Harbor Freight Garage

AZBoatDreamer

Lieutenant Junior Grade
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Aug 5, 2009
Messages
1,100
Re: Harbor Freight Garage

I think I have seen worse winds in Las Vegas the 7 years I lived there.
 

AZBoatDreamer

Lieutenant Junior Grade
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Aug 5, 2009
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Re: Harbor Freight Garage

The 3k costco one is way to cost prohibitive. Im thinking this is a lost cause. There are no RV's allowed in back yards per HOA but I see people breaking these rules all the time. I have seen other boats stored in Back yards. Maybe I should just stick with the suggestion of using a good quality boat cover.

Atleast I have the convience of the boat being at home.

Thanks. all.
 

sam60

Captain
Joined
May 21, 2011
Messages
3,189
Re: Harbor Freight Garage

Yep, in your situation I would agree with the boat cover..........how was the snow last winter? I lived there from 80-93. Is it just me or did it get more humid as time went on? Lived near 48th and Warner last.
 

Bamaman1

Lieutenant Commander
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May 15, 2011
Messages
1,895
Re: Harbor Freight Garage

What good HOA rules. I'd much rather have a boat in the backyard out of view of the street vs. sitting in the driveway or beside the house in a lean to.

In my old Atlanta neighborhood, they didn't allow boats or rv's in sight of the street. Some of the neighbors had decks big and high enough to have 40' motor homes behind lattice. They also didn't allow vehicles that wouldn't run in the neighborhood.

I'm just sorry that my garage in my new house is not long enough to handle a full size boat.
 

relocyo

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Apr 14, 2010
Messages
446
Re: Harbor Freight Garage

Pardon me if I missed this, and of course I dont know your HOA rules... But if it was me and not having any "rules" I would think concrete pad, and concreting in a support structure with something fairly "low profile" tall (fence?) Poles and kind of go from there with the roof part, could work well enough to tie down a "classy" (if there is such a thing) tarp? I use tarp as a loose statement, or heck, could put one of those sliding doors around it, or heck, a suntracker crankable umbrella, and call it part of your house, anywayz... Sorry about your luck :( hide it, and hide it well enough to say, "screw you guys uf I move the boat its a basketball goal For the kids!" Gotta play the kid angle if possible... Goodluck! (did I mention I hate people telling me what I can do with MY property) tell em to take it to a vote!..... Ok sorry,. Hehe... :rant over: :p
 

sam60

Captain
Joined
May 21, 2011
Messages
3,189
Re: Harbor Freight Garage

Sorta why I live rural. 1-1/4 acre, nice houses and not so nice built around me. But it seems like none of us are here to judge the neighbors. If that was a problem for them, they wouldn't live here. I was the only house on my road for 7 years. I had a driving range without the ball pickup machine.

BUT, I have seen a pickup camper attached to the side of a single wide in the same town......ROOM ADDITION! Doesn't bother me.
 

relocyo

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Apr 14, 2010
Messages
446
Re: Harbor Freight Garage

Me is....... Cheeeeeeeeeeesin give it to em sideways! Thats what an american like me would do! Lol....... :stupid face here: hehehe
 

H20Rat

Vice Admiral
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Mar 8, 2009
Messages
5,204
Re: Harbor Freight Garage

Lots of polarized opinions here! The people that have had them all tend to love them, (about half the posts), the other half have no experience with them but automatically think they are crap and don't stand a chance of lasting more than a season...

(see my post #5, mine has lasted through 5 years of North Dakota extremes, it should easily last that long in a climate that doesn't beat the @#$@ out of everything at every chance.)
 

H20Rat

Vice Admiral
Joined
Mar 8, 2009
Messages
5,204
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.

That is the one weakpoint. I've cleaned mine off a couple times during the winter. Doesn't take long, just get inside and tap it with a shovel, the snow slides off easily.
 

gozierdt

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Jun 13, 2010
Messages
364
Re: Harbor Freight Garage

These are a good, inexpensive solution to sheltering a boat from the sun and rain in the West. I can see where they could have problems with snow load, and need constant attention. I've had three of the Costco $199 units. The biggest problem is that the sun rots the fabric in about 2 years in central California. I'd expect a similar life in Arizona. Costco doesn't sell just the fabric roof (the sidewalls last much longer than the roof). One solution I'm going to try this summer is to buy a 20 x 12 tarp and put it on top of the roof, then replace with another one when the first one rots out.
 

AZBoatDreamer

Lieutenant Junior Grade
Joined
Aug 5, 2009
Messages
1,100
Re: Harbor Freight Garage

Even If I had to replace the costco $200 one ever two years that is way cheaper than paying $600 year at my Rv storage site. Also I have the boat at home.

I would not want to live in a Non HOA neighborhood. The rules are not so bad and I will get around the NO RV rules allowed rules.
It forces people to take care of their property.

First step here is getting an RV gate installed. I wish I had done that when I bought the home.

Thanks all.
 

MTboatguy

Fleet Admiral
Joined
Jul 8, 2010
Messages
8,988
Re: Harbor Freight Garage

That is the one weakpoint. I've cleaned mine off a couple times during the winter. Doesn't take long, just get inside and tap it with a shovel, the snow slides off easily.

We tapped it off several times over the years, when it collapsed unfortunately we were not home, we were out of town for Christmas and ended up having a storm that dropped almost 5 feet of snow on us, by the time we got home, the thing had collapesed and destroyed the boat! That storm was nasty, had to have the neighbor bring his D-8 down and plow the driveway out, then swim the snow to get to the house! It was really quite amazing!
 

MTboatguy

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Messages
8,988
Re: Harbor Freight Garage

These are a good, inexpensive solution to sheltering a boat from the sun and rain in the West. I can see where they could have problems with snow load, and need constant attention. I've had three of the Costco $199 units. The biggest problem is that the sun rots the fabric in about 2 years in central California. I'd expect a similar life in Arizona. Costco doesn't sell just the fabric roof (the sidewalls last much longer than the roof). One solution I'm going to try this summer is to buy a 20 x 12 tarp and put it on top of the roof, then replace with another one when the first one rots out.

What a lot of people here in Montana do, it once the roof goes bad, they put metal sheeting on it, which works out quite well as the snow slides off the metal real easy.
 

AZBoatDreamer

Lieutenant Junior Grade
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Aug 5, 2009
Messages
1,100
Re: Harbor Freight Garage

Dont be fooled by my Avatar Location. We dont have the snow problems like some of you have.
 

superpop

Master Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Mar 5, 2006
Messages
869
Re: Harbor Freight Garage

And 200 bucks every 2-3 years is way cheaper then getting all your upholstery replaced when it rots and fades. Not to mention the Gel-coat and trailer tires. I see the tent as a sacrificial covering that will need to be replaced every few years. Cheap insurance in my opinion. And I have had up to 18 inches of snow on mine with no problem, I just went out and brushed it off every few days. Not a big deal. You would not have that problem though.
 
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