2615]

Last year I bought 2 portable garages to store my classic cars in. They are great in summer but metal structure is not strong enough to hold up to the weight of snow. At first when it snowed I would go and brush it off. Then one day we got a 2' snowfall and it collapsed on one of my cars. I now have one left and only used it this summer. Have since built a more permanent pole barn addition. In my estimation they are a waste of money if you live in heavy snow country.

 

[forgeblast]

Well it will be simi portable. We are putting a carport in next to our house. it will be anchord to the modified base we have in the driveway. Once i make a garage it will be used to store firewood. Its getting installed next week.

 

[NuBota]

A member (can't remember who it was at the moment) on here did a video a couple of years ago on how to deal with anchoring and snow weight, etc. I will see if I can find it

He set his up and used four 4x4 PT posts, set in the ground and used metal straps to secure the frame's steel posts to them. He also ran straps / ropes from the roof peak to the "eaves" to add support to the "roof"

I had planned to follow this example, but since mine is in a low spot on my property and deep in the woods, the wind and snow (what little we do get) hasn't been much of a factor.

The only thing extra I did was add screws where the posts connected together. I was going to add foam pipe insulation where the posts contact the cover, but never bothered. There are a couple of spots where the vinyl looks stressed.

Bad part is, the structure has worked so well that I am no longer rushing to complete my permanent structure, which in turn as caused me to plan it bigger with more features and $$$$

 

[smfcpacfp]

Are my eyes decieving me, or is it right in front of one of your regular garage doors?

 

[NSBound]

Are my eyes decieving me, or is it right in front of one of your regular garage doors?

It is, but that bay is my workshop, not used for vehicles. It's full of workbenches, wood stove, coal forge, etc etc etc . The other 2 bays are old car and tractor .

 

[NuBota]

I remembered the TBN member who did the video - it was Timber - but I couldn't find his video. I did find his Photobucket site where he has some stills. it is here....

shed pictures by Timber_8 - Photobucket


Also, for handling the door flap when opened. ShelterLogic wanted $40 for their "system". I just copied it for about 8 bucks at the HW store....

Two pulleys (1 single, 1 double), 4 S-hooks and clothesline cord

Finally, as far as portability - at one point I wanted to re-grade and add some fill to the "floor" - four of us, one at each corner, just lifted and moved the whole thing out of the way. With the screws I added to the connections, it was very sturdy and didn't shift at all

Sorry, probably more input than you were looking for , but figured I'd share. I guess I am impressed with how well mine has held up - I had expected much less.....

 

[NSBound]

....................Sorry, probably more input than you were looking for , but figured I'd share. I guess I am impressed with how well mine has held up - I had expected much less.....

Hey, thanks for that - no such thing as too much information. I was looking at how to get the door flap to roll up, so that's good info. So far I've just been driving in and out with the zippers undone and letting the flap ease up over the car. We've had some very strong winds here today and it hasn;t budged, so I think I'm good for the winter. But I will look into putting together that door roll-up idea of yours!

I'm thinking of relocating this shelter next summer. I'm thinking I'll dig into a little earthen bank and kind of set it into the cutout I end up with after some FEL work.