Using a car canopy/cover in Calgary

[tvp2003]

My parents don't have a garage so I was contemplating buying them a car canopy for their two car port (in the back yard) this winter. Crappy Tire has a sale on a double for $299 -- anyone ever use something like this? Will it last more than one Calgary winter before collapsing (or blowing away?!?)

Link: http://www.canadiantire.ca/AST/brows....jsp?locale=en

Apparently it's a 2" steel tube frame, which seems pretty sturdy (assuming it's been put together properly and staked down). However, I can easily see the tarp cracking and/or wearing out after a couple of years (like my BBQ cover).

[Rathji]

My wife's grandpa has one of these and has for (at least) 5 years. I don't know how much use it gets as far as in and out traffic, but it's not a daily use thing for sure. Don't seem any worse for wear other than obvious fading. It is a different model than the one you have linked, it has walls front and back and is built for only one car.

[Sliver]

The frames on the Canadian Tire/Princess Auto/Costco/etc. shelters can be okay, but the covers are made from very poor quality material and will only last a couple of years.

The other problem with the style you've linked to is how the top stops well above the ground. The higher-end models have a dirt skirt (the fabric extends 12" beyond the height of the walls). This allows you to anchor the frame (like you'd do with the Canadian Tire one you linked), but to also weight the fabric around the outside which also helps anchor the shelter as a whole.

Remember, you get what you pay for.

Check out these shelters that I sell and if there are any you like I can give you a 10% CP discount. We won't come close to that price you've found, but the quality is much better and all of the components are individually replaceable, unlike the Canadian Tires ones.

[afc wimbledon]

My experience was a heavy snow kills them (particularly if followed by a bit of rain) unless you are very diligent clearing it off.

[bizaro86]

I bought one of these from Princess Auto when I lived in Edmonton. Lasted 1 year in good condition, first big snowfall the next year and it was wrecked.

[tvp2003]

Thanks. I'm guessing this structure will be pretty big once it's built, so I don't like the idea of my dad having to get on a ladder to brush the snow off in the middle of winter.

Originally Posted by Sliver

The frames on the Canadian Tire/Princess Auto/Costco/etc. shelters can be okay, but the covers are made from very poor quality material and will only last a couple of years.

The other problem with the style you've linked to is how the top stops well above the ground. The higher-end models have a dirt skirt (the fabric extends 12" beyond the height of the walls). This allows you to anchor the frame (like you'd do with the Canadian Tire one you linked), but to also weight the fabric around the outside which also helps anchor the shelter as a whole.

Remember, you get what you pay for.

Check out these shelters that I sell and if there are any you like I can give you a 10% CP discount. We won't come close to that price you've found, but the quality is much better and all of the components are individually replaceable, unlike the Canadian Tires ones.

Geez, what are the odds there is someone on CP that actually sells these things The good thing is that my parents car port is fenced off, so by securing the poles onto the fence, it should add some stability to the frame as opposed to it being a free-standing structure.

I'm not under any sort of delusion that for 300 bucks this thing will last 10 or even 5 years -- I guess I'd like to know whether it'll last at least 2 years or whether I'm simply throwing money away when this thing folds like a cheap suit or wears out after one Calgary winter

[tvp2003]

Originally Posted by bizaro86

I bought one of these from Princess Auto when I lived in Edmonton. Lasted 1 year in good condition, first big snowfall the next year and it was wrecked.

Alright -- good to know. Did you take it down during the summer? I was thinking the sun might damaage it as much as the winter would, although the thought of building and re-building this thing doesn't really appeal to me either

[bizaro86]

Originally Posted by tvp2003

Alright -- good to know. Did you take it down during the summer? I was thinking the sun might damaage it as much as the winter would, although the thought of building and re-building this thing doesn't really appeal to me either

I didn't take it down in the summer, which might have helped. I think having a fixed fence or carport to attach to would help quite a bit, as it blew over in heavy winds a couple of times.

[Sliver]

Originally Posted by tvp2003

Thanks. I'm guessing this structure will be pretty big once it's built, so I don't like the idea of my dad having to get on a ladder to brush the snow off in the middle of winter.



Geez, what are the odds there is someone on CP that actually sells these things The good thing is that my parents car port is fenced off, so by securing the poles onto the fence, it should add some stability to the frame as opposed to it being a free-standing structure.

I'm not under any sort of delusion that for 300 bucks this thing will last 10 or even 5 years -- I guess I'd like to know whether it'll last at least 2 years or whether I'm simply throwing money away when this thing folds like a cheap suit or wears out after one Calgary winter

If you buy it and the top wears out I can always make a custom replacement top out of some killer material for you, too.

I talk to a lot of people who buy these and I think you will get two years out of it.

[Sliver]

Originally Posted by afc wimbledon

My experience was a heavy snow kills them (particularly if followed by a bit of rain) unless you are very diligent clearing it off.

Originally Posted by bizaro86

I bought one of these from Princess Auto when I lived in Edmonton. Lasted 1 year in good condition, first big snowfall the next year and it was wrecked.

At the $100 to $300 price point they are garbage. When you spend a bit more they are fantastic, warrantied and last a long time. For example, we carry two different models that are 20' long by 11' wide in the $549 - $599 range and you will get 7-10 years (or more) out of them no problem.

On a good unit you will have to brush the snow off exactly never. I have a display unit set up on Barlow Trail on the boulevard where it is basically a wind tunnel and have never had a problem.

[afc wimbledon]

Originally Posted by Sliver

At the $100 to $300 price point they are garbage. When you spend a bit more they are fantastic, warrantied and last a long time. For example, we carry two different models that are 20' long by 11' wide in the $549 - $599 range and you will get 7-10 years (or more) out of them no problem.

On a good unit you will have to brush the snow off exactly never. I have a display unit set up on Barlow Trail on the boulevard where it is basically a wind tunnel and have never had a problem.

The snow here (Vancouver) is generally wet, and then if you get some freezing rain after it just soaks up the water and becomes heavy as hell, the tarp was fine, it was the aluminum tubing that buckled and gave out under the weight.

[Sliver]

Originally Posted by afc wimbledon

The snow here (Vancouver) is generally wet, and then if you get some freezing rain after it just soaks up the water and becomes heavy as hell, the tarp was fine, it was the aluminum tubing that buckled and gave out under the weight.

Fair enough...I'm sure they're not indestructible but I still think the better quality ones can handle most weather including snow loads - the crappy ones sometimes don't have a very steep pitch on the roof.