Car storage suggestions.

I know a lot of you have acres and acres of land so this does not apply to you. Seriously, for those with 2 car garage living in HOA enforced neighborhoods. My neighborhood does not allow non running cars to be parked in the driveway even if they are licensed and tagged. They can be in the garage out of public view, but I have 2 cars already in the garage (1 running project and 1 non running project) and 2 family cars in the driveway. I just bought another non running project that needs to be stored somewhere until I can fix it and get it running. What do you do with your project cars? I checked on a few storage places. Holy heck! $100 a month for 10x15 space. $75 a month to park outside behind their "secure" fenced property. Any ideas or tips will be appreciated here.

You pretty much found it. Sub $100/mo. is relatively inexpensive, and pretty normal to pay to park somewhere reasonably secure. Places like big cities can be $250+ for anything monthly, let alone enclosed.

Personally I found a neighbor who had a 3 car garage (single lady) that was basically just sitting empty, and I struck up a deal to rent that.

I'd try to hit up neighbors and see if any of them want to rent a garage spot out. That said, I think you need a bigger picture game plan. What's the end game here? You have 3 project cars and only a 2 car garage and live with a strict HOA, what did you think would happen? ;-p

Four post lift for stacking and storing cars?

Consideration of maybe not needing more projects?

foxtrapper wrote: Four post lift for stacking and storing cars? Consideration of maybe not needing more projects?

No room for that. My home was build in 1988. Garages were not big back then compared to what they are now in the new neighborhoods.

If the project car is a shiny Porsche or Ferrari there will be a mysterious lack of HOA complaints...

Other option: On some nights you can play a loud recording of engine noises from a boombox while you push it to another space in the driveway.

GameboyRMH wrote: Other option: On some nights you can play a loud recording of engine noises from a boombox while you push it to another space in the driveway.

This is my thought. Work out some motorized dolly of some sort

In reply to mtn:

I did the same as xflowwolf. A single guy upgraded from a townhouse to a single family home, with an additional appartnment, and a detatched 3 car garage, when he had a jeep and a mower. I rent one bay from him for $80/mo to store a boat, a canoe, seasonal gear, etc. It was the cheapest I could find - much cheaper than a storage unit. I've looked for a bigger space to buy/rent for years.

Oh, also drive around your town and find storage facilities and call the number. Some of them can't even be found on google.

Sine_Qua_Non wrote: I have 2 cars already in the garage (1 running project and 1 non running project) and 2 family cars in the driveway. I just bought another non running project that needs to be stored somewhere until I can fix it and get it running.

Sell something? Move? Buy smaller cars?

I'm kinda in the "well, what did you expect?" camp.

One reason I'm considering selling off most of my 'toy' cars is because I'm getting sick of playing 20 minutes of musical chairs whenever I want to drive something.

Not selling any of the cars. Not moving either. Housing market is still not improved yet where I live and am not going to sell the home at a lost. I could expand the "garage" from the back end but it requires HOA approval/permits in which they will likely deny.

Ian F wrote:

Sine_Qua_Non wrote: I have 2 cars already in the garage (1 running project and 1 non running project) and 2 family cars in the driveway. I just bought another non running project that needs to be stored somewhere until I can fix it and get it running.

Sell something? Move? Buy smaller cars?

The cars are already small IMHO. I probably could the 3rd car in and that would likely piss the wife off since she wants the garage space back for her minivan. You should see what the old volvo looks like next to today's Dodge Challenger. Here's an example. Not my picture but you get the idea.

http://mkjtang.blogspot.com/2010_10_01_archive.html?m=0

Got any friend's with a large lot?

This thread just reminds me why I am never moving into a neighborhood with a HOA.

In reply to Sine_Qua_Non:

Understood. My ES looks huge next to the GT6 and Mini.

As far from driveable as my ES is, it'll be the last car I sell until there's absolutely no hope of me being able to restore it.

Most of my friends live in apartments.

93EXCivic wrote: This thread just reminds me why I am never moving into a neighborhood with a HOA.

Don't discount them altogether. I knew a guy who's HOA met 2-4 times a year. Usually beer was involved, and the only thing that they did was decide the company they used to mow the grass (you could opt out) and the company for the snow removal (again, you could opt out). Annual cost was something like $20 which paid for mowing the common grass areas and painting the sign. I think that it might have paid for the beer at the meetings as well. Obviously if you wanted your grass mowed and snow removed it would be more, but they were able to negotiate a really good price since they had about 15 lawns being done.

Just got back from a storage place. It was interesting. Even though it is a "secured" storage facility, they are not responsible for anything at all. Sound ominous doesn't it? So if someone came and stole my car off the outdoor or covered parking space. Not their problem. If someone came and cut the lock off the storage locker to steal the car. Not their problem. It's amazing that it's a business to begin with and that is for SPACE only. Makes me wonder if the insurance company would deny the claim for it being stolen because it was not in my garage or on my property.

All storage facilities disclaim responsibility for contents. You are responsible for insuring the contents. That is universal.

Those four posts lifts aren't very big, and many are under $2k. If your cars are small, it's a tight fit, but many times it can actually be done. Even with a lowly 8' ceiling. You might really want to measure a bit before writing it off. (I've no vested interest in these lifts, just seem them used to pack cars tightly before).

Might also want to explore the feasability of raising the garage ceiling inside. Hopeless if there is living space over it, but not so hopeless if it's empty truss space.

Looks like it's a bust. Been to four storage places so far and none allow you to do anything with the car on premise outside or even in a unit.

Comprehensive-only insurance on an unlicensed car is in the single-digit dollars per year, even with zero deductible. There's no reason your insurance wouldn't cover you if it was parked in a professionally operated self-storage place, but check before committing.

I would jump at the chance to store a vehicle in a garage for only $100/month...

Sine_Qua_Non wrote: Looks like it's a bust. Been to four storage places so far and none allow you to do anything with the car on premise outside or even in a unit.

eh... isn't that what your garage is for?

and the lot is for... "storage"

Also, as others noted, all have the disclaimer. Storage comprehensive is dirt cheap.

Found one that allows auto work to be done on site. Outside parking only, of course. $50 a month. My job is done. Thanks all.