Opinions on temporary shelter for my GT

Hi folks,

I tried to post this a minute ago but something went wrong and it never showed on the list, so here I go again.

I was in SAMS club today and picked up a 10' x 20' "Garage King" enclosure for $200. It is used most often as shade for parties and craft fairs. I'd like your opinions on using it as winter shelter for my GT. It is not rated for snow but I'm not too worrried by that here in Viriginia. It will need some more tie downs.

My only garage bay is occupied by the LE so the GT must sit in the paved driveway over the winter with a car cover that is not water proof. My other option is to place a water proof tarp on top of the car cover.

If the shelter is too hideous to have in the driveway for months I will move it into the back yard. I assume I would need some kind of floor in that case - would a thick water proof tarp be ok, or is this worse that just leaving it on the paved driveway?

At this time I am not interested in paying good money for a real temporary garage for a car I only spent $200 to purchase. Maybe after I get it running...but not now.

So - what do you think?

Tim

My neighbor has one very similar to that which he bought (I think) at Costco. It's beige, but I think it's the same right down to the windows. He's in the process of renovating an old Jeep in it.

They are really ugly, but functional. My neighbor doesn't have a floor in his, but he keeps the ends open as much as possible. For the Summer this has been fine, but I'd think that you would need to put some kind of tarp on the floor to keep ground moisture from rising in to it and condensing, and also keep it well ventilated when it's humid.

I just went out and looked. His has a ridge vent, and the windows are made a bit differently, but it's still very similar.

My neighbor across the street has one for his old hot rod. Butt ugly (the cover not the car). He has replaced the cover at least once. Besides a tarp on the ground, make sure water will not run off the cover and inside. Check your drainage around the canopy. They are water proof and will trap moisture inside if you get water under the cover.

Buddy a mine kept a Roadrunner in one of those for a couple of years with no apparent damage. He put gravel down I believe. If it were me, I'd skip the car cover. They just hold moisture. Definetly don't do a plastic tarp on the car. Would be better sitting out in the weather.

Surprised no one has mentioned mice. Stock up on D-con or traps. I've had em get in cars & they wreck havok. Chew insulation and upholstery up to build nests, haul in cherry pits and thier waste stinks.

Kim de B used a temporary garage for her car in the NorthEast.
http://www.mgexperience.net/phorum/read.php?1,396810,397022#msg-397022
http://www.mgexperience.net/phorum/read.php?1,114176,114322#msg-114322

If it can stand the winter wind go for it. Place concrete blocks around the base to hold in place better and DO use the car cover inside. The secret is to have ventilation and avoid continuous moisture exposure from the bare ground.

You probably already know to do this but...BTW: When you get the lump all situated in the cave, buy a can or two of PB Blaster and soak everything you can reach to avoid rust/corrosion problems in the spring. Fill the tank and add Stabil and spray the insides of the carbs and float chambers well. Air up the tires to about 35-40 PSI. Leave the door and side windows cracked open a bit too. Of course, pull the plugs, squirt on a good dose of oil, turn the motor over and do it again before hand installing the plugs again. make sure that the coolant/antifreeze is up to your locality too. Block the wheels and release the parking brake. Pull the batteries and keep them inside the garage on a wooden board where they aren't in direct contact with the concrete and put a trickle charger on them for a day or so every month.

Jack

Thanks for input everyone. I'm going to open the box, take a good look a the quality and make my final decision.

Jack - good advice. You mentioned a couple of things I would have forgotten to do!

Next house is going to have a 2 car garage minimum!

Tim

Tim,

I bought the Harbor Freight "medium portable garage" for my Jaguar earlier this year. So far it has held up well, but it hasn't seen the winter yet. One thing that I like about this one is that it's a bit smaller than most - 16 ft. 9''L x 8 ft. 10''W according to the website. It fits the Jag perfectly, and of course it swallows the GT with loads of room to spare.

If you'd like to take a look at this one before you buy, just let me know.

-Dan

(edit to correct length - 16 vice 6)

Thanks Dan.

I took a good look through the instruction booklet and decided I am returning the unit to SAMS. Too many warnings about "not rated for snow" and taking flight during wind. The material was more plastic tarp-like than canvas, as it had appeared in the picture. The steel powder coated round tubes may be up to the job, but I don't want to take this shelter past its design limits.

Today's plan: prior to winter weather, a good soak in Penetrol and PB Blaster along with preparing the car for regular storage (as described above, plus other steps). Then keep the snow off it as much I can, opening her up on sunny days.

Hopefully next year when I've done some body work I will be looking at some type of shelter for her.

Tim

Guys, just make sure you stake the living crap out of any kind of canopy, I've been using canopies at the racetrack for 20+ years, and I seen wind carry these puppies airborne more times than I could shake a stick.

plenty of mothballs - in and around the car. Does too things:
1) naptha is deliquescent - that is is absorbs moisture in the air and keeps other things dryer.

2) will help repel mouse etc.- not good for squirrels or racoons tho. If you spread Moth balsl round - make sure you leave no gaps to places you don't want mothballs..