Garage Desperation - Opinons wanted...

[Tink]

Alright, so I'm sick of winters holding back my project progress, I'm sick of wind and I'm sick and tired of not being able to get my projects done because the weather is bad or it is too dark and I don't have a garage... at this point I could give a rat's bum if it matches the freaking house...

SO, I'm looking at these... cheap metal buildings...

This one is 14' x 31', outside walls are 8' tall, door is 7 1/2' tall and almost 9' wide:



This one is only $100 more than the other, but 20' x 20' with 7.5' door height...



The wider one is actually less square footage, but I could fit 2 vehicles side by side... SO, which one do you guys think is better?

[Nolowrider]

I like them both. If you have or plan to get another vehicle I would go with the wider one. Both are really nice. One thing to consider is the inside height. If you plan on swapping engines you have a make sure the inside height will clear a engine hoist. A problem I ran into. I wish I had either one.

[70c10]

Our trucks are damn near 20' long so that would be a pain with the 20 footer unless you parked on angle for a little more room.

[Ron 586]

I would go with the 14 X 31. You would have side room and room up front to have your engine hoist and engine stand between vehicle and work bench. I tried to work in a 20 X 24 and it was just too tight if you had two cars in it, I understand that anything is better than nothing, but if you have to buy it or build it get what you want. (or as much as the budget will allow) My .02

[panhandler62]

Does it come with the purple flowers?

[Prerunner1982]

get the double wide, granted with 2 cars you wont be able to do much, but if you have a project park it in the middle. But atleast you would have enough room for 2 cars to keep them out of the elements. I am wanting one of these as well.. at this point i would settle for a carport with a small shop/storage area next to it.. i could always frame in the walls of the carport as time and money allows.. I would build the carport wide enough so that when it is enclosed there is still enough room to work.

[Brainchild]

Too bad you can't add another $100 and get a double wide 31' long.

I would prolly get the single,I like room in front myself.Workbench,and toolboxes ect.If you have a smal car you could prolly just about pull it in behind the truck if they were pulled in as far as they would go.

Either one would be good though

[shortymac83]

Our pole barn is 20X30, and is heated. We can get 2 fullsize trucks (chevy LWB, ford SWB), a jeep and a ford 2N in there and still have room to work on all of them. It's also got a thermostatically controlled heater and insulation. My complaint is that we needed car skates because it only has one standard size garage door.

[Jim85IROC]

I park my camaro in a 20' deep garage and it SUCKS. To get by the front of the car, the rear has to be almost all the way up against the wall. My Camaro is only 16 feet long. I never even bothered trying to pull my truck into the garage.

I'd get the 14x31. That's wide enough to have plenty of room along the sides of the vehicle as long as you put your stuff at the far end of the garage, and at least you'll be able to get around front and back.

[mjrmn]

If money is no object buy two of the 20 x 20 and put them up back to back. 40' of length and an overhead door on both ends!!

[1969k10stepside]

i like the double.If it was me i would get it because I will be swapping cabs
and would need to fit two vehicles side by side and also to give me room to
work next to the vehicle and also get other stuff next to it like a lawnmower
or a atv or anything.I don't really need to be in the front of the vehicle unless
i was working on the engine but then I could just open the door.It just all
depends on what your doing.My 69lwb fits good with room to work in in a 30
ft single garage.But like I said it all depends on what your doing.

[pebbleboy]

What is the cost to throw up one of those as opposed to a real garage?

[Brainchild]

Originally Posted by mjrmn

If money is no object buy two of the 20 x 20 and put them up back to back. 40' of length and an overhead door on both ends!!

Now there's a plan

But money's always an obstacle

[Zumo]

Get the biggest you can afford and it still wont be big enough.

[weasel29gm]

Tink, mines 14x32 I love the lenght. 14 wide is good would like wider but with the 32' lenght you have room to work in front or back and still have room for a ride. 20x20 or 24x24 is not enough. At least 28 or longer.

[71swb4x4]

Here are links to both for those wondering:
http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/w...2467_200312467
http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/w...8351_200318351
$4,000 for the wide, and $3900 for the deep.

[Tink]

Well, the double would add more value to the house than single in the event (although unlikely) we need to move and sell.

I measure thed 69 C10 at 18ft. If we needed to pull the motor, we could probably just pull the front end in... that way we would still have the extra area to pull in something for an oil change if needed.

I know the company that manufactors the doubles do make them deeper, but Northern doesn't sell them... so maybe I'll look for a dealer that does...

Oh, and it isn't so much cost as it is cost and time. The metal building only needs a concrete slab... building something is going to require footings in addition to a concrete floor, plus your are looking at the time to frame, build trusses, side, etc... We had priced building a garage at about $15,000.

[Jim85IROC]

A lot of places offer pre-fabricated wooden garages too.

My father's garage is 28x28. The 4 walls came on a truck from the hardware store, and the trusses came on a separate truck. The garage was up and shingled in a weekend.

[Tink]

Originally Posted by Jim85IROC

A lot of places offer pre-fabricated wooden garages too.

My father's garage is 28x28. The 4 walls came on a truck from the hardware store, and the trusses came on a separate truck. The garage was up and shingled in a weekend.

I looked for some, but had trouble finding any. What company made the one your dad has?

[lilred67]

Originally Posted by Zumo

Get the biggest you can afford and it still wont be big enough.

my shop is 30x40 with 12' walls and 2 overhead doors and it isn't big enough,buts it's all i could justify spending.out of the 2 buildings pictured i would go with the 14x31, for the extra room all the way around a vehicle.

[weasel29gm]

Tink do you have a 84 Lumber close, they have package deals.

[lux hauler]

Just about any lumber yard will offer package deals on a stick construction garage. I got my 24x24 from Carter Lumber. It is very tight (front and rear) with the truck pulled straight in. If I had more room, I would have went bigger.....at least 26x32.

[pebbleboy]

Lux

How much was yours for materials?

I just don't see how the metal is that much cheaper?

[Bowed]

If you have a shortbed the 20 X 20 but if you have a long bed then neither one would be comfortable to work in . When you get your tools and equipment in there it will shrink the useable space you wil need to move your equipment around the truck freely . Other times you will be working with the truck doors open or need the side space for disassembly or paint spraying . Even a slightly larger garage would be a big win . From different size garages I have owned I feel 16 foot width is the smallest for what you want .

[Tink]

Originally Posted by pebbleboy

Lux

How much was yours for materials?

I just don't see how the metal is that much cheaper?

Well, you go into Lowe's and price a 2x4 at $2.50 and think 'that isn't bad', but you need 50 or more of those... plus plywood at $30 a sheet and you need 50 for the roof and more to sheath the sides - that is $3,000 to $4,000 in plywood alone, then trusses at $50 a truss, the $ to rent equipment to set them, the cost of siding, shingles, tar paper, gun nails..... and we haven't even touched on the concrete for the footings and the floor.