Harbor Freight Garage

[AZBoatDreamer]

I do not know if you all have Harbor Freights in your area but Im looking to Purchase this to keep the boat in. Do you think it would be a good buy and last a long time?

http://www.harborfreight.com/10-ft-x-20-ft-autoshelter-portable-garage-68772.html

Currently I store the boat at an off site storage facility. I hate keeping it there and paying the monthly $50 fee. Having the boat at home would be more of a Convenience than the cost of the monthly fee. So I need to install an RV gate to store the boat in the Back Yard hidden from HOA.

OK the biggest problem. I have to move the wifes Garden to the other side of the Yard. She wont be happy but I figure she will accept it. Now if I can get her to go boating at 5am that would be good.

Anyway back to the original question. Does anyone store your boat in a HF garage or is there better options to keeping the boat out of the sun at home.

Keeping it in the Garage is not an option.

Thanks.

 

[oldjeep]

Re: Harbor Freight Garage

Going to depend a lot on your local critters. Around here a tent over the ground would be an invitation to mice, chipmunks and groundhogs to move into your boat/tent. I don't see that thing having much advantage over a good boat cover.

 

[AZBoatDreamer]

Re: Harbor Freight Garage

Going to depend a lot on your local critters. Around here a tent over the ground would be an invitation to mice, chipmunks and groundhogs to move into your boat/tent. I don't see that thing having much advantage over a good boat cover.

Yes True. Plus It look Flimsy and couldn't hold up to the Monsoons we have here.

 

[wa_ssv197]

Re: Harbor Freight Garage

I have two, one from Costco and one is some off brand. the Costco one has larger dia. poles and the tarp material is much stronger. It has held up to the snow and wind here. The off brand one decided to take flight and land in the neighbors yard after breaking the cords I had "anchoring" it to the boat trailer.

 

[H20Rat]

Re: Harbor Freight Garage

Parents have a similar one, and it has been surprising how well it has stood up. It has survived decent sized hail, tons of snow, and 60 mph straightline winds. There are some areas that are starting to tear, and its about 5 years old. I suspect most of the damage is caused by wind, so in most other areas it should hold up a little better. (a 'calm' day here means it might get as low as 15 mph.)

 

[stackz]

Re: Harbor Freight Garage

a friend has one for his 20' wellcraft but it has braces joining all of the legs at the bottom and he has it set in those cinderblock cross blocks you use for porches/decks.

its 6 years old and the main tarp needs to be replaced but its held up to some hell of winds in the past.

 

[dingbat]

Re: Harbor Freight Garage

The metal carports are becoming popular here. They are cheap, and most importantly, don't rot away from being in close proximity to a tree.

Then again, I'm guessing you don't have that problem in AZ.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Harbor Freight Garage

keep in mind that your HOA regs might restrict your putting that structure in the back yard, too. If you r adjoining neighbors have to look at it from their second story windows, you might get busted. A cover, at least, is lower profile. For your neighbor's sake, not a plastic tarp, please!

 

[spdracr39]

Re: Harbor Freight Garage

If something like that were really any good the boat storage places would go out of business. There is a reason you don't see them around much inexpensive always equals cheap.

 

[MTboatguy]

Re: Harbor Freight Garage

I had a Costco model, that was great for a couple of years, this year, we had enough snow, that it collapsed and crushed my boat, to the point it is not repairable, I had to purchase a new boat.., if you decide to get one, make sure and keep pest repellent around, and make sure it is tied down securely, if you get a good wind, it will lift it.

 

[wtx]

Re: Harbor Freight Garage

Garages are good for the sun and wind protection ... but hail shreads them and beat hail out of boat. Been there done that. 795 later got a metal shed

 

[superpop]

Re: Harbor Freight Garage

I have the Costco model that I paid 179 for this past fall. Was my second one, they last about 4 years up here in the PNW. I would never pay to store my boat somewhere as I am too cheap, plus I like to work on it from time to time. In my opinion these structures work fantastic. 179 bucks for 4 years worth of dry storage is a bargain in my book. I have never had a pest problem with mine but I check on it about once a week and I also am anal about catching anything that happens to come into my yard. I went and purchased around 15' of 2" plastic rigid drain pipe and raised the legs up around 18" so I can be in the boat standing up, works great for working on the boat on the off chance it rains in Seattle. I also hung a second Harbor Freight tarp along the inside of the roof to catch all the condensation so my boat is dry as a bone all year. I also had a pad pored and I anchor the tent to the pad, don't ask me how I know to anchor the tent to the pad. All I can say is that these things will take flight if not anchored.

 

[JimS123]

Re: Harbor Freight Garage

Harbor Freight is the bottom end of the food chain, and Shelter Logig is the bottom end of the Tent / canopy makers. I realize its an inexpensive way (sp[elled cheeeep) to get the job done, but I've been there done that and not been happy.

Build a real garage and it'll work forever. It'll also add value to the house when it comes time to sell it.

 

[fat fanny]

Re: Harbor Freight Garage

I have basically the same version but got it at TSC and has served me and my POP well for well over 6 years now and has held up to the harsh winters in NE, Ohio and the tapr might have another yr or 2 lest but the boat and my Pops yard vac has stayed dry as a bone the whole time, the frame work is suprisingly riggied 11/2'' tubing connected @ the base and the roof line we sank anchors 2' in the ground @ it's perimeter and turnbuckeled it down solid as a rock I do suggest if you go this route to let the tarp sit out in the sun for a couple of hrs before stretching it over the frame.

 

[AZBoatDreamer]

Re: Harbor Freight Garage

Thanks for the Replies. As far as the seeing the Garage from the neighbors yard is not a problem. We are friends and we are single story houses. The entire neighborhood is.

Way to expensive building a fixed garage to the house. Being in AZ Im not concern about weather like snow and hail. We do get High winds during Monsoon season 30+ during July - Sept. That is what Im concerned about. What I really want is an over hang to keep the boat out of the sun. I thought a total enclosure would be a bonus.

I will take a look at the Costco one.

Thank you.

 

[AZBoatDreamer]

Re: Harbor Freight Garage

This would be sweet.

http://www.costco.com/Browse/Produc...=0&Ntx=mode+matchallpartial&Nty=1&topnav=&s=1

 

[JimS123]

Re: Harbor Freight Garage

This would be sweet.

http://www.costco.com/Browse/Produc...=0&Ntx=mode+matchallpartial&Nty=1&topnav=&s=1

That'll work. I have a similar unit at my hunting camp and it has withstood about 7 winters now and it still looks like new. Be sure to put it on a concrete pad though. It needs a rigid base or it'll warp. Especially in the hot sun.

 

[eavega]

Re: Harbor Freight Garage

Don't kid yourself about your neighbors. I had my boat in my yard behind a privacy fence, tucked in a blind corner behind the garage. The only place you could see it from was my backyard neighbor's house, and he died two years ago and house has been vacant ever since. I had a person from the neighborhood come and give me a quote to paint the house. He was very expensive so I went with another company. Within two weeks I had an HOA violation notice. Do it right or risk getting cited or fined.

Rgds

 

[sam60]

Re: Harbor Freight Garage

I lived in your area for 13 years. I know what the sun and the monsoons do to structures like this. I give it 2 years max. The winds from the south will tangle that thing even with anchors in concrete that meet your current 2006 IBC codes.

But, that's only $150 a year to not destroy the interior!

These things have lasted at least 20 years in similar conditions around here. No, I don't even know these people but see them all over.

http://www.onedayshade.com/

 

[BeerRanger]

Re: Harbor Freight Garage

I picked up the Costco one in November just before the rainy season for $199. Definitely anchor it to something as the wind will yank the tent stakes out quite easily. Mine didn't get too far as there is an unused basketball hoop at one end and a fence along the other side, but it sure made a racket during the 40mph+ winds we got over the winter. It held up great and kept the boat dry, now it keeps it out of the blazing summer sun. I wish Costco stocked a 10x22' version though, with the drive my 20' bowrider doesn't quite fit in with the doors closed.