Anybody here use portable garages?

[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.