Ghetto Garages/awnings/tarp garages.... Let's see em.

[Forum4130rl]

Hello all,
I don’t have a garage that I can fit my truck in and it kills me… I just spent some time looking at a couple of threads about garages, and after looking at all of those awesome setups, it made me even angrier at the person who designed my garage. Wow, some of you folks have awesome shops!!!

Someday, but not anytime soon I will eventually knock down my glorified storage shed, and build a proper garage. But in the meantime, I’m searching for a place to park my truck where I can somewhat be out of the elements, hang a drop light from the “roof” and work on my truck. Maybe take off the hood, and not worry about it being in the open air and birds crapping in my engine bay. Right now, all my work is taking place in a gravel driveway, not normal gravel, but old road asphalt gravel, which is sharp and pokey, dirty, and soft as hell. Due to the fact that the driveway is soft gravel, uneven, and sloping, putting the truck up on jack stands is a risky proposition.

I’m thinking of getting a carport, or building an awning off the side of my garage with a concrete pad, or doing something like that, a “Ghetto Garage”… I’m wondering what you folks who are in my same boat have done. I’ve got lots of room to put up a carport or awning in my yard, but am looking for some ideas. Has anyone used a carport, say, like one you would get from Lowes or Harbor Freight with any success? Is there enough room to move around in there? Any pictures of your setups, or ideas would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers,
Rob

[k1rodeoboater]

I've seen them used before, they're not ideal but if building a carport or garage isn't in your budget they're better than nothing. I'd want to roll it out to work on it but that's just me. I'd be to paranoid of tearing the walls.

[heeroyue2002]

when im working on soft ground i get a long thick board and put my jack on it before using it. my jack stands as well. i have a garage but its so full of crap that i cant use it. i also have a ghetto tarp strewed across the yard on pvc pipes to have some kinda shade.

[Forum4130rl]

Nice, that's what I'm talking about... A tarp and PVC pipe, that's kinda what I'm thinking about doing, but off the side of my garage like a lean-to type carport... Also, I have a large steel plate that I put under my jack and stands, it works great.

I knew that there were more people in my boat out there...

[C-10 simplex]

Another suggestion, and i'm ASSuming denver is similar to other major metropolitan areas, is around here you can rent a pretty decent sized garage--maybe 10'W X 20'L for $50-75 a month. Some have electrical outlets.

The only problem is security; If someone sees what you got in there, it could be problems........

[Forum4130rl]

Yeah, you can rent a garage for not too bad a price here in Denver... But exactly like you said, security is a serious issue. I'd have a place to work on my truck, but I wouldn't get any sleep worrying about it. My lumpy yard or driveway will at least give me a sense of security.

I was hoping I would see some tarp/plywood Taj Mahals out of some of the members on here... I know they are out there...

Granted, I'm not scared to use my yard, or uneven scary gravel driveway for that matter, but I think it's just more of a positive mental thing with me as far as a roof and floor goes.

But, once the snow melts, and the tempurature is normal... Tarp, plywood, gravel, dirt, carport or not... I'll be taking parts off, replacing stuff, and doing what I have to do to get my project rollin.

[JHT67]

Might find something here.

http://www.screen-house.com/Garage_Shelters.htm

[Forum4130rl]

Holy cow... Those are some nice carports... I was all excited until I saw how much they cost. A thousand bucks would go a long way with my truck. If I spent all that money on the carport, I wouldn't have enough money to buy any parts for the truck...

[heeroyue2002]

i got me a new tarp, well the old one that the wind knocked off the playground equipment. i want to make a frame out of pvc instead of the 4 poles i have so its like the orts in that link.

[motornut]

well my trucks don't fit in the garage because the laneway slopes up to the back
not to mention it's full
other places i've attached a tarp on the outside of the door to extend the garage out
used plywood around the sides to cut the wind
i've dug a hole and driven over it depending on what your doing...
drive up one side on a curb to get under it

[Forum4130rl]

I was looking around on Craigslist, and I found a guy who sells the old billboard skins or whatever they are. Talked to him and he says that people buy them and use them to cover RV's, Boats, etc... If one wanted to build a frame, then that might be a good thing to look into. They are huge, like 25x48... Here is a link to the vinyl skins to show ya what I'm talking about... http://denver.craigslist.org/boa/2204246094.html

I also found on craigslist a guy who will build a steel carport 18x21 for 595.00... Which really isn't all that bad, if you've got the space for it. Just have to check to see if your neighborhood or city will allow it.

Here's a link to the ad about the steel carports... This ad is for a guy here in Colorado, but there has to be someone in your guys neck of the woods who has reasonable prices as well. I wonder if you could go cheaper by putting it together yourself??? http://denver.craigslist.org/bfs/2207488009.html

[lilpoindexter]

Ghetto enough for you?

[heeroyue2002]

if ppl hadnt cut pieces off it, it would have covered the whole yard.

[Forum4130rl]

Oh yeah, that's what I'm talking about... A tarp shade is better than no shade...

[heeroyue2002]

its some kind of cloth material, keeps real cool. rain doesnt really get through it. if it does its like a mist. this is what it looks like originally. some kids climbed the poles at work and where caught jumping on top. they punched a couple holes. their parents had to pay $2,000 for a new one.

[Gobbles]

I work in my carport and off the top of our trailer. The trailer currently has the old diamondback that was the bed floor that came with the truck, currently in the process of going wood! But on topic, hella ghetto, I hate bringing all my tools in every night, its a real downer if I need to do a quick weld.

[JOHNORO]

Blazer Storage solution....
Drive in and walk out

[dmartin1]

lets see some more! gives ideas on good budget carports lol

[dieseldawg142]

i do have a garage, but needed more room. with some good scrounging, i was able to build this for $150. cut some trees off my dad's property, some cheap econos for trusses, busted up 1" thick palletts for cross strapping, the siding & gutters were take-offs from a job, & the metal was just butt ends & pieces from work, had enuff white metal to do 1 side, the other side is a rainbow of colored metal that i sprayed white to match, but after 20 yrs, the rainbow is slowly starting to show through

this thing withstood almost 20 yrs of wind, snow, my wife, but 6-7 yrs ago it was no match for my rottie puppy. he chewed around 5 of the 6 poles like a beaver, thats whats with the chicken wire around the poles is about. 5 yrs later, one of the poles collapsed

still needing room (who aint), spent another $160 for some new 4x4's last yr, jacked up the carport & slid in the new wood. not to bad-20yrs for 'bout $350, hoping now it's rebuilt get another 20 out of it

[mongoose]

worked pretty well for theft prevention as well.

[jjzepplin]

I built this more for falling branches than for falling rain but it works for both. Behind the one pic you can see the temporary carport for the boat. Really saves on transom rot issues. Always leave the plug out and the front raised for drainage.
The big one fits both trucks and two Toys. So four cars for about $1000.
It will work til the four car garage is built HAHAHAHA!

[Marv D]

Before the 'boss' allowed me to take down one of her trees and build the 22x36' shop,, I was one of those 'tarp people' too