We have a 30' travel trailer, 22x9 pontoon boat, compact tractor, 6x10 enclosed trailer and a zero turn mower to store. Will also be installing a 4 post lift and would like a work shop area for projects and a bathroom. We dont keep things we dont use on a normal basis, so I dont need any space for not current items. I dont want to get a building that will remain half empty ya know.
What size metal building would you recommend?
- Thread starter NewVision
- Start date
TTMotorsports
Well-known member
I would suggest parking everything next to each other in the space you want the building and take some measurements. Building companies build them to whatever dimensions you want and remember the dimensions are outside so a 30deep building will be 29ish inside.
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tncatadjuster
Well-known member
My shop is 3,400 s.f. and I think I could fit all of that and have a nice workspace. I like 3' to 4' around equipment to be comfortable. Only you know how you want to have it laid out and how many doors of what size. So many variables.
TTMotorsports
Well-known member
I also laid out all of my shop in autocad type programs. Measured all the tool boxes. Welders. Cars. Racks etc and laid it all out to determine what size shop I wanted.
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The boat and the travel trailer along just ate up a 24ft wide by 40ft deep area. You could stack the storage n lift in another bay so now it just became 36. Sound to me like a 40 x 60 fits the bill with three 10ft wide doors centered in 12ft bays.
PWC Repair
Well-known member
That's great! I was also just thinking 40x60!
ZRX61
Well-known member
TTMotorsports
Well-known member
Exactly. 40x60 would fit my stuff perfectly so naturally I went 50x80 with a 20x50 lean to on the end.So 60x80 will be about perfect
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ard
Well-known member
As per every other 'how big' thread:
"Double that"
"Double that"
rburke65
Well-known member
Ditto from here. A 40’x60’ is a really nice side building.
sberry
Banned
It won't be half empty. My neighbor just did a 56/60 and did It with one door to 1 side.
m32825
Well-known member
Don't worry, that building doesn't exist. Nature abhors a half empty building, powerful cosmic forces leap into action to fill the vacuum.
-- Carl
ditto^^^ I would go stake it out, a 40 x 60 is not as big as it sounds. I build a 40 x 64 x 12 with one 12 x 12 garage door in the center of one end, one man door, five windows about 18 years ago, I regret not going taller and putting more garage doors in it. I still have it but I'm getting ready to build a 40 x 80 x 16 with a one 14 x 14 door, a 10 x 12 door and two 8 x 8 doors, one man door and five 3 x 5 windows. A 10 x 80 lean to on one side and a 12 x 40 lean to on the other side. Hopefully this will be enough space but it fulls up fast! Good luck and have fun building and you will find, as I did, that Garage Journal with help you spend money that you didn't realize that you needed to spend!
fordcragar
Well-known member
Whatever size you decide on, you’ll find it won’t be large enough.
readhead
Well-known member
When you are talking to the salesman make sure you discuss interior clearance, not eave height.
With the prices of steel, it has me torn between steel and stick built since we're doing it all together in one build ( house and shop). If I go stick built, I already have the framers and everyone else already on site to just continue building instead of hiring a separate contractor and crew to erect and setup steel building.Here in Georgia with the high humidity I was thinking steel would be better. You folks with more experience what do you think?
readhead
Well-known member
For that size steel will be less expensive and faster. Steel prices have stabilized so don’t let some salesman pressure you into a decision based on rising prices.
tez929rr
Well-known member
We have a 40 by 60 and keep:
4 motorcycles
3 cars
An F250
Compact tractor
Riding mower
Two roll up doors, one on either 40’ end about 3 feet from one side. We can pull out everything but the tractor and mower without moving anything else. The travel trailer may pose some issues for the OP. Bigger is always better.
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tez929rr
Well-known member
Absolutely. Stuff I would do in a do over is:
More windows
Plumb for a bathroom in slab
Thank you Redhead. Tez, do you have anymore images of your building? Due to the 30' travel trailer and boat, I was thinking two overhead doors and a walk door all on one end. One overhead door all the way on the right to pull in and out the travel trailer. A 14'overhead door in the middle to pull anything else in and out of, and then the walk door on the left. So 14' sidewalls so that the peak of the roof would be at 16' to accommodate the 14' center door opening. Is my thinking correct?
tez929rr
Well-known member
I took some pics. I went around from one spot and then took one from inside the front roll up door. Note that where the pool table is you could easily fit a couple more cars. Mine is 12 foot sides with 14 foot peak. They can do steeper pitch but roof lines are typical southern shallow here, so this was fine for us.
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TheoShooter
Member
If you’re thinking 40x60, for sure go 40x80 minimum! I was going to build a 40x80 and went 40x100x20ft high and I wish it was way bigger yet!
TheoShooter
Member
Ha! Good luck with that. Let us know how that works out.........
readhead
Well-known member
This is why I said look at interior clearance. 14’ eave doesn’t equal 16’ clear at the ridge inside. 8” purlins and depth of rafters probably leaves 14’ clearance inside. Be specific about your interior requirements especially along the side walls.
sberry
Banned
If I was going in to the 80 or 100 scale would trade some width for length. 60x80 vs 40x100 and get the doors in the gable end.
tez929rr
Well-known member
BTW, when I built this one (2004) steel prices were rising rapidly, and the main beams were a big part of cost. Going narrow and longer was a lot cheaper. I don’t know if that’s still the case or not. We built a 30 by 80 three years ago (no roll up doors) and the overall cost was the same as the 40 by 60 all those years before.
346ci
Banned
If costs isn't an issue, at least a 40x60 w/ 6" slab. An extra 20' on my 40x40 would be nice, just having the lift in there takes a two car parking area down to one(yeah you could store one on the lift raised).
Get some wide OH doors also, like 12-14'.
Get some wide OH doors also, like 12-14'.
finn
Well-known member
Plan on 12’ wide doors for the pontoon and travel trailer.
That will likely bump you to 42’ wide, at least.
That will likely bump you to 42’ wide, at least.
dutchgray
Well-known member
About twice the space you think you need, building one for a customer at the moment (an industrial site not private) which is approximately 160' by 60' and 20' to the eaves, now that's a nice building. Interestingly the insulated cladding cost more than the steel frame.
prd2hnt
Active member
We did a 40X63. We have a 33ft 5th wheel camper, a 22ft pontoon, 3 tractors, a riding mower and a 20x27 shop in one corner. The only thing I did wrong was go 14ft side walls instead of 16. I was only able to do a 12 ft tall door. Limits our options on 5th wheels. We were able to find we love though.
kylefitz
Well-known member
Consider making the garage long enough to park the travel trailer and tow rig still connected. After a long day of driving it’s nice to park the whole set up inside and walk away until tomorrow. It help with those early morning starts too!
Lucid Moments
Well-known member
Just for curiosity where in Georgia are you?
I am currently building a new house and shop myself and it has been a PITA mostly due to weather. My shop is going to be 50' X 60' and is wood framed walls with steel trusses and steel siding and roof.
But like many on here I wish I could afford to go bigger. No such thing as too big.
I am currently building a new house and shop myself and it has been a PITA mostly due to weather. My shop is going to be 50' X 60' and is wood framed walls with steel trusses and steel siding and roof.
But like many on here I wish I could afford to go bigger. No such thing as too big.