Automotive work in a 10x25 Storage Unit

myboostedgst · Apr 15, 2012

I searched on this forum for a long time trying to find stories and photos of people working on their cars in storage units. I thought I would post this up so anyone who searches int he future can find it. Hopefully it will help them.

I can't buy a home for another year or two (While the gf is finishing up school. She wants to be a school teacher and who knows where she will get a job.) So I wanted a place to store and work on my car, so I found a large storage unit at a U-Haul.

Finally finished getting everything setup today. Haven't actually worked on the car yet, but even with the door closed, there is 7ft between the toolbox and the front of the car. If I push the car slightly backwards (To where the rear tires are at the garage door), it opens it up to about 10 ft. More than enough space for me. I wish it was 12 ft wide or a little wider, but I couldn't find anything that wide.

Here are some pics. Let me know if you guys have any questions.

andyztoy · Apr 15, 2012

pics of whats under the cover ?

walwalka · Apr 15, 2012

Looks like a 2nd gen eclipse?

ZRX61 · Apr 16, 2012

Whats the rental cost?

KPSquared · Apr 16, 2012

The storage company doesn't care if you use it as a working garage? The place here has that as a no-no right in the rental agreement.

Looks like a great space to work in for a temporary set up!

4BT · Apr 16, 2012

All the rental warehouses in my area prohibit vehicle storage? Something about a fire hazard

Stick Figure · Apr 16, 2012

Our places threw fits about me even wanting to temporarily store cars in them. and absolutely no working on the cars in them. I know Nebraska was a different story, people were running "businesses" out of storage units there.

Super Sport · Apr 16, 2012

Looks like a decent little setup! In a couple of years I will probably be moving into a larger city and will not have a garage. This is what I plan on doing at that time. For now, I am enjoying my 2 stall!

DFW-LSX · Apr 16, 2012

Stick Figure said:
Our places threw fits about me even wanting to temporarily store cars in them

Reason number 52739386242 not to live in Commie-fornia

Swanson · Apr 16, 2012

Convertible 2nd gen Eclipse (his forum name is MyboostedGST, kinda gave it away for me).

Drew_flux · Apr 16, 2012

It's doable in a space of that size, but it wont be fun. I have done engine swaps in a smaller space and wanted to burn the thing.

myboostedgst · Apr 16, 2012

andyztoy said:
pics of whats under the cover ?

ZRX61 said:
Whats the rental cost?

$140 a month. I negotiated free 24hr access ($10 a month) though.

KPSquared said:
The storage company doesn't care if you use it as a working garage? The place here has that as a no-no right in the rental agreement.

Looks like a great space to work in for a temporary set up!

I specifically asked about working on the vehicle in there. He said those large units are commonly used for that. (notice the large oil stain on the floor? that was there before I got there) I wasn't sure about the electricity, but there is an outlet right outside my door. Used it and the owner stopped by to make sure everything was fine while I was using it, and no complaints.

Everett · Apr 16, 2012

i too have a 10x20 for that use also, so far it ruin most my tools , due to the heat and cold cycles :dunno:

, my drill press is all rusty now as well as with a number of hands tools, my rent is $125.00 a month and soon as i find a house with a garage , im outa there :sad:

myboostedgst · Apr 17, 2012

Swapped a master and a slave cylinder tonight. It was chilly outside so I closed the door and was astonished that there was so much room in the front of the car still. Only pain was that my car door would hit the wall if fully opened, and would close almost all the way if you didnt rest it against the wall. There just wasn't that spot where it would open most of the way but not all the way. Oh well.

Only bad part is that after the office is closed, there are no bathrooms. Add in security cameras everywhere, and there is no place to take a leak. Lucky there is a convenience store not to far away, so a 2 mionute drive and that is taken care of.

09 Road King · Apr 17, 2012

Cool space. I thought of doing that while in college and even now since I need more space for my motorcycles.

For a bathroom: if there is an exterior wall, mount a large funnel with hose running to the outside. If not, a 5 gallon bucket from Lowe's or Home Depot will work. Leave a little lime for in between emptying. If they have cameras inside your unit (I would certainly hope not), put a bag over it when the need arises.

Nice car too!

FoMoCoPower · Apr 17, 2012

Be careful with the air compressor,it will blow the breaker and you will be SOL.

Zeke · Apr 17, 2012

Any questions?

FoMoCoPower said:
Be careful with the air compressor,it will blow the breaker and you will be SOL.

Yeah, what is the size of that extension cord? I think all modern commercial is min 20a at the receptacle, but at 30' you aren't getting that to the compressor on a 16ga. cord.

Like he said, piss in a bucket. Got a hose bib near? Get some water in the bucket then toss it in the drain.

myboostedgst · Apr 18, 2012

I'm not running the compressor, its just stored there.

A bucket is a good idea though. I will have to pick one up.

SpeedinLemon · Apr 18, 2012

myboostedgst said:
I'm not running the compressor, its just stored there.

A bucket is a good idea though. I will have to pick one up.

Gatorade bottle? Just make sure you throw it out :willy_nil

Cool space for temp setup. Make sure to pay the bill....I'd hate to see that unit on Storage Wars one day!

Nice work on the car.

klaus · Apr 18, 2012

I did that for years.

Get another small bucket with a lid, a funnel and an old electric kettle. Take water with you and after the office is closed you can make hot water to wash your hands.

AndysMBgarage · Apr 18, 2012

Thats a great size for a storage shed. Especially for the $$$'s.

The storage shed I had before I finished my garage was so small you couldn't swing a cat [9ftx9ft] , you were locked out after 6:30pm and it still cost me $240 per month!

The downside of living in a tourist area.

denisdwest · Nov 24, 2013

Amazing storage you got there. Thanks for sharing it with us.

D-fens · Nov 27, 2013

Where I lived before moving to Huntsville, this guy had a storage facility with a row of small garages in the back that he rented out.

Might have been about six or maybe eight of them. No idea what size, but all had lights and a few outlets. Think they rented for about $300 - $350 a month and the waiting list to get into one was at least a year. Usually you had to wait for somebody to get behind on rent and get evicted.

mark5767 · Nov 27, 2013

What a cool set up, nice job!

Hopefully it's a secure and a well run operation. I would also think about renter's insurance if there is such a thing for that type of unit.

I just know that a nice looking tool set up can attract thieves like flies to sh#@! so be a little aware and cautious of who you see hanging around there. Maybe ask around if people have ever been ripped off there.

Good luck with the repair operations!

Jagmandave · Nov 27, 2013

Yeah, I'd invest is a shrouded lock, it won't keep a determined thief with a battery powered cutoff wheel from getting in, but it might slow them down enough or make it hard enough that they'll go rip someone else off.

I lived in my storage unit for about a week a long time ago while I was in between jobs and homes....and no, they didn't know about it or I would not have been allowed to do so.... it was kinda cozy tho, with all my own stuff in there, I just had to be real quiet.

You'd have thought they would say something about my car parked outside the unit tho.....

kyle@hcb · Nov 27, 2013

I may be forced to do the same if my wife and I decide to sell.

myboostedgst · Mar 4, 2014

Been a while since I have been on GJ.

Thanks for all the compliments. I am no longer in this storage unit. I was in there for a total of about 6-8 months. This was at a U-haul facility, fully fenced in with cameras at all corners (camera looking from 3 doors down right at my lock). Maybe 500 total units. I did have renters insurance as well, was not willing to take that risk.

While I was in the unit I swapped transmissions and did a number of other smaller engine modifications. It really wasn't bad. My buddy and I actually started the trans swap about 7pm, and finished at about 3am, working the entire time. We started the car up and drove it around the block to test it, cleaned up and left. Got home about 4:45am, slept until 6:30am and got up for work from 8-5pm. It was so excruciating the next day, that I had to drink 3 cups of coffee to stay awake (PS - I dont drink coffee ever). But looking back, it was one hell of a night. The only real problem was that it wasn't that wide. Otherwise the depth was MORE than enough for what I needed. In the future if I can find a garage that deep I would be happy with it.

As of now though, I have moved into my own apartment with my own garage. However, the garage is only 10ft wide by 15 ft long. Yes, the car barely fit. It was such a tight fit that I had to actually get another garage to store the tools. So I had my tools in one garage and the car in the other. I had to work on the car in the parking lot, or when pulling it halfway into the garage with the tools. However, with this I replaced the transmission twice, swapped exhausts/turbo/intake/FMIC and a whole lot of other pieces. Best part was having my living quarters right behind me instead of a 20 min drive away.

Overall the storage unit had its ups and its downs, but overall I was very happy with it. Plenty of space for storage and work, and kept me secure even into some LONG hours into the night (see trans swap story above). Below is a picture of the car when I finished it up this past summer. However life happened and I had to sell it as my daily driver was getting tired and I needed something more reliable. I do plan on picking up another DSM in the future, although most likely a 95 Eagle Talon TSI AWD or a 1g. I will try to find a few photos of the before and after when I finished the engine bay. That was my favorite part of the car and one that I was most proud of.

Thanks for following and let me know if you have any questions!

myboostedgst · Mar 4, 2014

When I bought it.

After I was finished.

And an angle that I really like.

Automotive work in a 10x25 Storage Unit

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