Portable Carport/Garage

[wildbill23c]

I have been thinking about getting one of the portable carport/garage kits to keep my Bronco 2 parked in when not being used. The dash is already cracked so I'd like to kind of keep it from getting worse until I can fine a replacement. I am also working on having the paint/rust issues taken care of so I'd kind of like to keep the dang thing out of the sun when its not being used, as well as a somewhat protected area from the weather so I can possibly work on it better during winter months when I'm not as busy.

So, the question is, how well do those portable garage kits work, how well do they hold up to snow, wind, and rain? I plan on getting one with all 4 sides with the front having the zippered or velcro closure.

 

[JoshT]

Can't speak for snow, we don't get that down here. I had one of the Harbor Freight 10x17 units in my back yard for probably about 5 years before the cover began tearing. Given the brand and price I'd say it held up pretty well. Never had a vehicle in it, used it to store lawn mower and other yard work items.

Dad has had a small Shelter Logic set up at the hunting club for probably over 10 years now. Uses it to store his 4 wheeler and other stuff out of the weather. It's parked under some pine trees, so it doesn't catch a lot of sunlight, but the it's held up well in wind and rain and being pelted with small limbs when storms blow through.

As I said, can't speak for snow. If you can keep it from accumulating to thick on the top I'd imagine it would hold up just fine.

 

[Doofy]

The ones I've seen shed snow very well. UV rays will eventually rot the covering but they should last for several years.

 

[RonD]

If you own the property then you should just look at building a garage, something that can be heated so it is usable in the winter.
You can do pre-fabbed.
Idaho snow may not be the best place for portable, when they do fail it will damage whatevers inside, just my opinion

 

[wildbill23c]

Thanks everyone for your opinions and ideas.

Temporarily I think the portable might be fine, but I think a permanent structure will be the end result. Trouble is every building you build you get taxed on so as a result I've torn down several structures as well as my chainlink fence. Yep, clean up your property so it looks nice and what happens you get taxed to death on it .

I have a nice property area that would allow a huge 30' x 40' shop but it always comes down to $$$ LOL.

I was thinking of building like a 24 x 30 shop with drive through access. I guess I need to call a contractor and find out what the general cost is, then compare that to me slowly building it in which case if I build it, it will never get finished LOL.

 

[Doofy]

Lots of steel buildings on the market that make great garages. Also, some of the better portable shelters have very nice, sturdy frames that can be metal clad when the coverings fail. I would imagine that codes, zoneing and taxes will greatly affect your choices. Not so where I live.

 

[wildbill23c]

Lots of steel buildings on the market that make great garages. Also, some of the better portable shelters have very nice, sturdy frames that can be metal clad when the coverings fail. I would imagine that codes, zoneing and taxes will greatly affect your choices. Not so where I live.

I have a couple of Tuff Sheds but they're extremely expensive and after the last one I'm not really wanting to deal with them again. I had to go through and redo a lot of the framing after they left.

The trouble I have is I have all sorts of great ideas, but never any money, and don't feel like doing stuff as much anymore, sucks to have ideas but don't feel like doing anything .

 

[Mark_88]

You can heat those...they don't retain heat very well but a portable heater can get you in shirt sleeves very fast.

I tend to agree with the fixed shelter idea though...and in some areas they do not tax you as much if you do not enclose all four sides...so you might want to check that out...put up a roof with the max number of walls and tarp the remainder...that way you can heat it easier and you get the added benefit of something that is going to hold up better than an aluminum frame...

I would want something at least 20' x 20' with a poured concrete floor and an insulated roof...the rest can be done over time as you can afford or as you need.

 

[RonD]

Pole barns can be a good starting point, good roof but open on all 4 sides.
Gravel floor to start and then pour concrete as funds permit.
Fill in with walls as funds permit

Check local utility company's as they replace older poles and sell them off, to be recycled or reused, they are already treated.
25ft poles can go for $3-$5 foot, two of those could get you 4 12ft poles and 3 foot in the ground would give you 8ft height

 

[wildbill23c]

Ideas are great, thinking at least get an enclosed structure up, I can do the interior as I go and as I figure out exactly what all I want the building for, thinking large enough to move my wood shop into part of it and be able to pull my vehicles completely in and close the doors. Heck even with my wood working tools I can put them all on mobile bases which most already are roll them to the sides when I need to work on a vehicle, etc.

I may just start buying a few materials here and there I hate paying people to do this stuff LOL.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

I tend to agree with the fixed shelter idea though...and in some areas they do not tax you as much if you do not enclose all four sides...so you might want to check that out...put up a roof with the max number of walls and tarp the remainder...that way you can heat it easier and you get the added benefit of something that is going to hold up better than an aluminum frame...

A regular carport (in Iowa) isn't considered a permanent structure until it is bolted on a concrete pad. On gravel with mobile home anchors it is still considered portable.

We sell carports at work, if you go crazy tall like for a camper make sure you spring for all the extra bracing you can get (for storms)

I recommend mobile home anchors no matter what. We have had people cheap out and just use the rebar ones but so far nobody that has had MH anchors has had a problem.

Around here we get moderate snowfall but we haven't had one collapse yet in 15 years (knocking on wood) They do make them with the ribs going up and down that would shed snow much better (and they look more like a normal building)

Dunno how big you want but ours start at $699 for a 12x21 installed. Its a couple hundred to enclose the ends (a well trained monkey could enclose the sides), get it spray foam insulated and you have a steel framed building that will never rot or get eaten by bugs.

 

[Doofy]

Hahaha, wildbill23c. My mind out paces my Ass most of the time too. I can dream up more things I want to do and never get any of them done. Sad...Sad.

 

[wildbill23c]

Hahaha, wildbill23c. My mind out paces my Ass most of the time too. I can dream up more things I want to do and never get any of them done. Sad...Sad.

^^HAHA this is my exact problem. I mean there's the money issues too, but I have tons of ideas that well never get done.

A permanent structure would be much better. I can add a lean to on a current building and its not taxable . Wonder if something like that would work, just add on to my current shop, rebuild the front of it to install a garage door, then work on the floor and walls later as its not finished inside and has a dirt floor.

Do like a 20' x 20' addition and shove all my tools out into the addition, that would leave me the 24' x 24' original shop for vehicle work. The only thing is if I do that I would want to add a 2 or 4 post lift not sure which one would be best but I think a lift would be a huge money saving idea in the long run. I hate having to crawl under vehicles but if it was up in the air I'd have no problem doing any work on them.

 

[Doofy]

85_Ranger4x4 Are those the "American Steel Carports" that you sell and install? Website has lots of info and pricing...

 

[Doofy]

In looking at 85_Ranger4x4's post...May very well be in your price range. Free installation. And yes, a lift would be awesome and the cost has really become affordable.