Anyone use or know anyone who is using Portable Garage/Shelters??

[Dreamn4GN]

I was looking into these portable garages... bc I dont have a garage..I unfortunatly still live at home with my parents And anything in the great state of NJ that has anything to do with concrete footings or pads and etc need permits and therefore taxed!!! So i was thinking about going on the lines of one of these portable ones.. Seems like a great idea to keep my future TB out of the elements without having to get a permit and upping my parents taxes!! So if anyone has had any expiriance with these please do tell. Im curious if the oval shapes are stronger then the sqaured ones they have. Also curious about how they are in windy conditions. I know i can find ways of ancoring the thing down!! Any if anyone has any reccomendations on one that would be appreciated as well. Any downfalls of this idea is also encouraged!!

Garage & Shelter RoundTop Series

Thanx in advance guys
Phill

 

[TURBOPOWERED68]

i bought one (rounded top) used it is a "heavy duty" one. The wind didn't bother it too much (i guess cause its round).
i took it down to reconfigure the yard so i really can't tell you much else.

 

[Warp6]

seems like you could anchor it down with the car itself by driving it onto floor supports. Pretty cool.

 

[CHARGED]

This is what happened to mine in that windstorm about 2 months ago
That is actually 2 of them, the one that was covering my car trailer took flight and landed on my other one covering the boat. I had it anchored down by attaching 2 tie downs to the top of the garage and to the trailer, I believe the back one was loose as the front one was still attached. I have mixed reviews, one was about 4-5 yrs old and in good condition, the other was 2-3 yrs old and the tarp was comming apart at a seam down the middle of the peak These were the 24' long version and I paid $300 for them at BJ's, I would buy them again but they only carry the 20' sizes now. Luckily the boat was not damaged!

 

[Dreamn4GN]

This is what happened to mine in that windstorm about 2 months ago
That is actually 2 of them, the one that was covering my car trailer took flight and landed on my other one covering the boat. I had it anchored down by attaching 2 tie downs to the top of the garage and to the trailer, I believe the back one was loose as the front one was still attached. I have mixed reviews, one was about 4-5 yrs old and in good condition, the other was 2-3 yrs old and the tarp was comming apart at a seam down the middle of the peak These were the 24' long version and I paid $300 for them at BJ's, I would buy them again but they only carry the 20' sizes now. Luckily the boat was not damaged!

See thats what im worried about!!! haha!!! I read a few reviews about the middle of the tarp tearing.. Bu they were on the cheaper models i saw for under $300..Nor do i wanna buy something cheap.. bc you get what you pay for. I wonder if thats one of the downsides to the oval ones!...I think this is my only option to having some protection from the rain and snow and other elements!! Will insurance cover damages caused in something like this?? Im sure if the car has full coverage!!

 

[CHARGED]

If I knew the winds were going to be that bad (50-60mph) that night I would have made sure the tent was secure but there was no weather warnings of high winds
The boat's insurance would have covered any damages to it and my homeowners would have covered both tent garages but I was told my premium would have gone up if I made a claim so I didn't
These were Shelter Logic sheds so they were not cheap, they just had a good deal at BJ's wholesale
If you buy one make sure to keep the receipt as the tarp is covered by a pro- rated warranty, didn't have my receipt and was quoted $325 for a replacement which was more then I paid for the entire thing

 

[Dreamn4GN]

If I knew the winds were going to be that bad (50-60mph) that night I would have made sure the tent was secure but there was no weather warnings of high winds
The boat's insurance would have covered any damages to it and my homeowners would have covered both tent garages but I was told my premium would have gone up if I made a claim so I didn't
These were Shelter Logic sheds so they were not cheap, they just had a good deal at BJ's wholesale
If you buy one make sure to keep the receipt as the tarp is covered by a pro- rated warranty, didn't have my receipt and was quoted $325 for a replacement which was more then I paid for the entire thing

Yea the Shelter Logic ones where the ones i was looking at!! I really dont have a choice. I either buy the shelter and a car cover, and have the car protected by the elements and make sure she's secured year round. Or not get one and just have a car cover on the car while it succeptable to the elements!! And being portable.. I can move it wherever!! Here in South NJ The prevailing wind is N NNW NW W winds I could always place it on the east side of my house to get away from the winds i would say!!

 

[NASSTY]

I used one for a couple years.It held up fine in the winter and any wind that we had.The only issue I had with it was with the moisture from the temperature swings from night to day.I put vents on both ends of it and it helped some, but everything still seemed like it was sweating.Other than that no issues besides being tight space.

It was definately better than leaving my car outside while I saved my pennies for my dream garage.

 

[Dreamn4GN]

haha Sweet garage!! Yeah i think ill be picking one up when i buy a TB.. Nice rides you got there ^^^^^^^

 

[87GN_ponykillr]

I was facing the same situation a while back when I was at still at home before I bought my house that came with a 4 car garage . I looked at those cheep "tents" and was turned off. I bought a steel one from Carolina Carports, It cost me about $1200 total and holds two cars. I opted for the sides that was $300 extra other wise it was $800 or so they even let you chose the colors you want. They came and put it up in about two hours. It is not permanently secured so it can be taken down and moved but it will not blow away or collapse with snow on it. Plus it looks much better then the tents. I just put a tarp on the ground inside it and got a truck load of stone and done deal! It works great! I still keep my 78' in it. Here is a picture from the day they installed it.

 

[Dreamn4GN]

I like that alot!!!! I would like something with a full enclosure..I am worried about the so called "tents" Ive waited almost 20 yrs to get a Turbo Buick and when i get one i dont wanna worry about my car being damaged while being stored!! It all comes down to how much cash i have left over... A car cover my suffice for the summer!! But i want something stable and not perminent for the winter months untill i move outt and get my own place. But the members who have used the "tents" havnt had problems. Some protection is better then none right??

 

[CHARGED]

ponykillr - What are the dimensions of yours? I went to their site and spec'd out a 22x26x10 with sides and it was almost $3K. I think I may be going this route for my boat-car trailer instead of the tents as I have the money to do it right this time.

The tents are a good cheap fix for a temp solution (1-5 yrs)
Mine was not anchored down very good(my fault) + 60mph winds = what happened to mine.
If you were to pour 4 small footers on the corners it would not go anywhere
Like 2NASSTYBUICKS said it they will retain moisture usually in spring-fall, its best to keep the front doors unzippered.

 

[ttaowner]

i know of several people with the tents and up until this year most were fine!
first off it is imperative that you stake them to the ground or else in a real bad wind storm they could come down! next dont buy a cheap a cheap one because the wind will kill it in short order ripping the material then bending the poles my neighbor found this out the hardway!

same neighbor bought a real good one from cover it to store his junk inside while he got his funds in order to get a garage built. it was a oversize 2 car that was probably about 10 years old now and was holding up great other than the zipper breaking. he gave it to parents 2 years ago and they were storing their riding tractor and other yard stuff inside along with firewood.well this year we have been snow like i have never seen in my 37 years on this planet and they were not keeping the snow off and it collapsed.i know of 3 others that also collapsed due to not keepng snow off. in fairness to the tents we have been getting 15-24" of snow per storm and too cold for it to melt in between storms. we have also have been having businesses and houses roof collapse around here like crazy!!!

long story short buy a good tent ,stake it down good! and if you get over a foot of snow per storm clean it off halfway through the storm and you will probably be ok.

here is a link to their business.below is the company that had the tent that lasted 10 years!
Cover-it - West Haven - Connecticut (CT) - USA

 

[NASSTY]

i know of several people with the tents and up until this year most were fine!
first off it is imperative that you stake them to the ground or else in a real bad wind storm they could come down! next dont buy a cheap a cheap one because the wind will kill it in short order ripping the material then bending the poles my neighbor found this out the hardway!

same neighbor bought a real good one from cover it to store his junk inside while he got his funds in order to get a garage built. it was a oversize 2 car that was probably about 10 years old now and was holding up great other than the zipper breaking. he gave it to parents 2 years ago and they were storing their riding tractor and other yard stuff inside along with firewood.well this year we have been snow like i have never seen in my 37 years on this planet and they were not keeping the snow off and it collapsed.i know of 3 others that also collapsed due to not keepng snow off. in fairness to the tents we have been getting 15-24" of snow per storm and too cold for it to melt in between storms. we have also have been having businesses and houses roof collapse around here like crazy!!!

long story short buy a good tent ,stake it down good! and if you get over a foot of snow per storm clean it off halfway through the storm and you will probably be ok.

here is a link to their business.below is the company that had the tent that lasted 10 years!
Cover-it - West Haven - Connecticut (CT) - USA

Mine was a Cover It. I used to clean the snow off it as soon as I could after a storm because my baby was in there. :biggrin:

 

[87GN_ponykillr]

ponykillr - What are the dimensions of yours? I went to their site and spec'd out a 22x26x10 with sides and it was almost $3K. I think I may be going this route for my boat-car trailer instead of the tents as I have the money to do it right this time.
QUOTE]

Mine is 18 X 21 and 5 feet high. It works great, Holds two Regals with plenty of room. I priced ends for it when I ordered it and they were $500 each end. I figured I would leave them open and it has worked fine. I had decent car covers on them while they were under the port and it worked great.

 

[Pronto]

I think the only way I would use one of those tents or the metal ones with sides would be if it was on a concrete or paved pad. All the moisture that comes up from the ground is trapped in the tent. Even with a plastic or vents there still will be rust and mold I don't need.

 

[Little6pack]

BUY NEW, SUMMER VENT IT WITH FAN to keep the air moving, PUT A FLOOR DOWN, UNDERCOAT your car well, PULL off any snow with out taring it. MOUSE/CRITTER food around each tire
I never owned a metal one but they look good.

 

[injdinjn]

I have a friend with about a 30x40 ft metal garage and even with a concrete floor he has moisture issues.

I bought a single car with a tarp on the roof only. The material lasted less than a year. I ended up using the plastic patio cover sheets for the roof. In my research I found that the poles they use are just chain link fence poles so I enlarged it to a 2-car and filled in the triangle at each end with the same plastic I used on the roof.

Wind is its enemy. Mine is partially on dirt and part on concrete so I set bolts into the concrete and in the dirt sunk those ~2ft long dog stakes then used tie downs to secure it. I had x ties in the back and front so it couldn't twist that way then my neighbor built a block wall and now it's anchored to the wall.

Moisture will come up. My son had his trans am here for a couple of years and the alumn in the engine bay didnt fare well.