brachunky
Scotland
Posts: 1,339 
Club RR Member Number: 72
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Dec 19, 2020 15:04:14 GMT
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Next year I move to live in a rural location which has a fair bit of space. I will be renting from a family member so the place is not mine to build a proper garage/ workshop at least not in the short term. One plus is that I would be able to secure a cheap older static caravan and my mind has been scheming on how I could convert one to use as a garage by adapting one end to fit a garage door of some sorts! The concern I have is floor strength as my truck weighs as standard, a tad over 1800 kg. I don't see anything on the net about one being done but that don't mean it can't be!
Stupid idea or workable?
Something like this!
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Dec 19, 2020 15:53:22 GMT
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A couple of things I would say are
The floor construction on them is only a plywood and depending on its age the chances are by now the floor is already suffering from damp so it may support a vehicle but I would doubt you could jack one up on it
Secondly if your going to use the caravan as it is i.e. Gut it out and fit a garage door on one end you still have the issue of its floor height from the ground level so you would need a fairly long ramp to get in there
As you can't build anything solid i would be more tempted to get some good lock together flooring and a marquee type garage tent
Or even a wooden garage as it's not a fixed structure so it could be moved at a latter date
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1992 240 Volvo T8
1955 Cadillac
1994 BMW E34 M5 (now sold )
1999 BMW E36 sport touring x2
1967 Hillman imp Californian "rally spec"
1971 VW bay window (work in progress)
1999 Mazda 323F
1987 Jaguar XJ12
All current
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Dec 19, 2020 18:00:17 GMT
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No, get a marque or a container, it will be cheaper than transporting a static anyway.
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Dec 19, 2020 19:36:48 GMT
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If you do go for it I think you’d need to take it off the floor and fix the walls to the ground and then fit a garage door at one end. Hopefully there’s a concrete base or tarmac or slabs on the site to use as a solid ground. I’ve got a free garage door and motor etc up the A5 near Cannock if it helps.  But as above I think a marquee might be easiest solution. |
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Badger
Part of things
Posts: 250
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Dec 19, 2020 20:18:51 GMT
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For the reasons above I wouldn't go down that route - ISO containers on the other hand may be a good idea.
Alternatively could you put get one of those canopies that attach to the garage? Keep the car under that and use the caravan for tool storage/workbench etc?
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Dec 19, 2020 21:59:36 GMT
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A couple of containers with a canopy between could also be a good option. This sort of thing, shelterstation.co.nz/ . I'm sure similar will be available in the UK. |
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brachunky
Scotland
Posts: 1,339
Club RR Member Number: 72
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Dec 20, 2020 10:27:09 GMT
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Thanks lads for all the opinions and alternatives. I honestly thought they had a steel "chassis" of sort on which extra beams/braces could be welded where the car would stand.The double container idea with a roof in between is a good idea but as the property is about 300 yds from the sea, I don't fancy chasing wind destroyed marques etc around  Whatever I do, not being my land, I really need a budget plan! |
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Dec 20, 2020 15:08:07 GMT
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Why not put up a sectional concrete garage? They don't (to the best of my knowledge) require planning permission and there's usually someone wanting to sell one on Gumtree or Faceache for not much money.
We did this at my friend's old house about 20 years ago - he had a fully operational garage up and running for about £100, although we did have to build a roof and a door for it. I think it took us about a day to build the outer walls, and about the same to sort the roof. The garage is still there now (although he moved 15 years ago!).
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Dec 20, 2020 21:35:26 GMT
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The chassis on them are pretty curse word, and the floor will be pants. If you were dead set on doing it, remove the 'chassis' and lay the bottom of the caravan on a concrete/paving slab base. Quite alot of caravan chassis are like this.  |
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1973 MK1 2600 Capri - Located in Texas
1976 3.0S Capri - X-Pack long term Project
1978 2.0S Capri
1984 Transit County MK2 4x4 LWB 2.5DI
1985 2.8i Special Capri (v8 5.0L)
1986 2.8i Special Capri
1987 280 Turbo Technics Capri
1993 1.8TD P100 - Beater, parts collector
2008 BMW 320i Touring - Daily
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Dec 21, 2020 14:11:44 GMT
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The couple we've had of a similar age had a logitudinal steel beam made out of angle iron, a steel lateral at each end then timber laterals of roughly 3×2 every 18" or so with a thim ply or chipboard floor.
The timber laterals also held the sides up.
I guess you could rip the flooring up and add a new stronger floor then support the longitudinals with concrete blocks or similar, but by the time you have done all of that you could probably lay some slabs and buy a cheap flat packed timber garage for much the same money.
A Second thought, lay some slabs, cut the floor out of the caravan a drop it over them. Or build some simple stud walls to hold the sides up and pull the chassis and floor out.
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Dec 21, 2020 14:37:23 GMT
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If you do go down the marquee route, don't be fooled by the £50 eBay jobbies that say 'heavy duty' on them. They're heavy duty compared to a wet cardboard box, but not compared to much else.
Spend a little more and get something with proper poles and a tarp that won't pull out of the securing rings when you sneeze too loudly inside.
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brachunky
Scotland
Posts: 1,339
Club RR Member Number: 72
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Dec 21, 2020 16:54:07 GMT
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If you do go down the marquee route, don't be fooled by the £50 eBay jobbies that say 'heavy duty' on them. They're heavy duty compared to a wet cardboard box, but not compared to much else. Spend a little more and get something with proper poles and a tarp that won't pull out of the securing rings when you sneeze too loudly inside. You did make me laugh with your opinion on them! |
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Dec 22, 2020 19:12:46 GMT
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I would cut the floor out and lay a concrete slab under the caravan so it looks like a caravan for planning purposes but really its a shed
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It will come in handy even if you never use it
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skinnylew
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 5,715
Club RR Member Number: 11
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Dec 24, 2020 13:36:10 GMT
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whilst an old one will be steel framed it will be old, weakened and generally the floor will be soft and bouncy.
As said the amount of reinforcement work require make it a no go, however a good workshop or storage idea is great. Then tack a temporary wooden lean too on the side and you have what you need lol
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brachunky
Scotland
Posts: 1,339
Club RR Member Number: 72
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Dec 26, 2020 12:30:29 GMT
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whilst an old one will be steel framed it will be old, weakened and generally the floor will be soft and bouncy. As said the amount of reinforcement work require make it a no go, however a good workshop or storage idea is great. Then tack a temporary wooden lean too on the side and you have what you need lol I think you are right, there may still be value as a good size workshop and with a bit of heating it could be a nice place to tinker! I'm going to have a rethink anyhow as tbh, I do need a place where I can park the truck nice and dry, and do my thing during the dark months in relative comfort. |
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Dec 26, 2020 13:00:30 GMT
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These tents from machine mart arn't bad. Had mine for 5 years now. The sheet has worn through in places where it has been in contact with the poles. It has with stood a few gales. I did take the precaution of bracing the ends diagonally with ratchet straps which firms the structure up considerably.  |
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1954 Land Rover 107 Station Wagon
1955 Land Rover 86 Utility
1956 Land Rover 107 Pick Up
1986 2CV
1947 Ransomes Crawler Tractor
2001 C15 Citroen Van
2017 VW crafter
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bazzateer
Posted a lot
Imping along sans Vogue
Posts: 3,653
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Dec 26, 2020 19:30:29 GMT
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These tents from machine mart arn't bad. Had mine for 5 years now. The sheet has worn through in places where it has been in contact with the poles. It has with stood a few gales. I did take the precaution of bracing the ends diagonally with ratchet straps which firms the structure up considerably. Maybe pipe lagging on the poles to delay the fabric wearing? |
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1968 Singer Chamois Sport
1972 Sunbeam Imp Sport
1976 Datsun 260Z 2+2
1998 Peugeot Boxer Pilote motorhome
2003 Rover 75 1.8 Club SE (daily)
2006 MG ZT 190+ (another daily)
2007 BMW 530d Touring M Sport (tow car)
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Dec 28, 2020 16:39:01 GMT
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Or if your budget can stretch to it you can get a steel framed kit building for circa £5k
You would need to put a concrete base down then bolt the steel frame to it.
Completely reversible
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brachunky
Scotland
Posts: 1,339
Club RR Member Number: 72
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Dec 28, 2020 20:11:27 GMT
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Or if your budget can stretch to it you can get a steel framed kit building for circa £5k You would need to put a concrete base down then bolt the steel frame to it. Completely reversible This is certainly an option and one to consider.Good call! |
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Dec 29, 2020 11:22:34 GMT
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Maybe have the conversation with your relative about what they will/ won't be happy with you doing before hand?
You really don't want to be upsetting them
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Whatever I do, not being my land, I really need a budget plan!
Ax GTi Turbo
