using a carport tent long term outside

[andrew240z]

I bought one of these below for use at the track but never used it. too much trouble to take up and down. was thinking of using it at home outside. wondered how long it might last and how crappy it is going to get. any thoughts?


http://www.walmart.com/ip/Caravan-Canopy-10x20-Carport/11007577

 

[rohartman]

Caravan Canopy 10' X 20' Domain Carport Garage

About this item
Whether your garage is full or you just need another place to park your car, boat or two wheeler, the Caravan Canopy Carport Garage will make an ideal option. The heavy duty caravan garage measures a roomy 10 x 20 feet and offers protection from the sun and the elements. The steel 10' X 20' frame canopy garage features a six-leg construction in a powder-coated metal frame. It comes with a polyethylene top that provides long-lasting durability. The durable waterproof top allows you to use the canopy garage in all weather conditions. Get the durable Caravan Canopy Carport Garage and give your vehicles the protection they need.
Caravan Canopy 10 by 20 Domain Carport:
The Caravan Canopy Carport Garage has durable powder-coated steel frame
6-leg construction with 1-3/8" diameter tubing
Polyethylene top is heavy duty
All-weather use
Multi-use canopy garage
Specifications
Tent Type: none
Multi Pack Indicator: No
Model No.: 22006200010
Shipping Weight (in pounds): 75.0
Product in Inches (L x W x H): 240.0 x 120.0 x 103.0
Assembled in Country of Origin: USA or Imported
Origin of Components: USA or Imported
Walmart No.: 1657610

I have something like this over my dog run and the top only lasted 3 years before the wind started to shred it. For $100 I may try this over my open car trailer. Lets know how it holds up.

 

[tdkkart]

Old neighbor bought one, used it all summer to park his boat under, then took it back in the fall when he stored the boat. Crooked F&*K did that at least 3 years in a row.
Probably learned it from the neighbor who used a pool all summer then returned it in the fall.

 

[oltruckag]

I used one years ago outside of my duplex in college. Held up much better than one would think, but I only had it up for 2 years. It came from pep-boys, and the cover was 'medium duty' at best, not sure if the wal-mart version is lighter or not. For $100, it's probably good for a year or so, assuming no major wind storms.

Don't expect it to hold up much to snow load however. There's a recent thread about that...

Tyson

 

[steve308]

I had one that I used to cover my boat (no I didn't take it back in the fall ) If you get snow or ice it will sag and rip. I added extra trussing and tightened every thing with bungie cords. Lasted 3 1/2 years. Tree limb took it out. Sold the boat.

 

[ambenz]

I have one here in the upper Midwest and I would consider it a 3 season tent as it is not made to hold snow load.
So mine comes down the first week of November and goes back up the first week of April.
I lost one eyelet during a heavy wind and rain event in the spring and just made a new one right next to where the plastic pulled out.
So I am pretty sure any snow that accumulates and doesn't slide off will compromise the eyelets holding the material to the frame.
I would be interested to hear from a member who keeps one up, in my region, all seasons.
I use mine between my house and the neighbors house, in the picture below....keeping my red Ford Ranger clean and secure underneath and the 3rd bay of the garage free for projects.

 

[over40pirate]

I've used many tarp covers.
The sun will kill one in SW Fl, in 1 year. Maybe 2-3 years if a real heavy duty tarp.
Wind will also shred them. Be sure all bunji's are on, and no tarp is flapping in the breeze.
As I have heard, sonw kills them.

 

[IOWNJUNK]

Put each post in a 5gal bucket and toss a bag of concrete in, then stake them down with rope and rebar stakes. When the wind picks them up they always go for the most expensive car in the yard.

 

[Darius6t9]

I have one of the shelter logic covers like that. Had it for a few years. Just set it up after not using it for a few years. Be sure to check the stakes that come with it as far as you can. They ****. Spent the extra money and got some ground anchors. They hold much better. Tent stakes **** dirt.

 

[lh4x4]

I am using one of those right now to cover the Van. It does the job okay. I did use substantially better ground anchors to be sure it stayed secure on windy days.

I do have to remove the snow when it sags but it is a quick chore.

It is the 10' by 20' model and appears to be like your example. I got it for $99 at good ole Wallyword.

 

[T-Mac]

snow and wind are the biggest concerns.

 

[PCO6]

I have one and it is set up beside my garage much like the one shown by ambenz in post #6. It's very handy. Instead of ******* the legs to the ground I attached them to concrete blocks. I also added eyelets to the bottom edge of the sides and roped them to the property line fence and to the house on the other side. That helps it to stay put and also keeps the top taught to assist with snow and rain drainage.

 

[bad_idea]

My neighbor put one up in his driveway. I walked over and asked if he was having a party, he informed me it was a permanent fixture to protect his prized 3rd gen Camaro (82-92). I said with as windy as it is in our area it will get blown down and scratch his car. He brushed me off. It was only up for a month or so before the wind knocked it down and it scratched his car. I didn't walk over and say I told you so when it happened.

 

[ambenz]

I have one and it is set up beside my garage much like the one shown by ambenz in post #6...... I also added eyelets to the bottom edge of the sides and roped them to the property line fence and to the house on the other side. That helps it to stay put and also keeps the top taught to assist with snow and rain drainage.

So PCO6, being up in Canada, your weather has to be like mine...and you leave yours up on all four seasons! Interesting...I do tie mine to the fence and a electrical box protruding from the house...I get decent wind block when its between the house.
I was a little worried about snow, but sounds like a non issue IF I can somehow remove it from the roof when it sags...hmmmm, figuring out how to do that on the house side of the roof might be a problem for me. Maybe move it back towards the yard will allow me to do that in the winter.

Bad Idea, I had to laugh about your post.
We goto car shows and once in a blue moon, some wise guy puts up a 10X10.
Everyone around him gets mad because we all know where the wind is gonna place it...right into our cars.
So, ya...the event host or judge usually get called right away.

 

[NUTTSGT]

In case you missed another discussion on the subject.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=274239


Personally I think it would be foolish to think it'll hold up to winter weather, especially if you live in an area that gets snow, especially lake effect snow. I don't care what the manufacturer says it'll hold up, it's a fabric tent and you are only kidding yourself.

 

[PCO6]

So PCO6, being up in Canada, your weather has to be like mine...and you leave yours up on all four seasons! Interesting...I do tie mine to the fence and a electrical box protruding from the house...I get decent wind block when its between the house.
I was a little worried about snow, but sounds like a non issue IF I can somehow remove it from the roof when it sags...hmmmm, figuring out how to do that on the house side of the roof might be a problem for me. Maybe move it back towards the yard will allow me to do that in the winter.

ambenz - I have a gap of about 4" to 6" on the house side of the canopy. When snow build s up I "gently" use the back side of a wooden push broom on the underside of the canopy to push the snow up so it can drain down through the gap. I then just shovel it. I have to keep my eye on the snow build up to make sure it doesn't get too deep. Not ideal but it works!

 

[Spire]

I installed 2 of these tents 4 feet apart, anchored with concrete blocks and tied together in 2007. One lasted 5 years, the other is still up. This is on the Kenai Peninsula, Alaska.

I leave them up all year long. The key here is to keep the snow from building up. I have had 3 inches on them and they were TIGHT, but survived. I use a foam roof snow rake and pound the snow off from inside the tent.

The last one will be taken down this spring, the wife slid into one of the legs and bent the **** out of it. I lashed a 2x4 to the leg and its still good to go.

I have had the 4 foot space between the tents so full of snow that it was even with the wall to roof transition. I needed to leave enough space to plow between!!

 

[Lippyp]

I have one, I had it up for a couple of years with no problems although the first time we put it up it was a total disaster. Put it up on an area that had old stone flagstones tucked nbetween a couple of stone walls as high almost as the roof. Thought, "It's pretty sheltered, I'll bolt it down tomorrow as the light was going and I'd tied the middle down to some old concrete fence posts I had laying around. I then shoved my old Isuzu trooper in it. Was woken up at 3am by the mother of all storms thrashing outside. Went out to check and the thing was on its side kicking the **** out of the trooper with the posts so had to dismantle the thing in a force 9 gale. It damaged several poles so it got shoved in the garage in disgrace.

A couple of years later I got round to fixing the damaged posts and put it up again and this time used anchor bolts to bolt the legs down to the huge 4" thick stone flags that belonged the the old house that had been on the site so they must have been down for a couple of hundred years. Never had any problems with it after that, just used a broom to brush the worst of any snow off the roof. Was up for maybe three years until we took it down to move house.

There was a guy over the hill from us there that has had one up at his house for at least a decade maybe longer. Again very sheltered from wind but this is up in the Pennines where we did get a fair bit of snow.

Mine was the 10 x 20 from costco.

 

[theoldwizard1]

There are several places on the web that sell similar products. There are 2 very important things to keep in mind

• Proper "tie downs" (Read the above post)
• If you live in an area that gets snow and/or ice, you need one with a steeper pitched roof, probably more roof "rafters" (spaced 5'-8') and heavier material.

Long term, sun is really what will kill it.

 

[DonPowers]

I bought a 20 ft Shelter Logic quonset hut style in 1995 and placed it under some trees. It's still standing today. I replaced the door several years ago because it got sucked into the snowblower.

They make several grades of fabric, don't recall which one mine is though. I credit it's longevity to being out of direct sunlight, positioning it so the wind doesn't try to blow through it and not letting snow build up on the sides. It's not the load on the top that makes them collapse its the side load.

They can get very musty inside so if you get an enclosed one, make sure you also get the vent kit.

 

[Vegaman_Dan]

There are replacement covers through Amazon that will make a huge difference in case you have a damaged one.

The biggest problem I have with mine is that rain water collects between the rafters and makes it sag. I have added several ratchet straps as stringers from the side to the ridge to help eliminate the sags and dips. I think I need to add more.

I have 5 gallon buckets of concrete with hoops in them that I tie down the corners with using ratchet straps again. It doesn't move. It CAN be noisy in a good breeze though. Those overflaps on the sides tend to flop back and forth.

I got a real shed, but I've already filled it up and haven't touched the stuff under the canopy yet! Drat!