What do you do?

[Phireman]

I've always been one to park the cars in the garage. I've never understood why some fill their garages with junk and leave the their second largest investments out in the weather. Since I purchased my Midget in early June my pick-up truck has been relegated to the driveway as I can't fit the MINI, Midget, and the truck inside. With winter approaching I'm considering what to do. Since I'll be using the truck as the daily driver this winter, I'll want to park in the garage. I don't want the Midget to rust so I've considered renting a storage unit for it at one of the local establishments. Could I get some alternative suggestions from the board on what you do? They salt the roads around here in the winter so using the Midget as a daily driver in winter is out of the question.

Thanks,

Marvin

 

[Baz]

My sacrifice of getting the midget was that I'd have to face being cold in winter. I don't understand why the wife didn't offer her half of the garage, but hey.
Two solutions reared.
1. Remote starter for the minivan.
2. Put the midget on dollies and turn her 90 degrees and put her at the back, and then all three can fit in. As I'll be working on the midget this winter, I went with the remote starter and a temporary 'car port' roof which is detachable from my house gable for when it snows.

If you don't have any work to do on your midget this winter, then storing it somewhere is a good option, it'll be dry and safe.

 

[aeronca65t]

I bought a "hoop house" from Harbor Freight (made from a metal frame of hoops and silver tarps...cost about $250).
But not for the Spridget...that sits in my heated shop/garage.

Originally, the hoop house was intended for the Miata, but now the Miata sits outside (I have the plane in it, wings off, while I re-do some stuff over the next year).

If your town (or your wife) won't permit a hoop house, you could always buy (or build) a large garden shed. My son-in-law has a nice-looking garden shed that his prize Mustang will *just* fit in.

I agree with the idea that many folks use their garage for "junk storage" instead of for their cars...seems a pity.

 

[Taz]

Ran into the same problem. If you have the space. Around here and I am sure you can find them were you live. A metal car port, free standing, $875 installed around here. Sits on the far side of my Garage. Use a remote start for the truck. I am the guy in the big salt and plow truck. On call 24 hr in the winter and only have a 1/2 hr to report to work. This works well for me.

 

[Trevor Jessie]

Did we already mention a lift? By the time you pay storage for a few winters, you have a similar investment.

 

[jlaird]

Don't you know a little old lady with a mostly empty garage?

 

[dklawson]

Well, my minivan is worth more than my Mini... but the Mini has the garage. I have too much sweat equity in it not to protect it. The GT6 has a Weathershield cover and is parked outside.

My garage is not just where I park my car, it is my workshop. Two years ago I was given a WWII era milling machine. After rebuilding it I put it in the back of the garage. Now... I can't park the minivan there even if I wanted to. My garage has become the place to work on all my "small" cars and the place to protect the Mini from the elements.

 

[Guest]

You could buy a 4 post lift. Place the MG on the lift and park the Mini under the MG. There are removable pans on most lifts so that the MG won't drip on the Mini. When I was really into restoring old Fords I had a 3 car garage on the house and an oversize 3 car garage in the back. I had a 4 post lift in one of the bays. Great for restoring or performing maintenance and also great for storing an additional vehicle. There are many good 4 posts lifts available (see ads in Hemmings Motor News). Mine cost around $2500.00. Our new home also has a 3 car garage so I don't have a parking problem - unless I find another LBC that I can't live without.

 

[fmichaels]

since mine isn't driveable just yet i haven't had to actually do anything drastic, but i am looking to build a second unattached garage to store the car when it's done. for now, it sits next to the wife's car in the crowded garage. problem i have right now is i am storing a 65 sprite next to it so i have three cars in the main garage and two outside. once the car is done it has to be put somewhere that no one can hit it, bounce balls of it, place gardening tools on and so forth. no one can appreciate what you've done except yourself (and the members of this forum).

 

[Shealey]

I'm one of those guys that have stuff in the garage. Daily drivers are for driving. They are not going to melt. I have 2 garages. One is over 100 years old. It has a loft over a 1 1/2 car section with a second stall added on. I have a 1954 100-4 project sitting in the add-on waiting for me to start working on it.

I just donated the 1 1/2 stall to the 19 yr old son for his hobby shop. He's a good kid and a collage student. I never encouraged him to work on cars, but it's in the genes.

I built a 28'X 34' X 10' with slab heat and a 1/2 story for my hobby shop. I have several cars in and around it. I have a very understanding wife. I work out of a home office. I make her coffee, fill her travel cup and walk out and start her Nissan Titan so it's nice and warm for her trip to work. For that she's leaves my garage alone.

My solution, build another garage! Check out the gable. I cut and nailed every shake!

 

[Shealey]

Here's my old garage.

 

[Phireman]

Thanks for your responses, all good food for thought.

 

[sideache]

I live in SoCal, we don't have to worry about parking the cars for the winter. We get to drive them all winter. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif Outside - no big deal.