<VV> Cover, garages, etc..

[Russ Moorhouse]

Bill - I'm thinking of going with trailers, but my situation is a little 
different.  The community I live in has covenants, which don't allow stand 
alone garages.  My property is wedged shaped, so I can't add to either side 
of my house due to closeness to the property lines.  They even restrict the 
size of the shed you can have so it can't end up being used as a garage.  My 
yard is deep and wide across the back, but I can't build a stand alone 
garage.  My neighbor behind me who is into old Corvettes, has the same 
problem.  We both only have single car garages and we want some more old 
cars.  We've discussed getting trailers, since they don't have any by-laws 
concerning them and see what their reaction is when we each have 3 or 4 
trailers in our yard.  Maybe than a detached garage will look better to 
them.

A girl I used to work with, sells horse and car trailers and she advised 
getting heat and A/C in the car trailer to control the environment, should 
you go that way.

The one advantage of a trailer is that you can take them with you, should 
you ever move.  Also I imagine they hold their value somewhat better than a 
metal storage shed.

Russ Moorhouse
'65 Corsa coupe 140 HP
Group Corvair Member
Kent Island, MD

----ORIGINAL MESSAGE------

From: "Bill Elliott" <Corvair@fnader.com>
To: "virtualvairs@corvair.org" <virtualvairs@corvair.org>
Date: Mon, 25 Oct 2004 14:00:20 -0400
Reply-To: "Bill Elliott" <Corvair@fnader.com>
Subject: Re: <VV> RE: Car cover

For what it's worth, I like the cheap lightweight nylon covers outside. They 
keep leaves and dirt out...
divert some water, and dry out quickly. I wouldn't do this on a real nice 
car, though. But I think they're
better than nothing for an outside car.  Inside I use thin cotton covers.

While we're on this subject.... let's talk about outside storage.

I need some additional garage space (those that know me are not surprised) 
but really don't want to
spend $20k on a pole barn with concrete floor (as I built in Wisconsin)... 
and my wife (bless her for letting
me carry on with cars like I do) really doesn't want another  permanent 
garage that she has to look at.

Now, my first inclination was to buy some 40' storage containers (like Larry 
Claypool uses) and put them
below my detached garage where we couldn't see them from the house. And the 
neighbor on that side
is not very friendly anyway! (VBG)

It's too close to the property line to build anything permanent there... but 
after talking to a few container
companies, I don't have enough access for them to drop a 20' in there, much 
less a couple of 40'ers.
And the wife has laid down the law against storage containers in the places 
they _could_ get to.

So now I'm thinking about those metal "build yourself" carports which are 
not considered permanent
and which I could enclose with cheap plastic tarps...

Also considering the temporary build-it-yourself canvas garages, but these 
cost as much as the metal
carports and I doubt they would last as long...

Not looking for 100% weather proof storage... I have enough of that for the 
"good" cars... just looking for
something that protects the projects a little better than sitting out in the 
rain and sun.

Then there is the flooring issue... concrete will run over $10k, pavement 
something like $5k (and both
kind of hurt the "temporary" placement right at the property line) Gravel? 
Wood? Other suggestions?

Finally, I guess I could stick-build something, but then we get into the 
permance issue again.

Selling off cars is an option the wife would support, but I'm not so keen on 
it myself....

So to recap some options...
8x40 containers are about $2100 each delivered.
8x20's are just a bit less.
30x40 storage builing with concrete floor is about $20k, without the floor 
$10k
20x20 metal carport about $800-900 each delivered
20x20 canvas garage about $1000 delivered
10x20 "self storage" rates are $188/mo
8x24 car trailers start at $3500 each...

Thoughts?
Bill Elliott