Working on LONG vehicles...

[mjozefow]

I have a garage that is 22' long and a truck that is 21' long. So I can pull it in, but working under the hood is out of the question.

So...

Does anyone have a method for working on a long vehicle in the winter? I was thinking maybe closing the garage door until the top of the bedrails and then using foam sheets to seal out cold air.

Anyone have experience with this?

 

[zmotorsports]

Back when I was in high school and only had a small work area in the front of a carport to keep tools and workbench in I would drape a tarp over the vehicle and some plastic PVC that would form a frame around vehicle and put a small kerosene heater inside for warmth. That actually worked very well. I did something similar last winter when the cities snowplow needed work and I had a full shop. I pulled it up to my shop door and draped a tarp with a small heater that I borrowed underneath. Worked well other than didn't look the greatest. I worked like crazy to get it done because I didn't care for the 'image' it presented from the street. Mike.

 

[eborcim]

You could find one of those cheap enclosed popup tents with sides **** it up against the wall and close in the back half of the truck. Might be challenging though to find one wide enough for your garage door.

 

[Deer Run]

Is your garage wider than it is deep? Could you put your truck on Wheel dollies and spin it 90deg?

 

[kbs2244]

I think a lot depends on how long the project is going to take.

If it is a couple of hours, even a day or two, then the tarp ideas work well.
I use sandbags made from old pant legs and t-shirts to hold them down.
I have even used hay bales under the truck to seal off the bottom from bad winds.

But if it is a major project, one of the frabic buildings from someone like these guys may be in order.

http://www.teksupply.com/farm/supplies/prod1;ts1_tension_fabric_structures;pgs008rd0500025gn.html

When you are done the pack up pretty small for storage.

 

[mjozefow]

Is your garage wider than it is deep? Could you put your truck on Wheel dollies and spin it 90deg?

Yes, but no. Can't spin the truck. All my side workbenches and stuff won't permit it. Plus, it is only about 2' more.

 

[jonny o]

I closed a garage door onto the trunk of my malibu, with layers of old towels protecting the paint, then stacked spare pieces of plywood and wallboard in the gap at the bottom. Of course, the electric heater wouldn't keep it as warm, but the propane unit had some fresh air to breath!

It will work, as long as you don't have strong winds and a lot of snow trying to blow in. Definitely won't look great in the meantime though.

 

[Keep]

We have a guy in our neighborhood that stores his boat in the garage. Well the trailer is about 2 feet to long. So he closed the door on to the top of the trailer and built some plywood inserts to cover the rest, he painted the outside to match his door and you can hardly notice its there.

 

[Okievoodoo]

What about pulling truck in to where you are comfortable working at the front. Closing garage door to top of bed, then go outside, measure depth needed to clear bed, build a PVC skeleton that will be that depth, and the full width of the garage, get a tarp that you can have sewn pockets in and insert PVC like a tent that has been mentioned.. it could be broken down when not is use and the tarp folded up... would be available any time you needed. (Think about the case of a window unit inserted around truck and over door opening). an idea...

 

[brwbier]

I think you know the real answer. Its time for an upgrade. But without knowing you or your situation its hard to tell, maybe smaller truck?

 

[mjozefow]

Just bought the house. And the truck isn't going anywhere. I hope to have it for a long long time! It makes me smile every time I turn the key.

 

[jonny o]

Good to hear it makes you that happy.
How much room do you need to make? I bet you could get a good 1.5-2 feet with the bumpers off.

 

[mjozefow]

That is a viable option I suppose. I might get just enough room if I remove them. I'll need to measure.

 

[sstruckguy]

If thats a long bed extended cab...you may have chosen unwisely

If its a short bed, it may be time for..a new garage build!!!


p.s good looking truck

 

[Steevo]

If thats a long bed extended cab...you may have chosen unwisely

If its a short bed, it may be time for..a new garage build!!!


p.s good looking truck

What is wrong with a long bed extended cab truck?

Oh, and I built a new garage/shop to fit mine in.

 

[sstruckguy]

What is wrong with a long bed extended cab truck?

Oh, and I built a new garage/shop to fit mine in.

Nothing wrong with the truck, but it isn't the typical truck.

Can we assume that your freshly built shop has clearance for the longer than typical truck?

 

[Steevo]

Nothing wrong with the truck, but it isn't the typical truck.

Can we assume that your freshly built shop has clearance for the longer than typical truck?

And then some.

 

[sstruckguy]

And then some.

Hopefully you documented this build, so you can share it with GJ..hopefully.

 

[Gary S]

As already explained. You need a shorter truck or a longer garage. My longest truck is 20' and my garage is 48'. I have lots of room to work in there.

 

[Steevo]

My garage build is in this thread:
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=43001&highlight=Steevo
24w by 40d

If you really want to see ALL the pics, they are here:
http://sdwike.smugmug.com/Other/Steves-Toybox/9682388_VvRoz#654075513_qM4bS

 

[chrislib]

I was in the exact same predicament...same vehicle as well

This pic from my job where I mounted tires n rims. But prior to putting on new tires I wanted to replace the king pins, had to do all the brakes/rotors/drums/lines etc so I could`nt really do the work at my job due to time constraints. I picked up a used shelter logic temp garage 10x20 http://www.shelterlogic.com/garages/peak/ . I was able to nose the truck into the back wall enough to allow working on it.It was tight but it got the job done and kept all my tools and stuff dry as the project strung out over several weekends,
I also had a single cab truck that would fit inside with approx 1/2 inch to spare at the rear bumper,I was doing brake lines in this pic as well...what is it with old Dodge brake line material? , I just replaced it ALL with stainless and sold the truck about a year later

 

[mjozefow]

I was in the exact same predicament...same vehicle as well

You sir have impeccable taste in trucks. Tires Too!!!!!!!

As far as the new garage, I'm 20, bought my first house and the garage will have to do. Yes, I would love more space but I'm not going to complain. I'm lucky to have what I do. I'll try taking the bumpers off and see how that goes.

And ya, extended cab 8' bed is long, but the extra cab space is a godsend. And doing a lot of construction stuff, it is unlikely I would ever consider a truck sans 8' bed.

We'll if I can make a bit of extra room.

Also,

Anyone know of any rollers/dollies that will support a heavy diesel truck like this. Not breaking the bank would be a plus.

 

[ket-tek]

At my old place I used to work on the front or rear of the truck with only half of it stuck in the garage.. I would lower the door onto the bed and use a bunch of big plastic clamps to hang some super thick heavy moving blankets from the bottom of the door and to the door tracks on the sides of the truck. And stuff the blankets between the cab/bed gap..

Not a long term project solution. But worked great to work on something for a few hours while it was cold outside and I could set it up in a couple minutes. Blocking the wind and holding in some of the heat from the torpedo heater was my main goal.

 

[some zilch]

If thats a long bed extended cab...you may have chosen unwisely

If its a short bed, it may be time for..a new garage build!!!


p.s good looking truck

there were no short bed diesels in that "square front" body style.

 

[sstruckguy]

I must have missed the diesel part....or not

 

[ihredo4]

You think that truck is long. Make it a quad cab with an 8 foot bed. Its like trying to park the USS ENTERPRISE in a parking lot. And for parking it in a garage. Its not gonna happen unless its a 30 X 40 building. I did "correct the mistakes" on this thing though. I am an IHC guy but got rid of the IDI 444 for a 5.9 Cummins. Also have a NV4500 5spd in it rather than the E4OD boat anchor Ford installed. I had to replace the bed for a wrecker bed to accomodate access to the gooseneck and fifth wheel hitchs. I will try to post a pic of this truck. Sad thing is this is my little truck and daily driver. I am still gathering the parts for my big truck. '80 IHC S1854 crew cab. I have a DT436 I can build into a DT466. Or I could go to a big Cummins. I will have to see which rears its ugly head first. Nice thing it has juice brakes and low enough GVWR to keep me out of CDL not that that really matters. Make it into an RV and license it as such and CDL goes out the window. I need this truck to pull my 36' enclosed gooseneck trailer and haul my antique tractors and cars. Sorry for Hi Jacking your thread. Nice first Gen Cummins truck you have there. I have the last of the 12V Cummins in my truck. Boy is it a power house compared to that 7.3. Shes not the prettiest truck but she'll turn a head or two.