Pumpmaster's Double

[pumpmaster]

With the holidays here I finally have a little spare time to start a thread. I'm hoping this will serve as motivation to keep moving forward with the garage as its a space I've been dying to have set up just right for ages.
My last home had a nice double car garage but I knew that I wasn't staying at the house long enough to justify doing much to the garage. A couple years ago my wife and I finally found a country property that we loved and could envision ourselves staying at for a bunch of years. Fortunately it came with a nice sized garage. Here's a really basic idea of the layout, size likely isn't exact but close enough for this purpose.

The previous owners used the garage like most people do, so it was full of random storage items, yard equipment and garbage. As soon as we moved in I rid the garage of anything that would leave the stale smell of cut grass and gasoline, and straightened up a bit. I've essentially been living with it like this ever since. Usable but far from perfect.

I have a few "trouble areas" that need organization/elimination. The first area uses an old cabinet I cut down/modified and repurposed. It's functional but looks messy and prevents me from parking my looong supercrew truck in the garage for now.

The second area is some pegboard I put up over a now non-existent workbench. Messy messy messy.

The third area dubber will appreciate. After some paint and organization its much improved but still not where I want it.

I'm fortunate that I have nice high ceilings (13'). The previous owner installed some basic shelves that work great but look terrible. They can be seen in this crummy photo.

So there's a brief intro to my space and the challenges I'm facing. Also looking to improve my compressed air situation ASAP. Questions/comments appreciated, I'll try to post often enough to keep things interesting for anyone curious enough to follow along.

 

[pumpmaster]

Scouring my new phone I discovered a few more photos. After installing some Nokkian Hakkapellittas onto my commuter for the winter I wanted a nice rack to store my Goodyear F1s until spring. This Goodyear branded rack went on sale for half price and the blue matched my toolbox so why not? Put it up high enough to park my Ranger underneath but low enough I could load it by hand.

 

[pumpmaster]

This is my current compressor. I purchased it used thinking it would be handy for when I blow out the sprinkler system in the fall. It is, but it's inconvenient the other 99% of the time. I need something that'll stand up in a corner and still be easy to use. This is awkwardly shaped and forces you to get on your hands and knees to operate both tank drains.

 

[reid.duff]

Nice garage and FoST! Wish I had convinced my wife to get one l last year(the car). Any other immediate plans for the garage?

 

[kyle@hcb]

Very unique shape! Looks great.

 

[pumpmaster]

Nice garage and FoST! Wish I had convinced my wife to get one l last year(the car). Any other immediate plans for the garage?

Thanks! The FoST has been fun, it actually replaced my FiST that was totaled 4 days after it arrived...its bound to be the subject of a project or two in the garage that I'll try and document here.
Other semi-immediate plans include some paint on the walls and sorting out my garage door opener situation. It's currently a 25 year old beast that I've somehow managed to keep running. I'd like to prepare for a hoist in the future so hoping it'll last until spring so I can look into a jack shaft opener to free up some headroom. Here's a shot of the latest repair.

All of the connections to the control board finally broke free from 25 years of shaking. I was shivering while I soldered everything back but it's been working great since. Fingers crossed I get to spring!

 

[pumpmaster]

Christmas morning has now passed...and left me with $200 in Canadian Tire gift cards. What to buy for the garage?


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[pumpmaster]

Spring is finally here so time for some projects in the garage. Getting the Ranger ready for a trip up north.

Some off-road LEDs getting test fit. I have a custom rocker switch coming for an OEM looking install. The factory lighting leaves a lot to be desired in the woods at night or when moving any faster than 40kph.

 

[pumpmaster]

Getting ready to install a new set of wheels on the ST for summer.

 

[pumpmaster]

Ordered some vinyl "stickers" to modify the center caps to my new wheels.

After cleaning the caps with rubbing alcohol and heating both the cap and the sticker with a hair dryer they applied nicely. We'll see how long they hold up.

 

[dubber]

Not sure how i missed your thread, but welcome. Hows it going in there? The garage design does offer some unique challenges for sure. Where in Canada are you located?

 

[pumpmaster]

Not sure how i missed your thread, but welcome. Hows it going in there? The garage design does offer some unique challenges for sure. Where in Canada are you located?

Thanks! Progress has been sporadic at best with our brutally cold winter and my recent lack of free time, but completed a few projects this long weekend. Switched the summer wheels onto my ST and the wife's wagon then mocked up the off-road lights for my Ranger that I'm getting ready for a trip up North next month.
Hoping to head out there today to figure out final placement for my new compressor and hose reel.
I'm out in the country about 35 mins south of Hamilton.
Look forward to your input as I've been following your garages and we share a taste for Canadian Tire!

 

[dubber]

Thanks! Progress has been sporadic at best with our brutally cold winter and my recent lack of free time, but completed a few projects this long weekend. Switched the summer wheels onto my ST and the wife's wagon then mocked up the off-road lights for my Ranger that I'm getting ready for a trip up North next month.
Hoping to head out there today to figure out final placement for my new compressor and hose reel.
I'm out in the country about 35 mins south of Hamilton.
Look forward to your input as I've been following your garages and we share a taste for Canadian Tire!

Yes sir, I personally love CT. Great prices with their sale rotation and no hassle returns.

I like that you have stated you will be keeping lawn equipment elsewhere. Are you able to put the bikes in a shed too?
Can you fit two cars in there and open all doors?
What is the maximum depth and width?

Love the ST BTW, very sweet.

 

[pumpmaster]

Yes sir, I personally love CT. Great prices with their sale rotation and no hassle returns.



I like that you have stated you will be keeping lawn equipment elsewhere. Are you able to put the bikes in a shed too?

Can you fit two cars in there and open all doors?

What is the maximum depth and width?



Love the ST BTW, very sweet.

I actually had a strange experience with CT and their warranty repairs recently. I purchased a small air compressor around Christmas since it was on sale. Didn't open it until recently and I discovered that it had a defective bleeder valve on the bottom. Called the 1-800 number included with the owners manual and they told me that since it had been a few months since I bought it I couldn't return to the store and I needed to take it to one of their warranty repair locations. I was instantly annoyed since I live in the middle of nowhere but then she told me the closest repair facility was 10 mins away!?!
I got the address and headed over to what turned out to be a tiny operation out of a guys garage. He's a small engine master mechanic and handles all of the local CT's warranty repairs. He had it fixed and ready for pick up the next morning at zero cost to me. Gotta love that!
The garage will hold 2 cars with doors open although I never use it that way. My Ranger eats up a lot of space (as did my ATV/sled/dirt bike...) so it's only the ST and my off-road toys. The wife's car and my truck stay in the driveway which would hold 20+ cars so they're never in the way. The garden tractor and equipment go into a shed along with bicycles/kids toys etc.
heading out to do a few things now, will try to get some pics and the measurements you asked about.

 

[Andersen]

Love the wheel rack - would like to find such one in Europe....

 

[pumpmaster]

A small victory in the garage today. Set out to find a way to fit my truck into the garage for those rare times I have a repair/project on the go that can't be completed in a day.
My truck is just under 20' long so I needed access right to the back of the garage.
This mess is what I started with on the back wall.

Cleared out.

Truck in...thank goodness for reverse cameras!

Not much room to spare but at least now the beast fits when I need it to.

And now there's room to spare behind the ST.

Next project is to figure out a good spot to mount my new hose reel.

 

[pumpmaster]

Just realized I posted a couple days ago about mounting my summer wheels...but then never posted a pic. Like any black wheels they photograph terribly but I'm pretty happy with fitment. They have a 45 offset so coupled with 15/20mm spacers they fill out the wheel arches nicely. They have a slight concavity to the spoke face which looks great but is impossible to photograph with my phone. I didn't intend on leaving these black but they're growing on me a bit.

 

[dubber]

Awesome move getting rid of the old bench btw. Summer shoes are also approved haha. Nice touch with the cap; seems to have worked out well.

Is there any value in attempting a new configuration for the stairs? Maybe with no or a much smaller landing? Hard to tell in the pics but might be an option for you.

EDIT: and cheers on the CT purchases

 

[pumpmaster]

Is there any value in attempting a new configuration for the stairs? Maybe with no or a much smaller landing? Hard to tell in the pics but might be an option for you.

I've considered that but honestly at this point it works how it is. It leaves me room for garbage/recycling access from the door to the house plus leaves me room to store a few larger items underneath. I currently have my generator, my 6' scaffolding and a 1983 Honda ATC 70 (awaiting rebuild) under there.

 

[Danish-welder]

Very nice garage you got there!
What program did you use to do the drawing in..?

 

[pumpmaster]

Very nice garage you got there!

What program did you use to do the drawing in..?

It's a free app called Magic Plan. It's been updated significantly since I did that layout, works really good.
MagicPlan by Sensopia
https://appsto.re/ca/WQFEz.i

 

[Danish-welder]

Thanks mate, just tried it out.. Really neat a simple to use.. But you have to buy everything in the app to put in kitchen counters for example, motherf*ckers
Apparently nothing in this world is for free

 

[dubber]

I've considered that but honestly at this point it works how it is. It leaves me room for garbage/recycling access from the door to the house plus leaves me room to store a few larger items underneath. I currently have my generator, my 6' scaffolding and a 1983 Honda ATC 70 (awaiting rebuild) under there.

Yea one of those things its hard to tell based on perspective.

 

[pumpmaster]

Yea one of those things its hard to tell based on perspective.

This is another "plus" of the current set up. I can actually back the Ranger up underneath the edge so that I can just drop garbage/recycling over the railing into the box to drive down to the road. Saves carrying heavy garbage cans down the stairs (those of you with kids in diapers will appreciate how heavy the garbage can get!)

 

[pumpmaster]

Little project that turned into a big project yesterday:rear brakes on my wife's car. Turns out the mechanic who last did these used an impact gun to reassemble everything...combine that with a couple seasons of rust and an hour long job turns into 8.
Oh well I got to buy and use a couple new tools. The impact driver worked great to remove the rotor retaining screws, just wish the bit didn't shear off in the first one...ugh...
Used Brembo rotors, should be the last time I ever do these as we only need another 2 years out of this car.

Got some help choosing tools from my little man. So glad he's big enough to be out here now. For the record the car is blocked and on jack stands. Just realized the angle on this pic looks sketchy.

 

[pumpmaster]

Lots of work in the garage yesterday. First up was the CHT sensor on my truck. One of those inexpensive yet nasty repairs.

After lots of disassembly and cutting my knuckles to shreds the truck was finished. Next up was the lawnmower as my grass has already started to shoot up. Needed basically everything so I made a trip to the local tractor supply and picked everything up. Compared to my truck this was a joy. Changed the oil, air filter, fuel filter, battery and blades in about half an hour then mowed the part of my yard that gets thick fast.

 

[dubber]

Wow your lawn is green already. Nice job with the weekend garage projects.