Storage Solutions for Old Car

[72FordGTS]

I recently had the opportunity to acquire a car I grew up with from my brother. While I don't really have the storage space for it, I couldn't let the car go, as I knew if it left the family, I'd likely never see it again. My current garage is full, so I had to find another place to store it for winter.

I have a friend who has a large garage to store it this winter, but I'd like a solution for the summer months. I don't like the idea of the car sitting outside in the sun and rain as I know how much this can deteriorate a car with time. So I was thinking that that I could use a portable garage, one of those steel framed canvass covered types. I have a gravel driveway that also goes beside my 32 foot deep garage. I would set it up on the gravel right beside the garage wall (which faces north).

If I bought one, I'd probably invest in a better quality one, like these ones from cover tech to deal with the winds from my open property and the Ontario snow load. I'd also likely want to park my pickup in there during winter while the car is stored offsite, saving me having to clean the snow off it.

https://www.cover-tech.com/portable-garages

Has anyone used one of these portable garages for vehicle storage?

Do they have problems with condensation on the inside?

Is it a worthwhile investment to protect an old car?

Do I need to make a floor for this garage, or is it fine to set it up on gravel?

Any advice is appreciated. And feel free to offer other solutions than a portable garage, as long as they are somewhat low cost. Ultimately, I have the room on my property for another garage, but that's a long way off money-wise and the land would also need some heavy work first.

 

[ford33]

The cover will provide some protection from ultraviolet light but not from temperature change effects, moisture from the ground and animal damage. Is it possible to build an extension to your existing garage? Store the car in a neighbors garage or look for a buyer for it so you don't lose more money as it ages?

Plenty of car projects started with buying a car for a future project but not planning how you will store, work and maintain the vehicle. Most end up selling the project car years later because of the storage cost, complaints from neighbors or just lost interest.

I hope you get to a long term solution soon.

 

[zer01]

We had one for 7 years to store our truck in the winter. Condensation happened. Dust and dirt was a huge issue. Our floor was dirt and gravel. The wind blows under the lower edge and kicks up a dust storm in there. It did keep the snow off our truck. We had a round top one, I replaced the tarp every other year with a heavy duty over-sized tarp. One tarp seemed to start to tear every two to three years especially with our lake Michigan snow load. It did the job we needed it to. I tried lots of different ideas to stop the wind intrusion but did not win that battle. It did keep everything dry except in the spring when there was a lot of condensation happening. Cool nights, warm mornings.

 

[66Caprice]

What car is it? Will it fit inside a shipping container?

 

[ryan77]

I second the shipping container idea

 

[Terranova]

32 foot deep garage and no room to store the car?

Super cool that you got the car though.

I can't really say anything, I'm about to be at "one car to many" as well.

 

[Willypu]

What about something like a Tough Shed (more expensive than most) or equivalent? Many big box stores have models with several options including roll up garage style doors. The price generally includes delivery and building it on site for you.

Or better yet, build your own, it really isn't that tough for a single car storage garage.

As said before, the tents with tarp sides will tear and deteriorate and allow small critters to come in from the bottom. Mice/rats will be your biggest concern and nightmare with a soft sided structure. They will eat wiring, get into upholstery and poop everywhere. Do your car a favor and get or build a secure home for it.

 

[jrkrace]

I say get an enclosed trailer and store it in there. Safe, rodent free, and you can use it for hauling when needed.

 

[rsanter]

Enclosed trailer or the shipping container is even the cheaper route.
Container gets hot so you want to paint or better yet coat the top to keep the temps down.
You will also want to do some venting as a sealed container will have humidity changes with the tempature changes.
Also if it was me I would add a door to the side (once the car is running and driving) to make it easier to get in and out of the car without climbing in the window

Bob

 

[kellymc]

get an outdoor carcoon - or carcapsule -

 

[astroracer]

Invest in one of these. A little more then a canvas one but the steel roof gives me a warmer, fuzzier feeling. Close it all in and you are good.

Put down a 3/4" treated plywood floor to help keep condensation down.
Mark

 

[oldwino]

32 foot deep garage and no room to store the car?

sounds like a true Garage Journalite to me

 

[HoosierBuddy]

I like the enclosed trailer idea because the trailer would be handy to have anyway.

Phil

 

[TractorJeff]

4 post car lift to store one project car over the top of another!

 

[Todd Baumann]

Outdoor Car Capsule
I have an indoor one and love it.

 

[langss]

I don't know what the Sun is like where you are located, but from personal experience. The Sun kills the Canopy's rather quickly. Even with HF tarps draped over them, the sun still bakes everything under. Then, as has been mentioned above, it rains inside from the "Condensation" so you have to keep the car covered(car cover). Another good point made above.....Its a safe place for "Animals", so they will be all over your car. I'm speaking from personal experience. If you have wind issues where you live, that also tear's up the covers. If you can afford inside storage year round, you wont be sorry.

 

[72FordGTS]

I should clarify a few things. First off this is a running driving car in good condition. The car is 100% rust free and I want to keep it that way. I also plan on using it as a hobby car during the warmer months. So on weekends and nice sunny days. It's nothing overly special or valuable to most, a '76 Chev Malibu 2-door, but it is the sentimental value this car has with me and my family. I plan on doing work to it over the years as a father son project, such as an engine build.

I appreciate all the feedback, and if these portable garages have lots of condensation, than maybe they aren't the best idea. We do live on a fairly open and windy property and of course there are lots of critters. The main reason I wanted to try one was for budget costs. They are cost effective and I though they'd be a better option than just leaving the car outside 6 months of the year.

I will have to look into some of the other ideas. Probably the best solution would be a drive on hoist if it will fit in my current garage. Then I could stack the two cars on top of one another. Of course it's a lot more money, so I may not be able to afford one for a few years. I can't bolt anything to the floor of my garage because I have radiant floor heating.

And yes, I have a 28x32 heater garage, and it is pretty full. I have two cars in their plus my workshop and storage area.

 

[Backwodsurvivor]

I think a lift would almost be cheaper if not equal to the price of a really nice cloth car port. But then you've got a lift...

 

[RStewart]

Used a 20’ Haulmark trailer for years and worked well for me. Just clear snow accumulations off the top. Trailer was handy to have for moving stuff too and then sold it for almost what I paid for it. Win, win, win.
That Malibu style is neat.
My son went the various tent routes and I feel the trailer was a better option. As mentioned the weather and occasional tree branch were not kind.

 

[langss]

I don't know what the Sun is like where you are located, but from personal experience. The Sun kills the Canopy's rather quickly. Even with HF tarps draped over them, the Sun still bakes everything under. Then, as has been mentioned above, it rains inside from the "Condensation" so you have to keep the car covered(car cover). Another good point made above.....Its a safe place for "Animals", so they will be all over your car. I'm speaking from personal experience. If you have wind issues where you live, that also tear's up the covers. If you can afford inside storage year round, you wont be sorry.

Both of my cars are parked on Concrete. Both are using Costco Canopy's bought at different times. The main problem is the Sun. If I had it to do over, I would have never let the original covers see any more Sun than I could have avoided. The Harbor Freight Tarps should be considered sacrificial and by layering multiple tarps, I did get longer service life out of them, but they fail at stress points and wherever the most Sun exposure. So you may have one fail, and your going to have to get another one back up there before the remaining ones which are already pretty fragile from being baked, will fail in nothing flat. If your going to be using the car regularly, then a Canopy and a good car cover would probably work good for you. Animals will find its a safe haven and so a good Car Cover will be an absolute necessity. What I found to semi eliminate the Condensation issue is I hung an additional tarp on the inside hanging on bungee cords from the upper side rails. Its high enough to drive under and anything that drips falls on it and just runs off at the back of the canopy. The other major issue as I posted above is the Wind. Once the Canopy's are older, the wind will shred them in a heart beat, so the more HF tarps you have layered, the better chance you have of them lasting. The plus side of this is the whole assembly will withstand the wind buffeting a lot better. I hope this helps.

 

[kursplat]

4 post lift for over / under in your existing would be my choice, but if you have room next to your garage for a temp garage, then you have room to build a real addition for storage. anything else is still out door storage and your going to have out door issues

 

[Showkey]

Does your location control building by permit ?
Pop up or portable garages may not be allowed in some areas.
Cities are banning them as they are an eye sore.

 

[4xdog]

I’d go with the double-stack lift idea, if that’s feasible.

Alternatively, some of those carcoons have a lot of tech to manage environment inside the enclosure. Check one of the UK classic car magazine ads for a number of options — they seem to be more common over there.

 

[Bruce Amacker]

Enclosed trailer or shipping container will get extremely hot in the summer- I know a guy who left his old Vette in a trailer over the summer and the heat severely cracked the paint on one side- south. And that's in Ohio.

 

[RWorth]

I bought the tent style from these guys; https://www.portablegaragedepot.com/, I went with the heavy gauge material, I erected it on a 6" thick slab we poured for the purpose. The purpose was a shelter for my '76 CJ-7 that doesn't have a top, and storage for tools that I don't have room for in my garage. I've had it up for a couple of years now and it still looks like new. I actually built a wood wall for one gable end and installed an un-insulated metal overhead door. The Jeep is 13 feet long so I bought a 13x28x10, it has a ton of storage and a small loft as well. Workehttps://www.garagejournal.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=812300&stc=1&d=1537737985d out great.

 

[vtcat]

Unfortunately tents don't keep rodents out and they cause a lot of damage.

 

[Miss the Pontiacs]

Your killing me! What are you storing, any pics?

 

[72FordGTS]

Thanks again for the advice. The more I think about it the 4 post lift might be the better option. While a car hauler would work too, a lift is cheaper and I have always wanted one for servicing my vehicles too. I just was looking for something more affordable for the interim. I took some measurements last night and it looks like I have the room for a 4 post drive on, And from reading here, it seems like many do not require to be bolted down.

Actually looking at that outdoor car capsule, it looks like it might work too. And it seems to be priced similarly to a decent quality temporary garage. Anyone here actually use one before? How to they hold up in the real world.

The car is a 76 Malibu. Here is an pic: