Experience/opions on outdorr storage units?

[eightsixxmkII]

Any of our members here have any experience with these outdoor storage units?
http://images.craigslist.org/5L45Ga5...3733731644.jpg

I hope that works, if not here's a link:
http://milwaukee.craigslist.org/for/3164706336.html


Any ways I was wondering if you guys ever used these storage units to store your car in through the winter? How does it withstand harsh weather? & is there enough room to work on things inside the storage unit with the car inside, like a motor swap? Open to any thoughts. Was either paying monthly for storage or planning on purchasing one of these from menards. Thanks!

[eightsixxmkII]

Excuse the title. Had a couple typos. Damn blackberry's messing up.

[Broo]

Had one a few years ago. On the third year it was blown away by very strong wind during a snowstorm. Unfortunately, these things don't take off vertically, they bend and scratch everything on their way out and my car still bears some scars. Fortunately, it wasn't the Supra.

They are available in various sizes, so you can get one with enough room to work inside. But unless you are well protected from winds, I wouldn't get one.

[suprafastcelica]

I would look at the veratube ones at menards. They can order ends and ends with garage doors on them. I work there so i know about them.

[eightsixxmkII]

Those tent looking ones with steel to hold it up? & that sucks.

[pdupler]

http://www.creativeshelters.com/

Instead of the cheap packaged kits which are usually 1 inch tubing, you can buy up to 1 7/8" chain link fence tubing which ought to be pretty strong. Because the city turned me down for a carport permit, I've been thinking about getting the materials from here and making a lean-to style canopy on the back of the house as it kinda skirts the rules and a lot of my neighbors appear to be getting away with it for years now. I've always thought these things were kinda "ghetto" but oh well, if you can't beat em, join em as they say. All the neighbors canopies have so far been still standing after severe thunderstorms that do some serious tree damage. I suspect this is only possible in this neighborhood because we have a lot of big trees that protect stuff at ground level from the biggest gusts. But a couple years ago, we had a freak snowstorm that dumped 18" in one day (that's like 3 to 4 times the average annual snowfall for North Texas). ALL the canopies that were not taken down in anticipation of the forecast were collapsed. Indeed many permanent carports were collapsed. If I do erect one of these canopies, I will move my car out from under it and/or take the canvas down if there's any possibility of snow or really strong storms. As to a garage with sides, I would consider that's like 4 times the canvas surface area for the wind to catch and four surfaces all perpendicular to the wind direction. I'm no engineer, but I don't think I'd depend on such a thing as we get 30-40mph sideways gusts here with nearly every storm and 60-70mph gusts happen a dozen times a year. If you're gonna do it, get the biggest pipe you can, a lot of pipes, and don't depend on it for protection from major storms - take the canvas down if there's gonna be a big blow or heavy snow over a short time span.

[suprafastcelica]

The veratube ones have a 2x2 steel frame the would be anchored in to the ground and covered with steel. Go to to the building materials desk and ask about them. They have many different sizes and there is drawings showing the structure and bracing without the steel on it.

[cmdeshon]

these things like to fold under snow. if you buy one i would get a stack of galvanized pipe and reinforce ALL OF IT before parking a supra under it.

[eightsixxmkII]

Thanks pdupler, great info. Here in milwaukee, its not that horrible to where we are having 60-70mph gusts. Most likely the car will be taken out when it gets that bad. I'm going to go talk to menards about that. Thanks guys.

[alfun]

Harbor Freight sells those car canopy's, they are pretty cheap too. If you search YouTube for the Harbor Freight canopy/portable garage there are reviews on there. I think one of the reviewers even showed some tips on how to make it more sturdier.