Best canopy/carport?
 

Short version - I'm looking for a canopy/cheap car port for extra storage/project space as my current garage is not big enough to paint the truck in pieces while off the frame. I would like to start during winter, which is snow season. I want to know if theres any particular brand/type of canopy I should look at getting?



Long version - I'm in the planning stages of re-awakening my project, which means time to get serious about bodywork and paint. I want to take off the bed + cab, as well as finish painting the frame (theres a small section under the cab that still needs it) - it's gonna be a mini-frame off type of project.

My garage set up is not ideal - its a small 1-car garage that barely fits the whole truck in - I'd estimate it is about 18.5' long x 8 ft wide (door is narrower though). It is not very high - probably 7 ft MAX. Also, the space is currently occupied by my '94 Miata and an '82 Suzuki 750 that I'm refinishing - the truck has been banished to the driveway in the meantime. My driveway is about 2.5 cars wide, and about 4.5 cars deep so I have plenty of space

So in order to get this done right, I need a bigger space to do prep/paint, hence why I'm looking at canopies. This will give me the flexibility to

CT winters have been mild but also anything goes and I would hate to Anyone in snow country have any good experience with any particular canopies? My main concern would be collapsing under any weight of snow. Any particular brand/buying source/frame I should go with?

Thanks!

Re: Best canopy/carport?
 

Don't recall where I got my 1st awning but a wind storm picked it up and wrapped it around a tree. Was tied to fence as well as 5 gallon buckets hanging from it. No match for Mother Nature. :lol:
2nd one I got from Pep Boys. Good price but bad everything else.
Snow took it out. No surprise. Made 3/4's of one out of the both wrecked
units. It was too hard to get the tarp tight enough to be taunt.
Its half toast now too. Never again.
They do make sturdy ones but there not cheap.
I'm thinking if I were to do another awning (canopy) I would build my own frame and stretch tightly a heavy canvas cover, no cheap tarps, and have the frame bigger than the tarp so water wont collect at the
horizontal poles.

my 2cents.

Re: Best canopy/carport?
 

I've been thinking of getting a carport kinda dealley i've seen them for sale localy almost like just the roof section of a pole building but of course it has long legs that you bury/anchor down.I'm thinking what i saw was a two car wide for 7 bills but thats about all i know so far.I gotta stop in that place for more info

I was thinking between one of the above or just building a roof off the back side of the garage big enough for two cars...or trucks;)I really gotta sit down and figure the cost differnce

I have my poor camaro with its cover on and under layers of packing blankets in my garage but its constanly being used as a shelf for something(currently coverd in shipping boxes) and has parts and stuff packed all around it would be nice too put it way from harm and dirty work or at least have it out of the garage but still out of the weather

Re: Best canopy/carport?
 

I wish I could build it off to the side of my garage because I think there's enough room width-wise to put it in, but I'd be building RIGHT up to my neighbor's backyard - not sure if that's cool esp. since I'll be doing body work and sanding, etc. My thought for this would be to set up the canopy in my driveway and use it (once the prep is complete) as a spray booth. Or maybe set up one of those DIY spray booths INSIDE the canopy.

I'm not sure I can build up my garage any further - I'd rather just raze it and start new. The structure isn't in the best of shape and its got a raised foundation, meaning when I lower my Miata in a couple months, I won't be able to get in and out :(

Per NONHOG's suggestion, how much would materials, etc. cost to DIY a canopy frame? I would imagine not much - $100+change in steel, plus a welder?

Re: Best canopy/carport?
 

I got that cheap $300 one from HF as an extensino for my shop, big enough for a car, the #1 problem is sun damage, the sun rots out the coverings quick, so what you do is paint it, and then it will last forever.

love mine