HF Carport reviews

[chicken89]

Does anyone have experience with the Harbor Freight carports?
They have 10x17 enclosed and portable, and 10x17 portable without sides
10x17 $200. 3.3 on HFT reviews. has a VW passat in picture
10x20 $125. 3.0 on HFT reviews has a Mitsubishi Endevour in pic
neither appear to be waterproof. both have reviews stating they had to buy a tarp to cover it so water wouldn't soak through.
some people stated that the frame itself was worth the purchase
25% off coupon appears to work with this item

I plan on making this a permanent structure, or at least not removing it. I have a 3rd vehicle (SUV) that drinks gas, so it gets used rarely. I have the space beside my garage for a car port, and it would only be used to house the vehicle.

If there has been thread on this, please point me to it so as not to start a redundant thread.

 

[RickP]

The HF 10x20 looks like the standard one they sell at the auto parts stores -- I got one on sale for $60 at PepBoys, but it's on their Web site for $99 now: PepBoys 10x20
It was waterproof and lasted for about a year -- until the first big snow. Then it collapsed and did some damage to the tractor parked under it. The legs are pretty flimsy.

The HF 10x17 looks a little stronger, but its pricey. I got a fully enclosed 10x20 at Sam's Club for $150 that's a lot stronger than the flimsy one: SamsClub 10x20
If you're worried about snow, you can get the truss kit for $78 (or make your own version): Truss Kit

 

[LEVE]

I gave a Harbor Freight Carport, like the one in this video:

to a friend and we put it up about 4 years ago. After 4 years of snow, ice, wind, and sun one part finally developed pinholes and dripped. It lasted 4 years before we had to put a tarp over one section. That tarp was about $18 and we tied it down to the bottom framework with rope. One problem was the doorway zipper that his kids destroyed in no time at all.

This year will be year number 5 for it to stand. If I needed temporary storage again... I'd buy one with the knowledge that it won't last forever.

 

[M17715]

My neighbor has his RV in one of those. He's had it for four years now. I'm surprised at how well they work.

 

[Chaznsc]

Glad the OP asked this one!

 

[Warrenator]

I use one for hay storage, hot tip, after you assemble wrap all the joints with duct tape. The cover flaps in the wind and chafes at the sharp edges of the tubing, that is where it will fail. I think you can get 4 good years out of the cover but we don't have snow.

 

[smanion]

Does anyone have experience with the Harbor Freight carports?
They have 10x17 enclosed and portable, and 10x17 portable without sides
10x17 $200. 3.3 on HFT reviews. has a VW passat in picture
10x20 $125. 3.0 on HFT reviews has a Mitsubishi Endevour in pic
neither appear to be waterproof. both have reviews stating they had to buy a tarp to cover it so water wouldn't soak through.
some people stated that the frame itself was worth the purchase
25% off coupon appears to work with this item

I plan on making this a permanent structure, or at least not removing it. I have a 3rd vehicle (SUV) that drinks gas, so it gets used rarely. I have the space beside my garage for a car port, and it would only be used to house the vehicle.

If there has been thread on this, please point me to it so as not to start a redundant thread.

Does anyone know a source for parts on these, perhaps the actual manufacturer? Harbor freight does not carry parts. I have their Portable Car garage (Their item 62860) and Portable Car Canopy (69034). Thanks.

 

[maxpower_hd]

I know two people that had these. If you have anything valuable in them I would suggest a good quality one, not the HF one. One had a motorcycle inside among other things and it got knocked over and wrapped up in the material when it collapsed in wind. It was about two years old. The other one wrapped itself around a project car and some tools. That one was about the same age. It also had some rips in the roof prior.

 

[maxpower_hd]

Oh and the second one ripped from wind but collapsed from snow.

 

[gungatim]

I'm on my 2nd one from Costco. theirs is a better value IMO. I got 5 yrs. out of the first one, leave it up spring to fall but not during the winter. vinyl is a little thicker and comes with the sides/roll up door, (new one came with awning too), roof vents. last one stayed out too long and the wind took it down into the woods or it would still be going but the seams were getting weak.

my buddy and I rent tents on the side and can get $75 a weekend renting those out for partys but they can be a PITA to take up and down so we try and talk people into the 20x20 for a bit more money...pretty much mine stays up by the fire pit at home unless someone is desperate. but definitely check out Costco's if you can, it is pretty nice for the money,

 

[brownbadger]

I have the 10x17. Overall I am pretty happy with it after making some adjustments. First thing I did was build a base for it out of railroad ties so that I could lag the frame down rather than rely on the crappy anchors that come with it. Also give a little extra height. After assembly the frame was just very wobbly, so I bought some brackets at home depot and some 2x4's and crossbraced it in all 4 corners to the railroad ties. Still a little shaky, but MUCH better. Mine has held up fine in the rain and wind with no leaks - although I'm in California, so mild weather for the most part.