Anyone have experience/advice about a portable garage/car port?

Hi all,

I'm considering buying one of these to keep my E250 hi-top camper van insulated this winter.

https://www.amazon.com/ADVANCE-OUTDOOR-Carport-Shelter-Adjustable/dp/B09QGHFTB9?source=ps-sl-shoppingads-lpcontext&ref_=fplfs&smid=A25SLURTOUIUQR&th=1

My partner and I are going to be in Missouri staying in a tiny house, with the campervan functioning like an auxilary bedroom. I am wanting to create a simple and inexpensive insulative barrier around the van.

Anyone used something similar? Was it sturdy enough to withstand wind and snow? Will it do anything to keep temps up? (I plan to have a heater in the van). Does the darker green or the optional white color make more sense for sunlight absorption? I'm guessing green.

Thanks for any input.

I had one of the ones from HF for a while to store my Beeltle in. It lasted 2.5 years in Florida until a hurricane ripped it apart. It seemed to keep water out and was sturdy enough for what I needed. 

I have one I got at Costco about 10 years ago. It's been put up and taken down several times over the years and has held up well, even in winter. I think they are worthwhile.

I have this one and it's been used year round.

The first one lasted from 2019 through most of last winter in central Massachusetts. It survived snow and wind, even after being picked up and flipped over in a storm. 

I go out and clean off the snow when it's get to 3-4" and have it tied down. I just use a push broom the knock the snow loose. 

Last winter we had about 5-6" of heavy snow and between looking out to see how much snow and getting my coat on to clean it off the frame collapsed. 

I have a second one up now and hope to get similar life from it. 
 

12x20 tent

I have a large (28 x 28 x 12) Shelter Logic garage in the backyard to winter store our summer toys (3 Z cars).  There is little or no insulation value to the fabric material cover although it will break the wind and keep the snow out. 

To help heat the RV I'd consider a perimeter of hay bales around the vechicle...

Gordon 

Great, sounds like it's a go. Thanks for all the responses!

Electric heater, right?

While it won't provide any insulation value, the tent will block the wind and keep the air relatively still.That will make a big difference over being exposed to the wind and/or outside.

I use mine as a workshop, and using a propane torpedo style heater it takes about 5-10 minutes to get to sweatshirt/t shirt weather even when it's in the teens outside.    

The issue is the fumes, so I run the heater until I start to get uncomfortably warm (or my eyes start to water). Then I shut it down until I start to get uncomfortably cold, the. Restart it and repeat the cycle as needed. 

So as Sevenracer pointed out, heat will need to be electric or exhausted out of the tent to avoid CO poisoning. 
 

My house came with an old tin shed, and when I needed to store the ATV I added a Harbor Freight tent shed. It was in the Western PA weather for 3-4 years and it held up great. Branches tore the roof once, but I patched it with Flex Seal Tape (amazing stuff). I loved the big zip-up door, made it easy to get the tractor in and out. 

I eventually made this out of rough-hewn white pine: 

I'm kidding, the Amish built it. It is all white pine though, no particle board anywhere. 

I need some space to store the zero turn mower and leaf vac for the winter. 2 weeks ago I bought just the frame from an old ShelterLogic storage building in hopes of buying a replacement cover. When I priced a new cover, it was WAY more expensive than I would have ever thought, so I needed to rethink the whole thing. Metal roofing is relatively inexpensive and should outlast the eventual need that I have for the shelter and if built correctly, the whole thing will likely be saleable. Just yesterday I went and picked up the 8 pieces of 3'x20' metal roofing, 2 pressure treated 6x6x20's to set the frame on, some ridge vent and screws. All total $746 for the roofing materials and $100 for the frame. It could have been $125 less if I got the galvanized metal as their "seconds", but she asked if it could be similar in color to the house, so that's what it is. It should only take one day to put the metal on and have a very secure storage "building".

Here's a picture that I just took. I need to go get a load of stone to set the 6x6's on and level up. After that it's time to set the framework on them, screw them down and get ready to install the metal. All-in, I'll have under $1000 in a permenant place to store some lawn equipment for the winter and the skidsteer during the spring, summer and fall.

Just another way to end up with an inexpensive DIY alternative to a tarp covered storage shelter.

If you have the Costco portable garage or just the poles , Costco has the vinyl top on the website for $75-$100.

The Costco frame has heavier poles and 4 uprights per side , if you see a frame for sale in FBM

My HF "temporary" garage is over a decade old at this point. It needs a new trap next year, but for now I'm just taping up the holes. I've been thrilled with it, keeps all the lawn stuff dry.

In reply to sevenracer :

Yes, I am planning to get an electric heater, the most energy efficient one I can find. Open to any suggestions. I'll probably start another thread when it's time for that. 

Thanks for more responses!

Be sure to anchor it well. I slacked off and didn't reconnect some of my tie downs and this happened: