Tent Garage—Need Recommendations

Hey all,

I would like opinions/anecdotes/recommendations on good brands of “tent garages” from those with experience in same.

I want to get my 1997 F-250 4x4 SC LB under cover

Here’s what I’m looking for:

1. I would like a tent long enough to run inside it with the plow hooked up.

2. I need doors at both ends, so I can drive through it, if need be, given where it’s going to be sited.

3. I’m in NYS, so I need it to be able to handle the snow load—I understand I may have to go out and gently jiggle the underside of the roof, occasionally, with a broom, to get the snow to slide off.

4. I don’t mind spending for quality, but I don’t want to spend more than necessary to get a tent that would last 4-5 years. I’ve seen some Rhino models for $1,200. which is way more than I want to spend.

5. Does anyone have any brands/styles they would NOT recommend?

6. I’m assuming I can use “screw anchors,” similar to what a dog run is achored with, and simply screw them into my lawn, instead of pouring concrete anchors?

Thanks in advance.

BigSix1

 

I've had mine up for about 8 years now and the tarps have worn out. Otherwise it's held up very nice. It's 20long x 10wide x 12 tall. I've used it for painting, sandblasting and general cover. it has 4 legs per side and came with all but 1 end door/tarp. It uses 2" round poles for everything and strech cords for holding down the tarps.

I paid about $150 for and have only 1 complaint, replacing the tarps, I gave up calling the company and went with a local tarp company.

It's simular to what you'd find @ the local Kragen parts store and probably simular to the ones @ Harbor Freight.

I'd use something that screws into the ground about 1' or more and maybe some ties to hold it down if you have much wind.

as far as the snow goes, you're going to have to knock it off before it gets too thick.

no need to spend over $200 for a good one. I forget the brand on mine, but I got it thru CostCo years ago.

KarlJay.

 

Hey BigSix1 don't forget to join the NY Chapter. Check out nearby "box" stores. they might have a clearance on tents-gazebo. Friend got one a Sears a couple of years ago.It held up 2 winters until UV rays got to it. And, we usually get a little bit more snow up heare than you do near NYC. Good luck, George

 

I've seen a few of the tents around here and they don't seem to last very long. How much snow do you get and is it the light and dry or the heavy wet stuff? In the long run if I could I'd spend the money on one of the carports that you can get. We have them for $7 to $800. installed around here. True they aren't fully enclosed but they are enough that it will keep the snow and ice off of the truck and last longer I'd think.

 

A neighbor had one and the tarps barely made it a year. When they moved out, the mortgage company came in and did a clean out (forclosure years ago). I wish I would have been here that day, as I would have bought the frame and put pole barn siding/roofing on it.

I would think that would be needed, at least for the roof.

 

I had one about 12 years ago, was the Cover It brand that at the time advertised in Hemmings. mine was 10 or 12 by 20 and had the rounded frame. with shipping it was under 500. As i recall it came with 2 screw anchors and i bought some additional ones at Lowes to anchor it, never had any problems with wind. Snow was never a problem either althought we rarely get more than 6 inches at a time.
I had it 4 years till i had a garage built, the tarp part was still very servicable. Gave it to the guy who built the garage and he replaced the orignal tarp last summer.
One thing i did that might have helped the tarp was to wrap around the joints and screws with duct tap to cover any sharp edges. Also they did offer a option for doors on both ends.

 

Have you checked into metal carports? They will last longer than a tent. Around Ithaca, NY area I think a 18 x 22 is going for around $1200.

 

If you end up getting one of these portable garages, make sure you take extra measures to secure it down to the ground. My brother-in-law thought he had his secured well enough, but on a particularly windy day it became air born and caused a lot of damage to his house, a wooden gazebo, and ended up in the pool! Luckily he only damaged his own property, imagine if the damage was done to his neighbors property.

 

Hey, everyone,

What a great bunch of responses!

I apologize for not getting back sooner, but I’m been having some computer problems, that started soon after I made my garage tent post.

So, you’ve all given me some great ideas/things to consider/brands to check out.

I especially appreciated the comments regarding snow handling.

Now, some individualized comments:

George,

I was not aware there was a NYS chapter--how do the state chapters work? How many are in the NYS chapter? Does it enable you to see who is close by, to facilitate parts swapping? I am headed upstate for the weekend, but when things calm down computer-wise, I will check out the NYS chapter--thanks for the suggestion.

I will also check out the CostCo and BJ’s nearby--great suggestion about clearance sales. I considered a metal carport, but did not check into them seriously. We plan to build a garage (money and time permitting) in the next couple of years, so this was more of a stop-gap. However, I like the idea of possibly siding the tent frame with sheet steel roofing, which I can allegedly get, used, from a friend of a friend, in the future. Do you (or anyone else?) think the tent frames would be strong enough to be recovered permanently in sheet steel?

Thanks for the price comparison, re: car ports.

KarlJay,

Great suggestions, and while I don’t see any for $200.00 around here, you inspire me with hope that I won’t have to spend $600-1,200.00, like some places are asking.

Do they all use stretch cords to secure the tarps? Did you have to replace these cords? Are they more durable than regular bungees?

I will buy an anchor kit with screw in metal anchors, once I ascertain if I can screw them into the site, which is very hard and (I’m told) used to be a gravel driveway for a farm.

Oldgoat49,

I hear you about the carports--see above for my thoughts on that, to date. Though I admit, the more they get mentioned, the more I think about them. I do like the idea of side protection with a tent, but if I was more certain of obtaining sheet steel in quantity (which I’m not, as of now) I’d be leaning toward the idea of a carport that I could later enclose. The problem with that is, however, we have to cut trees and do some site prep before the garage goes in, and a permanently-sited carport is not possible at this time, until the garage goes up. Where I’m planning to stick the tent is a temporary location in the back yard, and the garage will be in the side yard. If the garage were already in existence, I would put a car port off of one side of the garage, instead of doing a tent, and one side would already be protected. That is what I get for dragging my feet on the garage. *sigh*

Cheapranger,

Do you think the frames from one of these tent garages could be sided and roofed with corrugated sheet steel roofing, without reinforcing the tent frame? I like the idea of repurposing the tent frame, once the tent degrades (hopefully after 4-5 years of good service).

seadoo,

Wow! That tarp lasted 10-11 years? That’s outstanding!

Hemmings is a brand I trust, and if your Coverit lasted like it did, that really is speaking well for the Coverit brand, as well.

I like your idea about wrapping all the screws/abrasion-points with duct tape--great tip--thanks!

cujo8,

Did your BIL use the METAL screw-in-ground achors? I believe I saw some plastic ones, with metal ones being offered as an upgrade. I was going to go with metal ones, but do you think I need more than that? What sort of measures can one take, other than cabling down to ballast in all four corners? I have one Subaru long block I could use for one corner, but would have to scrounge three more such small, dense anchors, if that is what you’re suggesting.


I have one additional (multi-part) question for the assembled: What Types of Doors Do You Recommend?

Some have the option of either roll ups or zippered “barn” doors (I guess?).

Re: doors, here is my intended usage:

I want to get my truck, WITH plow, inside. The truck, a super cab/longbed, with plow, will be 24’ long. So I’ll need a 12’ X 24’ tent, IMO, minimum.

For the first time in 20+ years, I have a vehicle whose finish I care about, hence my desire to get the new (to me) F-250 inside. The best place I can put this (out from under the perennially-falling tree branches) means I will have to be able to drive straight through it, on occasion. So, re: door types, I would like to know:

a) Are roll-up doors less likely to result in paint damage? (I fear that an unzippered, “side-hung” door might come loose, and the zipper could beat up the paint on the truck, if it were at all windy out (and it's often windy here).

b) Which doors are easier to open and close? I would like to leave them open as much as possible (at least on one end) but anticipate closing them during snowstorms (after I get the plowing done, of course.)

c) Which doors are more durable? At $100. for a roll-up door--apiece--(if I recall correctly) I don’t want them to fail before the rest of the tent does.

d) How do the roll-up doors actually work? By that I mean:

1) Do they zipper down the sides, when down, and how are they raised (I.e., is there some kind of cord you pull, or do you just wind them up around a pole and tie them in position?

2) How difficult are they to put up--can ONE PERSON do it easily?


Thanks again, everyone, for all of your thoughtful comments and suggestions. I especially enjoyed hearing how long your shelters lasted, how much they were, and what you liked/didn’t like/would do differently if you were to get another such shelter.

All the best,

Peter

 

I have never used one, but have tossed around the idea from time to time. Farmtek has a great selection to make whatever you want as big or small.

Hoop Building, Hoop Barn, Fabric Building, Animal Housing, Livestock Building, Pony Wall Buildings, Compost Building, Equine Arena, Carport, Screen Houses, Canopy, Tents, Equipment Garages - FarmTek

 

I look at the basic frame as similar to a pole barn, from the one I saw. I belive you will need some crossbrace support, for the sheet roofing/siding, to screw to.

As for the doors, it is a personal and budget choice. Once metaled in, you could probably have more options, but before that, either carriage style doors, or there is a roll type door, that can be mounted to the side instead of above the vehicle.

 

Marc,

Thanks for the Farmtek link--lots of nice stuff there.

Cheapranger,

Thank you for your thoughts on siding one of those tent frames, and re: door options--what you say makes sense. Things to consider....

Thanks again.

BigSix1