My Stuffed Florida Garage

[moonpool145]

Howdy All. I am like many I suppose in that I have been lurking here for awhile and not sharing, so I will try and correct that. I thought I would start by showing my current garage. First let me state that I hate Floida gated communities and their respective tiny garages. I moved here about a year ago from Wisconsin and about had a heart attack with what I had available for work space. With some luck I think I will be able to move back within the next year and construct a proper shop for my machine and fabrication gear(more on that later).

Here is my currrent 3 car garage packed to the gillls. Florida has no basements and seemingly no closets either so we have no choice but to pack stuff in the garage (sheds are a no-no in this community as well). The current project on the lift is a 1998 Ducati 748RS which won the AMA Pro-Thunder title in 99. The previous owner did a less than stelllar job of caring for it which neccessitaed a ground up rebuild. Silly thing to consider (financialy speaking) rebuilding one of these bikes as you basicly just pour money down the drain. Oh well, its not about the money in the end. Cheers to all

 

[spg]

do you have any bikes??

 

[cyclopsblown34]

Very inefficient use of the dumpster space. Get the **** that isn't car/motorcycle related into the dumpster. LOL

 

[moonpool145]

That would be a good idea but that "dumpster" is a knack box filled to the brim with tools.

 

[moonpool145]

Maybe 1 or 2. Actully I had to find room off site for several that do not get used very often. I look forward to the day when all of my baybe's can be at home where they belong. I feel like such a bad parent right now

 

[justinmc]

Maybe 1 or 2. Actully I had to find room off site for several that do not get used very often. I look forward to the day when all of my baybe's can be at home where they belong. I feel like such a bad parent right now

I'd say you've got some good space there but I think you could probably make it more efficient and make some more room. I tend to do a "purge" of stuff every once in awhile and try to pitch stuff I don't touch.

Also is that a gun safe? In the garage?

 

[moonpool145]

I'd say you've got some good space there but I think you could probably make it more efficient and make some more room. I tend to do a "purge" of stuff every once in awhile and try to pitch stuff I don't touch.

Also is that a gun safe? In the garage?

Um, well yea.. it is a gun safe and I beg forgiveness. If you could talk my wife into letting it into the house I would be very gratefull. In my defense, I do have a powered air dryer in it and take thee hardware out regularly to oil it and insure nothing damaging is going on.

I agree with the purge idea and do it on a regular basis as well. I have a mantra "when in doubt, throw it out". Not much in there that I dont want or use.

 

[JohnK007]

... First let me state that I hate Florida gated communities and their respective tiny garages. I moved here about a year ago from Wisconsin and about had a heart attack with what I had available for work space. With some luck I think I will be able to move back within the next year and construct a proper shop for my machine and fabrication gear(more on that later).

When you say "move back" do you mean move back to Wisconsin? If that's the case then why not get an off-site storage unit for things? You could keep a couple of the bikes that you aren't working on in it and transport them back and forth with your fold up trailer. For that matter, a self storage unit may not be a bad idea even if you aren't planning on moving anytime soon.

Nice collection of bikes you have!

 

[SILVERPLATE]

Looks like a lot of cool stuff in there. I am in Pembroke Pines and know what the gated communities are like, I have a two-car garage would love to have a three. Good luck!

 

[moonpool145]

When you say "move back" do you mean move back to Wisconsin? If that's the case then why not get an off-site storage unit for things? You could keep a couple of the bikes that you aren't working on in it and transport them back and forth with your fold up trailer. For that matter, a self storage unit may not be a bad idea even if you aren't planning on moving anytime soon.

Nice collection of bikes you have!

Thanks. A storage area may not be a bad idea but I guess I have not been sure of the level of security. It would definatly open up some space though. My wife complains I have too many bikes though I'm not sure thats possible. The current tally stands at 9 but I have promised her I will try and stop soon unless I find something really special. Though the definition of special to me is "2 wheeels"

 

[jamesemery728]

Just my 2 cents on self storage units. Use caution, they can be addictive. Why do you think that most of them give you a free truck to move your stuff in and give the the first month free or for $1.00. They figure once you get in there you are not going to leave. I know you plan (or hope) to move from Florida within a year but plans can change and you will end up with that monthly expense of a storage unit or two that can go on for ever. Try to get everything you can into your 3 car garage and get rid of the rest of it. If you keep things in storage long enough you could have gone out and bought all new things for what it's going to cost you. Ask me how I know all this? that is what happened to us due to a couple of unplanned moves. Good Luck by the way and welcome to the group.

 

[uniongoon]

what is the red Duc? 999?

 

[JohnK007]

Just my 2 cents on self storage units. Use caution, they can be addictive. Why do you think that most of them give you a free truck to move your stuff in and give the the first month free or for $1.00. They figure once you get in there you are not going to leave.

That's a good point! My wife and I rented ours in July of '08 when we put the house up for sale to declutter for the showings. House didn't sell and we still have the unit. Thought about bringing the stuff home last month but we might try to sell again next Spring, so what's the point. James is right, it can become addicting to have that storage option and those monthly rents do add up. Still and all, it is an option to consider.
As far as security, the place we use has a keypad gate plus your lock. There's a camera but I don't know if it works. Security is pretty much a roll of the dice but we haven't had any problems. I know I wouldn't use a complex that doesn't have a locked gate.

 

[moonpool145]

what is the red Duc? 999?

Yep, its a 2006 999R

 

[moonpool145]

That's a good point! My wife and I rented ours in July of '08 when we put the house up for sale to declutter for the showings. House didn't sell and we still have the unit. Thought about bringing the stuff home last month but we might try to sell again next Spring, so what's the point. James is right, it can become addicting to have that storage option and those monthly rents do add up. Still and all, it is an option to consider.
As far as security, the place we use has a keypad gate plus your lock. There's a camera but I don't know if it works. Security is pretty much a roll of the dice but we haven't had any problems. I know I wouldn't use a complex that doesn't have a locked gate.

Thanks, both points are well taken. I am afraid of increasing the monthly expenses as well (since I already have 1 storage unit up North for tools and machines) and really dont want to become a pack rat. The real solution is a bigger garage with storage elswhere in the house for that which does not belong. Oh to have a shop such as many of those posted here. I lust after those. Maybe someday.

 

[moonpool145]

Looks like a lot of cool stuff in there. I am in Pembroke Pines and know what the gated communities are like, I have a two-car garage would love to have a three. Good luck!

Thanks, I'm in West Boynton and yep, pretty restrictive. But talk about cool stuff, that space of yours is simply amazing.