WWII Quonset Hut

[BanjoBoy]

Hello everyone

Been mostly a lurker on here but decided to reach out and see if any one out there may know of a vintage quonset hut

Just thought I'd give it a shot since I'm wanting to turn it into my garage / workshop

I'm willing to drive and disassemble if necessary

Any thoughts or opinions are appreciated

Thanks fellas

 

[Daedalus]

Why vintage? You can still buy them for fairly cheap.

 

[DocsMachine]

Been mostly a lurker on here but decided to reach out and see if any one out there may know of a vintage quonset hut

-You don't want a vintage one. At least not the original WW2 Quonset hut. They're surprisingly small (big enough for a one-car garage, but not much more) the ceiling is fairly low unless you build it up on a short pony wall, and the "girders" or hoops are actually fairly weak. They were meant as cheap, lightweight (to transport) and temporary shelters that were a little more rigid than a tent.

Yeah, lots still survive to this day, but that's more due to luck, care and the fact they made a quarter of a million of 'em.

Unless you have to have the vintage look for some reason, you'd be much better off with any one of the instant-garage type buildings, modern corrugated Quonset style garages, or just building a proper stick frame building.

Doc.

 

[Jarhead0408]

I don't know of one for sale, but I've slept in them before.

Camp Perry in Port Clinton, Ohio for the 2003 National Matches. Had a blast.

As a matter of fact, I've slept in old British barracks in Iraq from World War One; and worked in converted German POW barracks at Camp Geiger. I think the hooches at Camp Perry were used for the same purpose (POW housing).

 

[Dragfluid]

What part of the country are you in?
I ask because if you need to heat this thing, it's a real *****. My first shop was a 40x70 Quonset. Never again! In retrospect, almost glad that it burned down.

If you want a shop, build a real building.

 

[txvwnut]

The Quonset hut as come a long way since WWII. You should check out Future Steel, Steel Master and Pioneer Steel, there's a handful of others too these are just the ones I remember when I was shopping for mine. Future probably makes the buildings for all the other names, I know they make them for Steel Master as that is who I purchased my building from and it was shipped from Future Steel.

Trust me you don't want to dis-assemble it and then have to re-assemble, that's a lot of nuts and bolts to keep up with plus you'd most likely have to get new bolts as the sealing washers will probably disintegrate when you take the bolts out, and you need at minimum four(six to eight would be better) friends to help with both dis-assembly and re-assembly.

 

[matt_i]

I would agree with the generalization they are false economy. Lots of space lost to the "arch". PLus I have had bad experiences with uninsulated metal buildings "sweating" like mad if conditions are right (typically warm humid, then a cold rain shower). It might be better with the arch though, maybe the condensate would just roll down the insides instead of dripping straight down...

 

[rburke65]

Well I also have no idea where you might find a vintage hut, but I do know that it's a "square" world in which we live and I see no square anything on a Quonset hut. Door fit, window....garage doors, insulation, ...really! ! I'm going to vote no. Why would you inflict all this on yourself. There is a reason they are not popular. And yes, update your location.

 

[bdbecker]

I agree with the others on buying a new building versus trying to find an old one, unless you are set on it from a purely historical perspective. Otherwise, I doubt there would be much savings over taking apart an old building, transporting it, and setting it up again on your new site.

For what its worth, jbmatth's Warthog Hidey Hole is a good read if you are thinking of using a quonset as a shop...

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=261352

 

[Norcal]

If a steel building is being inspected plans will be required, this can be a deal breaker with reused buildings.

 

[BanjoBoy]

Hello everyone and thanks for your responses

Why own a WW2 Quonset Hut?

If I have to explain this to anyone I guess it's just personal preference.

Does anyone know of one they have seen?

I'm in Southern California

Great weather year round

 

[BanjoBoy]

I've seen the new ones

Prefer an old one

 

[bigcreek]

There is a Quonset hut type building close to where I live in Idaho that is freaking enormous. My parents know the guy who owns it and he bought it from the military a long time ago. Must be a different one than what you are talking about. This one sticks way way up high, huge sucker, never seen anything like it. Im guessing its around 6 stories tall?

 

[Git]

When I was in the Marines - I lived in one for a couple of years during the 70's. Camp Talega, home of the 1st Reconnaissance Battalion. (Heatbreak Ridge with Clint Eastwood was later filmed there)

http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com...set-huts-1stmarines-history-pendleton-talega/

I also recalled seeing several in Costa Mesa off of 17th Street and I found this video of a tour they did several years ago

https://vimeo.com/6094677

To each his own

 

[BanjoBoy]

Amazing
That's exactly what I'm talking about

Thanks for sharing

If anyone knows of one please let me know
Thanks fellas

 

[StevenMorgan]

There is a Quonset hut type building close to where I live in Idaho that is freaking enormous. My parents know the guy who owns it and he bought it from the military a long time ago. Must be a different one than what you are talking about. This one sticks way way up high, huge sucker, never seen anything like it. Im guessing its around 6 stories tall?

Here in KY there are a couple of huge ones at an old Army airfield. They were used as blimp hangars.

 

[brownbagg]

doesnt general steel sell them

 

[velocipede]

I was stationed at Cold Bay out in the Aleutians back in the sixties. There were many there left over from the war and they were still going strong. There was also a bunch of PCP (Pierced Steel Planking) used as runway and road way. Heavy duty stuff.

 

[ZRX61]

Call the museum at Camp Roberts (up the 101 near Paso Robles) & see if they can help. They're clearing out a lot of old buildings there.

 

[jeff64]

They were built in different sizes depending on whether they were intended to be a barracks or warehouse or some other purpose. Some had a short "knee wall" which would allow you to put stuff right up next to the wall. Otherwise, you'll lose some floor space if the wall arch starts at floor level.

 

[BanjoBoy]

Still looking
Thanks for any leads

 

[BanjoBoy]

Update


Found my ww2 Quonset
20 minutes from my home in SoCal lol

Now the work begins

Will post progress pics

Soooooo excited

 

[ZRX61]

what part of so cal?

 

[FullRaceMerc]

Hello everyone and thanks for your responses

Why own a WW2 Quonset Hut?

If I have to explain this to anyone I guess it's just personal preference.

Does anyone know of one they have seen?

I'm in Southern California

Great weather year round

I get the interest in owning one just because. But I'll kick in my 2 cents since I worked in a tin building here in SoCal with our "great weather". 14' tall with big open doors & windows. It could get wicked hot in there. It felt like you were working under a heater. I once measured the inside of the tin roof at 136 degrees. It was 114 down where the people were. It felt cooler outside. We would come in at 4:00 am to beat the heat. If you get one you might look into insulating it somehow.

 

[BanjoBoy]

what part of so cal?

San Fernando valley

 

[BanjoBoy]

I get the interest in owning one just because. But I'll kick in my 2 cents since I worked in a tin building here in SoCal with our "great weather". 14' tall with big open doors & windows. It could get wicked hot in there. It felt like you were working under a heater. I once measured the inside of the tin roof at 136 degrees. It was 114 down where the people were. It felt cooler outside. We would come in at 4:00 am to beat the heat. If you get one you might look into insulating it somehow.

Definitely agree
Will insulate

 

[maxpower_hd]

insulation and ventilation to keep air moving. I think they are pretty cool myself. I would suggest the knee wall as we call them hear to maximize the space inside and get more ceiling height. I am interested to see the photos as you go.

Good luck.

 

[ZRX61]

San Fernando valley

ah, what part?

 

[Ign]

Interested to see your build and hear your reasons. I used to live up the street from a whole block of them. People lived in them and it was low-income housing. They looked so dark inside. Now the neighborhood's been gentrified and you can buy a $450k common-wall townhome. I guess compared to that maybe I'd choose a Quonset in the middle of nowhere LOL

 

[BanjoBoy]

Granada hills
I like historic buildings
This one serves purpose and the cool factor is beyond words

 

[ZRX61]

I might want to drop by & see it. I'm just up the hill in Palmdirt/Landscatter

 

[FullRaceMerc]

Any updates on this project?

I was in a large quonset type building this week that reminded me of it. It was 2 stories in the back half & a high ceiling in the front shop. It was built on knee walls & looked very cool. We were guests on the property & it would have been out of place to take pics, but if I get to know those guys better I may get to take some in the future.