hey everyone, i have a question

as the winter is approaching on the east coast, i need to get my 85 corvette so much needed protection. Last year it experienced, rain/sleet/snow etc.etc.....i cant have that again!!...so ive been thinking of ways that I can get safely stored. I don't want to put in storage, because i want to be able to see my baby if i want to. So i was thinking of buying a carport with enclosed sides or even building a wooden garage/shed......so ultimately i need to know which way is the best to go, and if anyone has plans of how to build a shed thatd fit my vette id be verry interested......or if any1 has a decent carport and wants to sell it, also interested..


pleaseee help guys!

 

My first carport was the "Poor Man's Carport", a sheet of 6mil greenhouse plastic extended from the roof of my garage(tools/storage)
Lasted untill spring, but eventually lost to a wind storm. After that, I bought a Costco instant garage as a temp, untill I add an addition to my garage. It worked well for 4 years, but the last wind storm blew the roof apart. That was a sign for me to get off my *** and get the addition project rolling, before winter hits.











There's 2 ideas for you.

 

The Temporary 'Garage in a Box" is likely the bet bet. I see them up in Canada here for sale for $300 for a 10x20 with steel pole construction...been thinking about getting one myself.

 

It's about that time again. To worry about how to protect your cars over the winter months. We get high winds around here and ice storms. I've tried the "instant garage" with steel poles. High winds took it over the 6' privacy fence...well halfway. A few ropes held it from taking off. I noticed you have your car parked on cement. Some people don't realize how much humidity comes up from the ground. It's about the worce place to park a vehicle for any length of time. Last year I tried parking one car on the grass with sheets of 5/8ths CD plywood and a Wolf car cover over it. Although this car wasn't a Corvette, it was more an experiment then anything. I placed a large pan of baking soda inside the car to control humidity. It may have controlled odors but it didn't prevent humidity inside the car. I will say that in summer months the interior was kept reletively cool.

This year I am going to try kitty litter inside this car to control humidity. I've heard this is suppose to work. For outside protection I want to try this bag deal. I have several older sheets of 3/4" plywood to park the vehicle on. This place had 12" of snow during one storm and several ice storms. So I want to put the car on stands to keep the weight off the suspension. The bag company recommends putting a car cover over the vehicle to prevent paint damage as the bag will rub against the car in windy conditions.

From what I've studied about storing a vehicle outside, on the grass. This is about the best a person can do....

 

I have this, but condensation is the problem
.

 

Be careful with the garage in a box, be sure its a quality one.

I have had 2 different tarp garages wreck 2 different cars (just dd's, no biggie) when they lifted off or collapsed. I do not trust them.

One took off, ripped the poles from the base and landed on top of the car with high wind (base was secured second time around, still failed). The second garage just collapsed in high wind ( I was sure to secure it with mean looking stakes and extra "bracing")

We have one now, and I know it will be good. It has ratcheting tie downs instead of rope or bungees and the frame is made of heavy pipe, nothing thin. The problem with this one is its location, I am worried about wild life taking up residence in it.

Personally, I have a quality "fit" car cover I put over the corvette and park it next to the house on gravel. Might put a tarp under for moisture control. Or I may get motivated and get a project or two done so I have space in the real garage. If a garage is not reasonable, I would think about one of those "tin" garages (roof only really) for like $700-800 put on gravel/concrete/asphalt and put a cover over the car too?

Just be careful with a portable garage.... If I didn't have a steel car under them with my failures, it would have been brutal.

 

Found some pictures for you



The green one on the left is the quality one I was talking about. The gray one in the middle is wood and doesn't mind storms. The silver one on the right is gone, it collapsed for like the third time, after extensive modifications and re-enforcements. I believe it originated from harbor freight....the tarp didn't even survive.

 

yeah thats exactly what im talking bout, im afraid that it will collapse, but with the same token im afraid that it mite take too long to build a wooden garage/shed thatd fit the vette, and it would take a lil while....i think im gunna try the costco temp garage and secure it to the ground with some stakes and rope....hopefully that helps....as for condensenation in the car, whats the best way...i was reading the kitty liter/baking soda....any body know whats the best so the car wont smell/be very humid inside?....thanks

 

If you are only going to store it for the winter months, November through March, I would consider renting a 10X20 space at a self storage location. That's what I do. No worries about a portable garage caving in under the snow or wind damage from the car cover rubbing the paint all winter when it blows around. No cluttering your yard either. I can access it anytime and start it up and even take it for a spin when I want to even in the middle of January which I sometimes do when the roads are dry.

 

Those are $400 a month out here and they dont allow car storage.

 

We have local shed builders that have a shed long enough for a corvette to fit into. Just have to let them know a car going in it and for some extra $ they'll re-enforce the floor to handle the weight. For what you pay to store you can buy one of these. But best to lay down a stone base first.

 

This is what we do for the winter and it's worked out fine, only had to add a couple of tie- downs to the front, but nothing big. California Car Cover and it's been 3 yrs now.

after


just our $.02

 

Anyone have a link to a quality garage in a box, for about $300 as listed above? Cheapest I have found is $923! OUCH

 

I'm paying less than $150 per month for it. $400 per month, that is almost as bad as renting a Boston parking space!