Fabric portable bus garages - any recommendations or stories about their use?

[Kevin Warnock]

Hello,

I got my 1994 RTS Series 50 back from that painter yesterday. It want to keep it looking new. My storage lot said I can put up one of those fabric portable garages for an extra $20/mo, which sounds more than fair. I live in San Francisco. Does anyone know of a local source, or a source in California? I have only found places on the Internet that are far from me, so the shipping charge is in the $600 range.

Does anyone have experience with storing their bus in one of these fabric garages? The bus will be in a hot, but dry area... not in San Francisco itself. In the summer it gets 90 - 95F some days. Not much wind, and only normal rain in the winter. No snow ever, of course. No freezing either.

Here's one model I am considering: http://www.sheltersofamerica.com/productdetails.php?productid=319&id=3

I take it such a garage would be much better for my bus than trying to cover it with a fabric bus cover that actually wraps over the bus and touches it everywhere. Do you agree? I just can't imagine getting out ladders and installing the cover every time I get back from a trip. The tarp would probably weigh a ton, and be filthy after a while, and difficult to wash. The bus garage is only about 3 times as expensive as the cover.

Finally, do you know how much trouble these garages are to put up? The sites say one day of work, but any stories would be helpful.

Thanks,

Kevin

[Nick Badame Refrig/ACC]

Hi Kevin,

My tent is now 3 years old.

I have a 42' x 16' x 14' Shelter King enclosed tent that has served me well. The only problem that I had was in the first couple months

I noticed that the cover started tearing at the top. After further discovery, it was determined that the cover's mounting holes were

installed in the wrong place and they sent me a new cover at no cost. I just replaced it this past winter.

Here is a pic with and without the cover

Nick-

[Don4107]

How about wind?  I would be afraid to use one where we live.   How is the wind in San Fran.

Friend has a Quonset type with silver/gray cover.  When the doors are closed it is a oven.  Has stood for quite a few years.  Seems pretty tough.

[Nick Badame Refrig/ACC]

Hi Don,

I forgot to mention that my tent has faired 3 noreasters, all were over 65 mph winds.

It shakes, rattles, and makes all kinds of noises but, heald it's own.

Nick-

[Don4107]

I always thought that if I used one of these that I would build some type of structure that the vehicle would sit on attached to the bottom frame to help hold it down. Just paranoid I guess. 

[HighTechRedneck]

I always thought that if I used one of these that I would build some type of structure that the vehicle would sit on attached to the bottom frame to help hold it down. Just paranoid I guess. 

What about when the bus was away?  I would imagine that several deep screw anchors are used to secure it.

[gus]

Kevin,

You absolutely do not want to have anything touching new paint, sunlight could raise the paint. This happened to my TR4 before I bought it.

SF is cool enough and has so little hot weather that I would think paint there would last forever. Rain won't hurt it unless it leaks.

[RTS/Daytona]

how about some pictures of your newly painted RTS ??

[Nick Badame Refrig/ACC]

I always thought that if I used one of these that I would build some type of structure that the vehicle would sit on attached to the bottom frame to help hold it down. Just paranoid I guess. 

Hi Don,
This tent is anchored by 12 drive in duck bill anchors with cables attaching to the structure.
The key to making the cover last is keeping it tight to the structure.

[Don4107]

I understand that they are anchored, I just would not want a freak wind to move it when something important is in there. You have all that mass, why not use it.  It would not take much material to do the job.

[Nick Badame Refrig/ACC]

Hi ,

You could also pour a concrete pad for the bus, then drill in lag bolts. It wouldn't move at all that way.

It's a very large structure to leave unanchored if you were to go on a trip.

Nick-

[buswarrior]

A set of old railway ties fastened together along each side has been known to work. Acts to block movement at the bottom edge as well.

happy coaching!
buswarrior

[Don4107]

I am not suggesting going without the normal anchors, just using the weight of the vehicle for added security.   

[Songman]

Great! Another RTS owner, and not too far from me either!

A buddy of mine has used those 'tents' for quite a few years now. Even in the scorching Bakersfield sun they seem to have held up well. My conversion is still underway and it just sits out in the sun. It would be nice to have one of these if for no other reason than for a little shade.