Garage Alternative

[Oldguysrule58]

Long time lurker - thinking about taking the plunge.

I do not have access to a garage for any potential build. What have others done in this situation? Is there a way to rent some space? Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks

Pat

[MPTech]

Where there's a will, there's a way.

I was talking to a guy last week that built a great looking Austin Healey in his basement and rolled it out the walkout slider when he was done (had to remove the doors and part of the trim).

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a78/MPTech/IMG_2834_zps2bebc7cc.jpg

[Gumball]

Local airport near my house has a private association of hangars. I rented at first, then last year purchased one. Most airports require that you have an airplane in the hangar, but I recently solved that by letting one of my neighbors at the field leave his plane there periodically.

It's become a pretty nice place for this sort of project - lots of workbench space, machine tools that I could never have fitted in my home garage, a sitting area with donor furniture and a full size fridge, and a TV. With WiFi and a pilots' lounge with a bathroom and shower, it really fits the bill.

[68GT500MAN]

Take a look on the coupe site, there is a builder who is building in a storage unit (actually three) where he has access and 24 hour security. Way back there was a roadster built in a car port.
Doug

[snakebit31]

I guess that would be me on the Coupe forum Doug is referring. I made my move to a storage facility because I sold my house and no longer had a garage. The only way I would consider this is my monthly expenses were drastically reduced, so I just factor the rent in monthly expenses. I pay $350 for 3 adjacent 10x20' units which have the interior walls removed, giving me 20x30' of space. I initially was in a single 10x20' unit at $150 a month. That is doable, but very tight. I had the body suspended from the ceiling while working on the chassis. It would have been tough once I started the body work.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v451/snakebit31/5SideView4463_zps0575daa1.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/snakebit31/media/5SideView4463_zps0575daa1.jpg.html)

If you could commit to the build and have all of your parts at hand, set a time line, etc. it would add about $2100 to the price of the build over the course of a year.

Rob

[Oldguysrule58]

Rob,

Thanks. How many places did you have to contact before you found one willing to rent to you while you built? I think thats a big issue with most/all storage places.

pat

[snakebit31]

Pat, I got lucky I guess. This was the first place I contacted. I think the key is if they let you store a car, they may not mind some wrench turning. Probably more concerned about storing flammable liquids. I'm at AAAA Self Storage.