Versatube. Bought a car and cant afford a garge to keep it in

[njk4o5]

Hey guys, I bought a car last summer. My plan was to keep it in a carport tent for storage out of the sun/snow. Well here it is march and the tent has blown over twice now in the past 2 weeks. My guess is it will tear in half nextime its windy since I secured it so well. Got it at harbor freight for $199 and it has done its job up til this point. Im lucky it hasn't damaged the car yet.

I am interested in the versatube garage kit. Seems I can get a 24x24 for $6k. Ive searched the hell out of them on here and cant find any long term reviews other than the guy that it caved in on.

I already have a paved driveway so I would like to use that as a floor. That's what I currently have my vette tent secured to.

What do you guys think of the versatube? are they durable to handle 60+mph winds? I live near the ocean its always windy. Snow isn't a problem I can clean it off hourly if its snowing if need be just like I do now with my carport.

Attached are some pics of my setup.

 

[SteveCh]

I built a carport for far less than $6k. Mixed concrete myself and used 6 4x4 posts, some 2x6s for roof supports, and galvanized sheet roofing ["barn" type panels]. Probably $2000, maybe less actually, I didn't keep close records. It's withstood a wind storm hitting 115 mph. Might consider something similar....

 

[rsanter]

For that buy a car trailer and use it like a garage.
When you can afford to buy a garage, sell the trailer and get your money back

Bob

 

[bczygan]

Welcome to GJ!

Please put your location in your profile.

Do you have full coverage on the car, with a low or no deductible?

You want to protect the car? Build a garage.

And take a look at the dead branches in the tree hanging above those vehicles.

Nice vehicles BTW.

Bill

 

[rburke65]

$6,000 and using the existing concrete drive as a pad?......build a garage for that matter.

 

[sr71]

For that buy a car trailer and use it like a garage.
When you can afford to buy a garage, sell the trailer and get your money back

Bob

Bingo !!

 

[Colin Len]

For that buy a car trailer and use it like a garage.
When you can afford to buy a garage, sell the trailer and get your money back

Bob

That's what my buddy does. He found a box trailer that he can tow his car to the track in and store it in as well while it doesn't need to be worked on in the garage. That way the garage is open for other cars or projects. This concept has had me thinking too. My track car isn't something I want to pull out and park outside but it'd also be nice to be able to clear space in the garage.

 

[fastbike02]

Eagle carports will install a 20x20 for around 3500, its not top of the line but can be added to to make it nice

 

[njk4o5]

Welcome to GJ!

Please put your location in your profile.

Do you have full coverage on the car, with a low or no deductible?

You want to protect the car? Build a garage.

And take a look at the dead branches in the tree hanging above those vehicles.

Nice vehicles BTW.

Bill

im in boston, and both have $500 deductible

Ive thought about a trailer, but I drive the car almost everyday in summertime. it would be a pain driving it into and out of a trailer that often. And trailers aren't cheap!

 

[Shade guy]

go with the versatube
but you might need to have footings poured

 

[RStewart]

I use my trailer as a garage and while it is not as easy as just lifting a garage door or pushing a button on a remote, it works for me, covers the insurance requirements for storage of classic car and has room for toolbox and parts. Easy to keep clean too as you can only put so much in there. Keeps my packrat, boarder tendencies at bay.

 

[Off-Street Parking]

For that buy a car trailer and use it like a garage.
When you can afford to buy a garage, sell the trailer and get your money back

Just make sure the trailer itself is immobilized and secured... Otherwise you're just making it easy for the thieves to hitch up and drive away...

 

[Onewolf]

This is why I don't mind living in an HOA community. I would not want rednecks pitching Harbor Freight car tents in their driveway....

 

[Jazz1]

You have to install 8 anchors pounded 3' deep to hold that wigwam down. Of course it will blow to the next county using the stakes provided. I used 3/4 rebar for stakes. My portable wigwam out back is for storing a vehicle and I added a false front to protect wigwam from prevailing north wind.
The versa tube you refer to that collapsed did so with only 2' of snow on it..thats junk, waste of money IMO

 

[danfromsyr]

HAHAHAHAH I LOVE seeing a $200 (cheap) tent to protect a $$$$ hobby/invest car.
there was a guy don my block had a nice red (new) thunderbird coupe under one all tearing to tatters.. like it was a good idea.

sure I've had one. and still do.. but nothing of real value goes under it..
the previous one was a peaked shed style and those do NOT do well in heavy snow (or wind) the domed type work better, though you still need to clear off more than 12in snowfalls.
I also use a diy rebar anchor rod.

 

[cactiki]

"This is why I don't mind living in an HOA community. I would not want rednecks pitching Harbor Freight car tents in their driveway...."

This is why I DON'T live in a HOA community.... I AM a redneck and value my freedom more than my property value.
But, that's just me.....

 

[fastbike02]

"This is why I don't mind living in an HOA community. I would not want rednecks pitching Harbor Freight car tents in their driveway...."

This is why I DON'T live in a HOA community.... I AM a redneck and value my freedom more than my property value.
But, that's just me.....

I agree my old house was next to a "HOA community".... they hated me, my random bon fires, and the 14k rev limiter on my bike even more

 

[naturalgas]

This is why I don't mind living in an HOA community. I would not want rednecks pitching Harbor Freight car tents in their driveway....

Is that you Trump?


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[M-technik-3]

"This is why I don't mind living in an HOA community. I would not want rednecks pitching Harbor Freight car tents in their driveway...."

This is why I DON'T live in a HOA community.... I AM a redneck and value my freedom more than my property value.
But, that's just me.....

Agreed. If our kids want to pitch a tent in the front yard for a week and camp out with their other buddies I don't have to ask for forgiveness or explain to them that I'm sorry Dad does not want to pay the fine for them having some fun.

I like my property value as well, but I won't subject myself to living like that again.

 

[theoldwizard1]

Shelter Logic is the one you see the best reviews on. They make ones that will handle snow and when properly installed (not quick or easy) they will hold up to high winds.

 

[njk4o5]

well i would like to have some space and once i save some $$ a lift would be awesome.

how does a versatube 24x24 holdup against wind?

i might just have to go stick built and make it nice. i would like to add value to my house and while a brand new versa tube looks nice, i feel like in a few years it wouldnt. and it certainly wouldnt mach my wood shingled house

 

[AldeanFan]

I keep a car in my car trailer, makes a good garage for parking and I have a trailer whenever I need one.

My father in law parks his car and Harley in a 20' shipping container, I think he paid under $3000 delivered

 

[Kaizen]

no way i'd spend 6k for that. your biggest problem is going to be securing it which will be through your blacktop? I've had 2 shelterlogic ones for 330 bucks. the canvas top.......no matter how well installed....constantly shifts so after a year or so water will start to come in. not bad but it will. any dirt and dust will blow on the car.
I have a wood retaining wall on both sides of mine and I spiked 4x4 into the blacktop with some rebar. obviously I have a gypsy driveway but it is way more secure then those screw anchors are.

 

[countryroad82]

Ditch that tent! I've had to repair way too many nice cars due to them. I once did a frame off resto on an '85 Monte Carlo (I know weird somebody wanted to spend the $$$$$ for that type of job on that car) it was a high dollar build replacing everything like it was built yesterday. Guy parked it under one of those stupid things, wind picked it up and did major damage to all my hard work. I had to repaint the car when it was all said and done. My advice let it sit outside before you use one of those stupid things.

 

[njk4o5]

Ditch that tent! I've had to repair way too many nice cars due to them. I once did a frame off resto on an '85 Monte Carlo (I know weird somebody wanted to spend the $$$$$ for that type of job on that car) it was a high dollar build replacing everything like it was built yesterday. Guy parked it under one of those stupid things, wind picked it up and did major damage to all my hard work. I had to repaint the car when it was all said and done. My advice let it sit outside before you use one of those stupid things.

yeah I agree it was only supposed to be temporary. my original idea was to get a less $ car and build a 1 car garage but I ended up spending too much on the one I got.

I have about $8k saved for a garage. Stick built is going to start at 15k. would need a slab poured and my asphalt driveway torn up in some spots to fit the slab

 

[CoogarXR]

Around here we have lots of pre-fab "shed stores" popping up everywhere. They have small wood or metal prefab garages that they will deliver. One near me has these for about $4k. Nicer than a tent for 6k, and if you decide to have a bigger garage built, you could use this as a shed or outbuilding:

 

[njk4o5]

^^ I like those sheds, but would they blow away under extreme wind off the ocean? the other night was 75mph gusts and that's when I lost my tent.

 

[rsanter]

Just make sure the trailer itself is immobilized and secured... Otherwise you're just making it easy for the thieves to hitch up and drive away...

Yes, when doing this I recomend the trailer sit on blocks for stability not connected to a vehicle. You can also remove the wheels and make it a little lower to the ground that way

Bob

 

[rayra]

Nevermind the dead branch, that whole damned tree rooted 1' from the house has to go.

Topic reminds me of gun forum posters with $30k in firearms and no safe, lamenting a robbery. OP needs to quit half-assing it and build a peaked carport ASAP, with a solid wall to the prevailing winds and with a design that can be upgraded to a full garage as he can afford it.

 

[MFortie]

I wouldn't expect a Versatube to hold up to 75mph winds.

I installed a 25'x50' Versatube ten years ago; it's still standing, but when the wind blows it sways quite a bit. And under lower wind speeds than you're seeing.

I have a friend who sells and installs steel buildings and he says the problem with the Versatube structures is as they sway and flex the screw holes get hogged out and loose. I'm considering having his crew go over mine and run new screws to tighten it up.

The V-tube is at my other house in the 'burbs of San Diego. At our property in the mountains we get winds like you speak of (blew down an old barn a couple of years ago). I wouldn't put a V-tube up out here and did put up steel building rated for 110mph.

YMMV...

 

[CoogarXR]

^^ I like those sheds, but would they blow away under extreme wind off the ocean? the other night was 75mph gusts and that's when I lost my tent.

I would imagine, especially with a car inside, these have a pretty low center of gravity. Add some mobile home tie downs if you are that worried about it.

75mph isn't too brutal for anything that isn't made of sail material . I had one of those 10x14 metal shed kits from Lowes that sat on a wood platform where I used to live. We routinely got 50-70mph wind storms, and nothing ever happened to it.

 

[njk4o5]

I wouldn't expect a Versatube to hold up to 75mph winds.

I installed a 25'x50' Versatube ten years ago; it's still standing, but when the wind blows it sways quite a bit. And under lower wind speeds than you're seeing.

I have a friend who sells and installs steel buildings and he says the problem with the Versatube structures is as they sway and flex the screw holes get hogged out and loose. I'm considering having his crew go over mine and run new screws to tighten it up.

The V-tube is at my other house in the 'burbs of San Diego. At our property in the mountains we get winds like you speak of (blew down an old barn a couple of years ago). I wouldn't put a V-tube up out here and did put up steel building rated for 110mph.

YMMV...

Thank you!! this was exactly what I was looking for!

Guess I better keep saving and sell off some toys to fund the stick built garage build.

 

[maxpower_hd]

This is why I don't mind living in an HOA community. I would not want rednecks pitching Harbor Freight car tents in their driveway....

And this is why some people don't like living in an HOA, because even a car trailer or car port is out of the question in some of them. Along with building a garage.

However, those tents ****. I know several people who tried them here and all of them ended up with damage that was the result of the tent. Do yourself a favor and build something proper to protect that car or rent a storage unit for it for the winter and just use a cover in the summer until you can get a garage built.

 

[rooster shooter]

This is why I don't mind living in an HOA community. I would not want rednecks pitching Harbor Freight car tents in their driveway....

I'll bet you wear color coordinated socks too.

 

[logical]

Agreed. If our kids want to pitch a tent in the front yard for a week and camp out with their other buddies I don't have to ask for forgiveness or explain to them that I'm sorry Dad does not want to pay the fine for them having some fun.

I like my property value as well, but I won't subject myself to living like that again.

So in your mind that's exactly the same thing?

 

[M-technik-3]

So in your mind that's exactly the same thing?

Not really, I'm not about to call the town hall and complain when my neighbor does something I dislike. It's her land and if I truly had a major beef I'd walk over and ask her about it. HOA's are for thin skinned folks that want somebody else to ask their neighbor to get rid of the couch in the front lawn that has sat there a couple of years.

 

[LS6 Tommy]

It's a Corvette. Just park it outside. They don't rust.

Tommy

 

[bad_idea]

I'm thinking you could build a simple garage/large shed for under $6k in materials. Pay someone to poor the concrete slab, then build the rest yourself. Building a 14x20 by yourself shouldn't be too bad. Friends with tools makes it even easier.

 

[1969]

I will admit I'm not the smartest person on the planet, but am I the only person to understand the OP bought a Corvette, but can't afford a place to put it in......... and this makes perfect sense? In my defence,I bought a cart once but could not afford a horse. Now before some of you get your ******* in a bunch, I'm typing this with a smile on my face. Have a great day!

 

[AnthonyJ124]

Here's an idea: https://worcester.craigslist.org/fod/5447587634.html

I'd probably still build, but I suppose a more permanent structure would need permits?

If you end up building and need a hand, shoot me a pm.