oderuyter Posted December 3, 2012 Share Posted December 3, 2012 3rd topic this morning! I have no garage (yet) and live on a farm so pretty exposed to weather and plenty of dust and crap, I wanted to park the Zed. I was looking at a cheap solution to protect the car until my landlord finishes the garage. I thought about using a large gazebo - something like 3m x 6m, I can secure one side to my house and the rest weighted down, all this for about £55. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/120967919958?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649 Before I bought it wanted to ask, has anyone else done this, so could pass on some wisdom, or anyone got a temporary/pop-up garage for sale? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spursmaddave Posted December 3, 2012 Share Posted December 3, 2012 I think a car cover would be a better idea as long as it is a snug fit and does't blow about against the car Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oderuyter Posted December 3, 2012 Author Share Posted December 3, 2012 I just have this fear of having a stone caught in the cover (all gravel drive) and scratching the shiznitch out of the car Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rabbitstew Posted December 3, 2012 Share Posted December 3, 2012 I dont think a gazebo would last 5 minutes unfortunately. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aliensurfer Posted December 3, 2012 Share Posted December 3, 2012 I agree with Dave, I think a fitted cover would be a decent option. you'd still be able to have a use for it afterwards too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oderuyter Posted December 3, 2012 Author Share Posted December 3, 2012 Its a fair point you make for the fitted cover, just really worried about a stone getting caught in it, as it will be put on and off daily. Any precautions I can take? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KC350Z Posted December 3, 2012 Share Posted December 3, 2012 Its a fair point you make for the fitted cover, just really worried about a stone getting caught in it, as it will be put on and off daily. Any precautions I can take? Make sure car is clean before use or it can cause swells in the paint Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oderuyter Posted December 3, 2012 Author Share Posted December 3, 2012 Its a fair point you make for the fitted cover, just really worried about a stone getting caught in it, as it will be put on and off daily. Any precautions I can take? Make sure car is clean before use or it can cause swells in the paint See thats what I mean - The cover will be just chucked over each day when I get back from the office, and I really cant see me titting about with it in a suit on a freezing winters night...... hmm think I just answered my question there! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ekona Posted December 3, 2012 Share Posted December 3, 2012 (edited) I would be tempted to look at increasing the level of protection you put on the actual car than anything else. I agree that the gazebo probably won't last very long, and a car cover isn't going to work either unless you wash the car every single night, so I'd probably put a slightly more durable finishing product on the car instead. I'd be looking at something like the FK1000P which is increadibly hard wearing, and while you do lose a little of the ultimate finish that a good wax will give it's worth it as it will give a massive amount of protection. Edited December 3, 2012 by Ekona Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oderuyter Posted December 3, 2012 Author Share Posted December 3, 2012 hmm this FK100p stuff looks like just the ticket, any tops, tricks for application? Also any preference on environment to apply, obviously warm days are rare at the moment.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ekona Posted December 3, 2012 Share Posted December 3, 2012 Yes, make sure you don't leave it to cure as it's a bloody nightmare to remove! VOE on that one, sadly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spursmaddave Posted December 3, 2012 Share Posted December 3, 2012 Its a fair point you make for the fitted cover, just really worried about a stone getting caught in it, as it will be put on and off daily. Any precautions I can take? Check for stones 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oderuyter Posted December 3, 2012 Author Share Posted December 3, 2012 Check for stones Smart Arse! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oderuyter Posted December 3, 2012 Author Share Posted December 3, 2012 Yes, make sure you don't leave it to cure as it's a bloody nightmare to remove! VOE on that one, sadly. yes I had heard this, also making sure the sponge is damp and warm was anoth tip i picked up on my internet trawls Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flex Posted December 3, 2012 Share Posted December 3, 2012 Check for stones Smart Arse! Those are his middle names! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scubapics Posted December 3, 2012 Share Posted December 3, 2012 No barns on the farm? Sounds the sort of workshop I'd like to have! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ianphampton Posted December 3, 2012 Share Posted December 3, 2012 I keep my girl in a green gazebo, she's lived in that for about 3 years. A few extra points though - obviously it was NOT designed as an all year all weather shelter and I've had to add: i) 4 more big rawlbolt fixings (each corner) to bolt it to the floor ii) 7 extra supports as under the weight of snow a couple of years back it sagged really bady iii) roof struts in all 4 corners and 2 in the long sides for the same snow reason as ii) above iv) 4 extra corner guy ropes to BIG securing fixings - when it's blowing over 60 mph winds it tried to take off and. . . that was an entertaining couple of hours as you can imagine in a howling gale, lashing with rain, me getting soaked and desperately adding extra guy ropes to stop it blowing away But after all that - it's lasted 3 years and it keeps both the sun and the cold and rain off her. It also has kept the fireworks and rocket sticks off! I especially wanted to give her some protection as mines a soft top and I din't want the soft top baked or frozen. Obviously I wanted a proper garage, but didn't have the spare cash . . . .anyway, Good Luck 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oderuyter Posted December 3, 2012 Author Share Posted December 3, 2012 That's very reassuring to see. Mine would be a little more exposed but think i have some solutions to weigh it down. Please can you send me some pics of your additional struts as hadn't thought about snow weight. Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dErZ Posted December 4, 2012 Share Posted December 4, 2012 I feel bad for mine now, my soft top is outside all year. Ill see if I can squeeze it in the garage along with all the other shite... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rtbiscuit Posted December 4, 2012 Share Posted December 4, 2012 I feel bad for mine now, my soft top is outside all year. Ill see if I can squeeze it in the garage along with all the other shite... as long as you use a good roof cleaner and protector it will be fine. i used to use raggtopp; water would bead off like water off a ducks ar$e, and it had UV protectors in it, and a colour restorer. so it always looked nice and black, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rabbitstew Posted December 4, 2012 Share Posted December 4, 2012 I feel bad for mine now, my soft top is outside all year. Ill see if I can squeeze it in the garage along with all the other shite... I left my roadster outside too without any problems. Treated the roof twice a year with proper roof stuff and it still looked brand new. I made sure if it got snowed on id brush all the snow off asap as i didnt like leaving it under a foot of snow! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marcus01 Posted December 4, 2012 Share Posted December 4, 2012 Look on ebay for perambulator cover, quick, easy to use and pinned to the ground wont blow away. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dErZ Posted December 4, 2012 Share Posted December 4, 2012 I used 303 fabric guard and the water does bead off but im sure its safer in the garage Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ianphampton Posted December 5, 2012 Share Posted December 5, 2012 Delay in responding (apologies) about "Green Gazebo" re-inforcements as I tend not to open the covers up in the week - but did so today to shoot a couple of pictures Vertical supports added as 6" - 8" of snow made the whole structure drop under the weight - just used simple timber 20mm x 75mm that I had in the garage, cut a notch in the top, then cut carefully to length and tied to the aluminium struts Then corners done pretty much the same way, notch to fit around the aluminium and then cut to be a tight fit, and tied in position Did this a couple of years ago and just had to re-tie them to make sure they were still taught each autumn Post up some pictures of your build when you're done - Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.