"Temporary" Garages

Where are you located? I dont know much about temporary enclosures, but I would doubt such a tent would be suitable if you get any snow. Have you considered paying to have it stored somewhere? Another option is to have it shrink wrapped and then store it in your yard.

King Canopy

This one is snow load rated, so they do exist.

We live in the midewest. A popular storage option in this area has become the enclosed carports.

You can buy a car port package that includes sides and ends as well as service door and overhead door.

These builds offer greater protection than a canvas building and with some insulation could be heated.

These buildings also offer the ability to remain portable and could move with you if necessary and when mounted to concrete slabs are almost as nice as a regular garage for a fraction of the cost.

I looked at one on display in our area and the standard carport sold for around 600.00 and then approaced the $2000.00 range with sides, service door and overhead door. The one I looked at had a gable roof look as well making the building not too unattractive.

Here are links to a few such places...but shop around.....prices and packages vary greatly here in our city as well as on the internet.

In my view you are getting a lot more building here for not a lot more money.

Good luck

http://cla$$icmanor.com/carport2.htm

http://cla$$icmanor.com/carport3.htm

http://www.carports.com/garages.html

http://www.carports.com/online-brochure-versatube.html

http://www.portacover.com/photogallery.htm

http://www.gaport.com/garages.htm

http://www.superiorportablebuildings.com/Garages.htm

sorry Paul.....couldn't find it online at Costco either...saw it my local store here in TN and bought it on the spot. Seems like costco's product offerings are allways changing,....guess I got lucky?

If you'd like some pics to help with your search, let me know.

These enclosed carports are sweet! Unfortunatly, I have to due this on a shoe-string budget because all extra cash is going towards a down payment.

One thing I've learned about Costco: There is no such thing as, "Hmm... that's kinda cool, I'll think about it and buy it next time." It's already gone. If you see something and like it, buy one - better yet, buy two and return the second one if none of your buddies need or wants it. They'll take anything back (a buddy that used to work there told stories of people drinking a 1 3/4 gallons of milk and returning the rest because it was bad). I guess that goes along with the people in this area mentioned in the tranny thread (I apologize on their behalf - we're not all bad).

This is the most reasonable I've found so far, but I'm still diggin':

http://www.portablegaragedepot.com/index.cfm?sku=72434&catid=999999

Morfoot wrote: Paul, Have you considered taking off the swim platform to get it in the garage? I have a removable one on mine but again my garage is long enough to get her in without taking it off. Could you use a "you store it" facility until you move?

Yep. We're condo shopping because real estate is kinda pricey around here still, and that's all we can afford (even townhouses, which typically have at least one garage, are well out of our price range). I was adement about looking at places with garages (which, with condos, are far fewer and father between). We found a couple, but the garages are smaller, condo-sized garages (20 feet long). Even if I take the platform off, I still have to get the rest of the trailer (where the tongue is) in. I've read about ones that swing away, but I don't know if they can be retrofitted and if so, where I'd get that done. I have the original Correct Craft trailer. Width of the garage would be tight - but do-able. The last thing was that I haven't found a condo complex yet that lets you keep boats in the lots, so it was HAVE to be garaged. That would mean taking off the swim platform every time or leaving it off all together (and at this point, I don't think I could live without the platform). I was interetested to hear you say you have a "removable" platform, some type of quick-release setup?

Both the real estate agent and the wife have been more than understanding about the whole thing. That made it even tougher when I kind of came to the realization on my own that I probably wouldn't be able to take the 2001 to our new home (unless I want to move further upstate and commute 1 hour+ everyday). That's why I figured I'd put up one of the carport/garages and my father's house. It'll suck to not have the boat with me, but at least it will be dry, a little bit warmer, and reasonably protected.

...Unless, from what you're saying, I could have an easily-removable platform and a swing away trailer. Hmm... got any more info on these (a glimmer of hope is reignited!)?

Thanks again,

Paul

Pat,

BorgWarner Dixon is a different division of our company....sorry to say I don't know that person.

Scott

I can't afford a $600 shelter right now. Does anyone have any tips for building an appropriate 2x4 frame shelter with a tarp type of solution? I live in upstate NY where it can snow heavily at times. The '82 Ski Tique I just brought home from Alabama deserves the best I can give her. Any help is appreciated. Thanks.

Matt

do what i do..get 2 construction h.d. tarps and wrap the thing up until spring..as long as its winterized your fine...

I ran out of room (too many CC's!) and bought one out of Northern tool about 12 years ago. It's in nothern Wisconsin and has seen plenty of snow. They are made for it. The picture with the snow in the link actually looks like mine! Even though I went with the cheaper grade of vinyl I have never had a problem. The forest green color blends in very well and the install was easy. Here's a site I found on line:
instant garage

It looks like Nothern Tool has changed brands plus when I ordered it, they just passed me on to the manufacturer and collected their commision. I do remember it ended up costing about $600 at the time because shipping wasn't cheap. They do have some weight to them! The only repair I had to do was when a tree limb punched a small hole in it. I'm not a duct tape type but it worked!

I've been through the route of trying to tarp a boat for outside snow country storage. The only way it works is if you build quite a elaborate pitched 1x4 framework for support. With tarping you also end up with potential moisture problems (just like heat shrink) unless vents are put in.

NAUTI84 wrote: Paul, I've been thru two of those shelters. But during those other two months of snow/ice/wind we get each year, there always seems to be that one storm that'll bring it down!

84, Where are you? If mine has lasted 12 years in northern Wisconsin, you must live in a REAL bad area of the country!
The two that you bought, were they a good high quality brand?

I'd like to add that my last trip up north is New Years. After that I shut down and drain the house so I'm not there to remove any snow on it the remainder of winter. 84, Are you using the screw in ground anchors?

84, You may have it figured out that the roof only was the problem with the wind getting under it. Mine is the "Cover-it" brand and is the house style. I did a on line search and couldn't find them but only looked at one page of results.
I do remember that when ordering it that the cheap vinyl that I got was guarantied for 7 years and the premium was for 15 years. Not feeling I would need it that long, I went cheap. I guess that at 12 years I'm now walking on thin ice but I have inspected it real close and there are no signs of vinyl problems.

i only paid 250 bucks for mine..maybe thats why it was a diaster

We looked at a temp shelter but I was a worried about snow. I know a few guys who had problems with snow & wind resulting in a collapse. Once they fall in the structure, depending on the model, it pretty much shot.

This year, we purchased a heavy gauge cable and a 2 heavy duty tarps. We placed the trailer & boat between 2 trees on the long axis. Then we strung the cable between the trees and draped the tarps (doubled up) over it to form an 'A' frame tent. This created a steep pitched roof line. We tied down the tarps as tight as they would go.

We have had a few snows and heavy rains and everything seems to be working very well.

Total cost was about $60.00 not including all the beer we drank.

Thanks for the helpful info. I think I got covered today with this saw horse frame and a heavy duty tarp. You could probably get away with just the sawhorse alone but, like most of you, I care a little too much. I'm no carpenter but it was pretty easy and came out really solid.

I put pieces of plywood under the feet of the saw horse to avoid ripping the carpet.

Using pieces of wood clamped to the swim platform, I screwed the back extension to a piece of 2x4 scrap. Up front I wedged in a 2x4 near the trailer tongue using shims with screws into the 2x4.

I also ran bungees (you could use rope) from screws near the top of the saw horse to the trailer for extra snow support and sawhorse stability. I finished sharp parts of the wood by screwing pipe insulating foam to the 2x4's. I need to replace the 20'x30' tarp with something a little smaller and easier to tie off but I think this will work well for upstate NY. Cost about $100 with tarp and lots of bungees but it's reusable.

This is an unproven technique but I'm very confident about it and I'm certain I'll sleep much better this winter. Maybe this will help someone else in a similaur situation. I should move south. Can't wait for spring and summer! Hope everyone has a good winter. Thanks again!