Experience with "temporary" car shelters

[mm289]

Hiya,

need some additional storage over the winter as I have filled up the workshop with projects

Saw the link to these http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/p...eavy-duty-instant-garage?da=1&TC=RV-140611220 from Machine Mart over in Compo's thread.

Just wondered if anyone has any experience of these or similar.

Doesn't need to be airtight, damp proof etc, not storing anything mega valuable, just want to keep a few bits outta the rain.

Key issue for me is stability, I have a concrete slab that I can bolt it down to but it can get a bit blowy here and if the first gust will bend the frame and blown it away its not worth it.

Thoughts?

Cheers,

MM

 

[CompoSimmonite]

Wind is a problem for me as well with outside storage. Even when secure at base if the wind gets underneath a tarp etc then there is a chance it can blow away or rip . I had a gazebo that went up into the air like a kite !
Chap down the road from me has a similar portable garage to the MM item for his motorhome. It must now be around 10 years old and other than some obvious repairs to the door area still sound.

Paul H

 

[cumbriasteve]

Did a job for a guy in relation to one of those, not sure if the same model but looks it.

He wanted half a dozen flat bar S hooks made to hang sand bags off the inner frame.

Suppose it was so he could easily remove them once the period of heavy wind had finished.

 

[rkde]

A friend of mine has one in the rear garden and its stood there for 3+ years now, looking a little weathered but its staying there. As long as it is tied down well and not in the middle of a field where wind can get under it then all will be good.

I have just purchased this one off ebay http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Portable-...698?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item19c6c993a2

Construction wise its going to last a little while, I plan to use it for a year but may keep it and turn it into a DIY paint booth later on in life

 

[Rrunnach]

I,m on my second one now. Bought from costco. The heavy snows three four year ago killed first one.

Current one doing well, although I do have four 13kg gas bottles attached for gale force winds.

I have ound material goes brittle with uv exposure, for the money, they are good.

 

[langy]

If you can run to it look for a Carcocoon, they are just brilliant

 

[Wallace]

I've had a Chinese made 6m x 3m temporary garage in the garden since 2006 so don't count on it being temporary! I paid £165 not expecting much but was pleasantly surprised by the quality. I have it sitting on a concrete slab (laid for a garage!) with the 4 corners fixed down and only one has broken free due to high winds in all that time. There is a 6" air gap at the bottom and over the years everything stored has kept very dry, even cardboard boxes.

Maybe I've been lucky but it has lasted well considering the weather endured and the original material has simply worn out over time so I would consider this type of structure more disposable than temporary. The roof finally gave up and tore through due to high winds in January so now has a ToughTop tarpaulin from a local supplier over it and the zip up doors will probably not last much longer as they are wearing too. The ToughTop tarpaulin is completely waterproof but has created a condensation problem inside that the original UV treated material did not suffer from. Just a few drops of water used to condense on the steel frame in the roof peak as they had nowhere to run off too, now the tarpaulin gets very damp inside so it really is time I built a garage on the concrete base.

 

[mm289]

Thanks for the replies guys

Steve, I had looked at a similar shelter but perambulator type like this



They run at about £600 and look more robust/wind resistant. Advantage of the "tent" type apart from cost is like Richard said I fancy I could use it as a temporary spray booth as well for smaller stuff that is a pain to do in the workshop cause of overspray and dust.

Machine Mart have a VAT free coming up which makes there one £340, but not sure how much better it would be than an E-bay one for less than £200........

Plan is to anchor it down onto the concrete slab so it will be pretty well stabilised.
Cheers,

MM

 

[mm289]

Eventually plumped for the Machine Mart version.

Not much info/reviews online so thought I would add some info so anyone can compare it more easily.

Just done the unpacking so far.



Box shows the entrance height which isn't shown on the adverts, entrance is only 1.8m



Tubing is powder coated and looks reasonably good quality




Tube wall is about 1.5mm



Clamping mechanism for bolting together side rails look substantial



Supplied with the unit are 4 ground anchors that the front and rear uprights are strapped too



I plan on bolting it down to the concrete pad with Rawbolts or similar. The middle 4 uprights should allow this although they are a bit thin with rough welding.



Cover is webbed/reinforced but pretty thin.



Thats it so far.

Cheers,

MM