Cheap temporaryworkspace ideas for kid in college?

[danielelfert]

Tl;Dr: I need a cheap but sturdy ground material for the cheapest garage style workspace possible. Any ideas are welcome.

Hey fellas,

I have a 1984 K10 I bought a little over a year ago, and I've been putting lots of time and effort into getting it running and driving, but I've decided that I want to do a full teardown to the frame and go through the truck entirely, pretty much a frame off resoration.

Everything I've done to it so far has been in the backyard in the dirt, but I feel like I at least need an overhead enclosure if I want to tear it all down.

What I'm thinking so far is to basically make some sort of greenhouse design but with tarps instead for the roof. Electrical conduit can be had very cheap, and we built a big batting cage a long time ago with this stuff and it held together pretty good!

Where I come to a wall is the ground. I need some sort of really cheap sturdy ground I can drive on without it getting muddy or sloppy.

We were throwing the idea of a carport with custom sides around, but the concrete slab is out of my budget.

I just need something temporary that I can work on my truck in until it's done.

Any ideas out there?

Thanks!

-Daniel

[DPowers]

What does the area look like where you want to put it? How is the drainage in that area?

[drfloyd]

Lay some treated plywood and cover it with Blue Diamond Vinyl Flooring. It comes in rolls I think 4 feet wide. I can't for the life of me remember what they call that stuff but we use it as a protective floor when we do work in powewr plants on the turbine floors.

[danielelfert]

Originally Posted by DPowers

What does the area look like where you want to put it? How is the drainage in that area?

I live in Louisiana so it's pretty often kinda soft from water. I was thinking about making a huge grid out of treated 4x4s, and laying plywood on top.
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[danielelfert]

Originally Posted by drfloyd

Lay some treated plywood and cover it with Blue Diamond Vinyl Flooring. It comes in rolls I think 4 feet wide. I can't for the life of me remember what they call that stuff but we use it as a protective floor when we do work in powewr plants on the turbine floors.

I'll look into that, thanks!

[Clyde65]

Try a portable garage from harbor freight.

[toolboxchev]

Look for used ones like this on Craigslist. Some people just throw em away!

https://images.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=...helter.jpg&f=1

[blazer2007]

You could use old pallets for the floor and cover with plywood,they give the pallets away free here. For the walls and roof ,I've seen kits that have all the metal corners etc. and you just use the length of 2x4's that you want and you can take it apart when you move.

[danielelfert]

I appreciate the feedback. I've figured out a method I might go with.

I'll use 3/4" Steel conduit for the structure, and two 20x25' tarps for the roof. I'll use 36 pallets with OSB board on top for the floor.

Add some harbor freight ground anchors for stability.

This will give me a 16' x 25' garage with a floor for about $350 or less in materials!

[blazer2007]

Originally Posted by danielelfert

I appreciate the feedback. I've figured out a method I might go with.

I'll use 3/4" Steel conduit for the structure, and two 20x25' tarps for the roof. I'll use 36 pallets with OSB board on top for the floor.

Add some harbor freight ground anchors for stability.

This will give me a 16' x 25' garage with a floor for about $350 or less in materials!

Post a pic when you have it up,I,m always looking for cheap easy up shed ideas

[danielelfert]

Originally Posted by blazer2007

Post a pic when you have it up,I,m always looking for cheap easy up shed ideas

For sure! It may be a few months before I get it up but I'll do that. Also, I may not be able to use OSB because my dad said it wouldn't last to moisture. We'll figure it out.

[New_70'C10]

I've seen them make that OSB over at CalTex in Nacogdoches, TX and that stuff should hold up just fine for what you want to use it for. If you've got it inside your "garage" and not in direct contact with water it should hold up just fine for your temporary needs. My concern would be if your pallets are going to be able to hold the weight at all four corners without some type of additional support.

[danielelfert]

Originally Posted by New_70'C10

I've seen them make that OSB over at CalTex in Nacogdoches, TX and that stuff should hold up just fine for what you want to use it for. If you've got it inside your "garage" and not in direct contact with water it should hold up just fine for your temporary needs. My concern would be if your pallets are going to be able to hold the weight at all four corners without some type of additional support.

My thoughts on that are basically that each pallet, (average pallet) can hold a total of like 2,000 pounds across the whole surface. If wood is layed on top, it'll help weight distribution among the pallet, and the pallet cross pieces will help keep the osb or plywood together.

For if I use jack stands or something, I'll be using a steel plate big enough to distribute the weight evenly to put the jack or Jack stand on.

[my67c20]

If your worried about moisture soaking into the wood, check around at a few paint stores and see if they have any paint that was returned, wrong color, etc. Usually you can get that stuff for cheap. This way if you paint the OSB you can clean up any spills and further prevent failure. Although if it was me, in the areas that the vehicle will sit, i would use plywood. Will provide better support, and you would only need 2 foot wide strips.

[_Ogre]

buy a truck load of gravel, spread it out and work on it
i have lived in snow country all my life, never had a garage until i owned a home
granted that happened when i was 24, but i worked in snow banks until then
your in louisiana , you need to toughen the f' up

[danielelfert]

Originally Posted by _Ogre

buy a truck load of gravel, spread it out and work on it
i have lived in snow country all my life, never had a garage until i owned a home
granted that happened when i was 24, but i worked in snow banks until then
your in louisiana , you need to toughen the f' up

Sorry if I'm tired of working under my truck in mud every time I have to do something lol. Also I need something for the rain on the truck itself while working on it

[danielelfert]

Originally Posted by my67c20

If your worried about moisture soaking into the wood, check around at a few paint stores and see if they have any paint that was returned, wrong color, etc. Usually you can get that stuff for cheap. This way if you paint the OSB you can clean up any spills and further prevent failure. Although if it was me, in the areas that the vehicle will sit, i would use plywood. Will provide better support, and you would only need 2 foot wide strips.

Good idea. Thanks!