27 replies to this topic

[miniman24]

As Im currently at uni, I dont have a garage to park my future Mini in - Im planning ahead here I do, however, have the luxury of off street parking on a 5x5m patch of grass round the back of my house. I would like, if possible, to keep my Mini covered from rain and snow but a cover dosnt attract me as the Mini would be my daily driver and I really dont like the idea of putting a cover on a wet car. So, I was thinking about getting a 4.5 x 3m gazebo to put up to act as a garage. It would be the fully water-proof type with sides, and would be anchored securely into the ground. It would also make my Mini much less visible from the road. Just wondering if anyone else has done this? Seems to be a good way to protect a Mini in the absence of a proper garage.

Edited by miniman24, 23 January 2013 - 09:04 PM.

[JustSteve]

It sounds like a great idea, that's why I thought about it.. but as soon as it starts getting windy you could either have it blowing away, bending, or riping... probably damaging the mini too! they don't last forever either


It could probably work if you didnt have sides, or had openings or something?




What about one of those plastic things? Like a big wendy-house

[JustSteve]

AND to go with it...

[HUBBA.HUBBA]

I wouldn't leave it for a long period of time on grass. It'll rot quicker than normal. Gravel drives aren't much better. Both retain moisture

[OllieTheWelder]

It should be fine as long as It's a fairly well made gazeebo i.e fabric expensive ones. I never had problems with the wind just make sure it's anchored right.

[Noah]

Or you could keep some spray wax and a few microfibre towels in the car and dry it off quickly before you put the cover on?

[JustSteve]

or



look like they would be great

[scaffers]

make a base up from old scaffold boards and anchor the gazebo to the scaffold boards, it wont move then

call a local scaffold co and ask to buy some scrap 13foot boards, they wont be expensive, and they will be seasoned / weathered etc so no warping




scaff

[Sam]

We've got a cheap marquee up on the patio, which has been there for the past 5 years.

Been used to store cars and even campervans. Keeps the rain off superbly.

[Bungle]

i would by a cheap wooden shed

[Cerberus]

I've got a 3x2m plastic greenhouse thing from the local gardencentre.

Has doors front and back, and a vented window on each side.

Works well in keeping the rain off it, but it gets covered in condensation, then any wind blows it all over the car. Also doesn't really dry once it's wet. Seems to work a bit better with both doors open.

It blows around a bit in the wind, but has been out in 30mph gusts and is still there. It's only held down with the guy rops on one side into the fence, and the other side are around some slab edgings. Flaps around the bottom are all held down with bricks and more slab edgings.

My Dad and I have thought about how we could mod it to make it better. One idea was to put some slabs down as a floor to try and stop moisture coming up, and then using corrugated panels from wickes to make more of a car-port, rather than a plastic bag.


I'm still not sure if it was worth it or not yet.

[miniman24]

I like the idea of putting the scaffold planks down - i was going to put plyboard down anyway. I was also going to install vents in the gazebo to get rid of condensation, and some water absorbing silicon stuff. The area is sheltered on 3 sides by fences so hopefully wind wont be a huge problem. My landlord wont allow anything more permenant than a gazebo so a shed is out unfortionatly

[Mini-Mad-Craig]

Sounds good mate.

Or come into some money and INVEST http://www.carcapsule.co.uk/

[minimk4]

hi mate i bought a gazebo for my mini but due to all the snow whilst i was asleep it crushed and bent all the poles so now i am going to make one from scaffold poles and put a tin roof on top

[roofless]

I've got a 6m x 3m steel tubular frame gazebo gathering dust in the workshop.....frame is so strong you could probably clad it with di-bond or similar and make a sturdy semi-permanent unit.....same deal with the sides tuning about it :)