My plastic garage collapsed on the boat

[Merc90HPnewbie]

I got one of those $200 garage canopy things at the big box store (Sam's Club), it's basically metal tubing with tarp-like sides and a roof.<br /><br />It looks exactly like this one (I can't link to the one on Sam's Club's site but it's #790005 if you want to see it)<br /><br /> http://www.sportsmansguide.com/cb/cb.asp?a=77320 <br /><br />The thing collapsed under the weight of a snowfall. <br /><br />I think the boat is ok but I was wondering-<br />When I bought this it clearly said "Not rated for snow load" on it. Is there a better version of this available anywhere that IS rated for snow load? I have seen the half-round style and they seem to be a little better. I see canopies online for anywhere between $99 and $1500!! <br />I'm lookingforsomething comparable to what I've got (10X20') but that will withstand northeast winters...<br /><br />I was thinking of something like this:<br /> http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=90420 <br /><br />It's $600 and 24' (a bit longer than I need) but I think it's a 'step up' from what I had. The half-round style is similar to the ones they sell locally here for around $1000.<br />They don't say if it's snow rated but it weighs 525lbs(!!) compared to about 100 lbs for the one I have (I was able to wrangle the box mine came in.)<br /><br />Thanks for any advice you have.

 

[crazy charlie]

Re: My plastic garage collapsed on the boat

Sorry to hear of your collapse.It is a shame that you did not help it out.I see many of those cheaper ones do just fine as long as you give it some help.You cant leave snow on it.You have to get some of it off after a snow and lighten the load.The dark colored ones do much better by absorbing sunlight and melting the snow on it.You know the old saying "you get what you pay for".Charlie

 

[Belchy]

Re: My plastic garage collapsed on the boat

Sorry to hear about your luck. Two years ago I bought a two of the kits from Home Depot that were the plastic footings and angel brackets for 1X1 sections of wood. When the structre was built it was quite unstable, but with some 1X3 strapping it was able to survive two Canadian winters with a lot of snow load. That would be my recommendation, covered with a large blue tarp pulled tight so that the snow flows off it easily. Two winters and its still standing, so I would give it a try.<br /><br />Belchy

 

[DC698]

Re: My plastic garage collapsed on the boat

Merc, I have the same 10X20 made by King Canopy. It says the same thing on the box "Not for snow load" but as soon as it snows I try and get out there and brush it off. Sorry to hear about the collapse.. good luck with the new canopy.

 

[Johnshan1]

Re: My plastic garage collapsed on the boat

I bought a 24x12' instant garage from BJ's Wholesale it says snow load is fine if you buy their brace kit, which is just 6 peices of angle iron you bolt into the peak of the roof to make a tri-angle.<br /><br />I just brush it off after every storm and so far so good. <br /><br />$300<br /><br />-John

 

[roscoe]

Re: My plastic garage collapsed on the boat

I have a WeatherGuard shelter like the one on the harborfreight site.<br />They are made by dgi worldwide, as in <br /> http://www.dgiworldwide.com/roundtop.html <br /><br />I have the 12 x 24, which is just perfect for a 16' or 17' boat. I can back it in with the engine tilted up, and still have room to walk around behind the engine, or to remove the lower unit.<br /><br />It is going thru its 3rd winter now. It is holding up very well. Never seen more than an inch of snow on it. It all slides off. Some tiny pinholes in the top, probably from icicles falling onto it. It has taken 40mph winds on more than a few occasions.<br /><br />Paid $359 locally, at a Menards.<br />Paid $100 for a load of gravel.<br />Paid $150 for land anchors, lag SCREWS, and 2x6 base.<br />TOTAL, $610 + TAX.<br /><br />You need to anchor the feet of the shelter TO THE 2X8 with lag screws, this holds the base together and keeps the crossmembers in place. <br />2x6's have to be anchored into the ground with land anchors, or attached to concrete base.<br /><br />I have seen a similar shelter which has sides that are a bit straighter instead of a curve. They have a door that rolls up, providing a little easier access if you have a truck or larger boat.<br /><br />Here is another brand: http://www.sheltersofamerica.com/products.php?id=1

 

[Boomyal]

Re: My plastic garage collapsed on the boat

When it snows or, as this year, freezing rain, I just get under it and run the back side of a push broom along under the cover. Every thing just slides right off of it. It wouldn't take too much build up to collapse it. If it snowed all night, I'd be up several times a nite, running my broom under it.

 

[Mark42]

Re: My plastic garage collapsed on the boat

It says this in the owners manual for the Weatherguard: Note: The RV Shelter is not designed to be used in extreme weather conditions (snow, heavy rains and/or strong winds), leaving the RV Shelter up in these types of conditions may result in serious damage to the Shelter.

 

[Merc90HPnewbie]

Re: My plastic garage collapsed on the boat

All: Yes I was lax in keeping up with it. I had it 2 years and I did go out every snowfall (twice in heavy snowfalls) to scrape the top off with a snow rake (also used the same concept as Boomyal and bumped it fom the inside when there was ice) and it did fine. It had a few inches of snow on it several times and it held up so I figured I'd see what happened this year (stupid move). What happened was one large snowfall of about a foot, even though it was light fluffy snow...<br /><br />I did a little extra work when I first got it to anchor it to the ground (it doesn't come with an anchor kit and I don't think they even have one available for this model. Anyway it withstood the wind pretty well, just not the weight of the snow...

 

[Merc90HPnewbie]

Re: My plastic garage collapsed on the boat

Belchy: I'd be interested in that kit, I will take a look in Home Depot for it. The roof is just plastic tarp? I wonder if I can use the existing 'skins' I have already and just build a wooden support structure for it - it would probably cost too much in wood though...<br /><br />Roscoe; I'm glad to find someone else who has seen this particular shelter. So $600 seems a bit high if you found it locally for $360 (unless the Harborfreight one comes with the ground kit).<br /><br />I think I understand what you said about the 2X6 (2X8?), the legs bolt to it and then it gets secured to the ground with the anchors (are the anchors like this? http://www.dgiworldwide.com/eaglefoot.html ) <br /><br />What's the gravel for? The floor?<br /><br />Also you mention that other models have a roll up door- I have seen those as well but I think that is the really expensive (>$1000) model. The picture on the site does show how the doors sort of open to the sides. It looks like the sides of the boat could get hooked on one of those while backing it in...<br /><br />PS do you remember what the 10X20 model costs at Menards (we don't have that store by me)<br /><br />Thanks

 

[rwidman]

Re: My plastic garage collapsed on the boat

I've seen them with metal roofs at Lowes. More expensive, though.

 

[Merc90HPnewbie]

Re: My plastic garage collapsed on the boat

Wow Dancing Man thats a bad story. In my case the tarp-like roof is still intact so there's no snow (and so no chance of water) getting in the boat and causing thaw-freeze damage. Glad to hear your boat turned out OK!

 

[briannh1234]

Re: My plastic garage collapsed on the boat

Newbie -<br /><br />You might want to check to make sure that the plug is out of the back of the boat and that the bow is high.<br /><br />My boat lives in a $800 plastic garage. Hasn't collapsed yet but now I might start cleaning the snow off after each storm.<br /><br />I get little pin-holes in the plastic and it does allow water into the boat. Then I use duct tape to patch the leak. I allways make sure that the bow is high and the plug is out. That way the water does not collect.<br /><br />- Brian

 

[Merc90HPnewbie]

Re: My plastic garage collapsed on the boat

That's a good point. I take the plug out after winterization. I try to keep the bow high using the jack on the trailer. <br />I had a friend who once tried to jack up his boat to change a tire and he broke the jack trying to lift it- I pulled the plug out and several HUNDRED gallons of water drained out...

 

[Merc90HPnewbie]

Re: My plastic garage collapsed on the boat

Does anyone know a store that carries these somewhere in the Northeast? (NY, PA, CT, NJ area) $600 from Harbor Freight vs $359 at the store Roscoe mentioned makes it worth my while to do a little driving and pick it up locally.

 

[roscoe]

Re: My plastic garage collapsed on the boat

Can't see your anchor link.<br />I used steel screw in land anchors, about 18" long. They are a steel rod with an eye at the top, and an auger blade at the bottom. About $7 a piece.<br /><br />Yes, gravel was to level the ground, and raise it a bit for drainage. Didn't want the trailer to be sitting in a muddy hole.<br /><br />I would contact the manufacturer to locate a dealer.

 

[Merc90HPnewbie]

Re: My plastic garage collapsed on the boat

Hi Roscoe<br />I fixed the link above on the anchors, it was including my close parenthesis in the link.<br /><br />I contacted the manufacturer who for some reason has trouble telling me what retail locations in my area (I asked for any store in NY, PA, or CT that carried their 10X20 or 10X24 roundtop) carry their canopies. He said he coudn't sell direct and 'the price from Menards sounds about right'. I asked twice what stores might carry it but they never answered....<br /><br />If anyone in the upstate NY area has seen one of these in a local store please let me know<br />Thanks

 

[nrladeere]

Re: My plastic garage collapsed on the boat

Mine handled a 20" snowfall, but I had to broom off every 8" or so. I have a long paint pole to insert into a push broom. It rakes the snow off well without damaging the tarps. Mine has been standing over 2 years and is still going strong. Mine is the Sam's $200 model. I anchored it in concrete with screws and screwed all of the sections together during assembly. I expected 1 year of service and couldn't be happier with the unit.

 

[Merc90HPnewbie]

Re: My plastic garage collapsed on the boat

I am looking for something that can withstand a large snowfall or two as I can't always get to it in time. The roundtop ones seem stronger but I can't find a local store that carries them. They are twice the price when ordered online (usually things are cheaper online?)

 

[briannh1234]

Re: My plastic garage collapsed on the boat

Things aren't allways cheaper on-line. Even if the price is the same as a traditional store, you have to pay shipping. Then it takes several day to get there.<br /><br />Buying in the traditional store cost's gas...<br /><br />Internet does give you a much wider selection...