Vehicle Jenga. Any Storage Thoughts?

"BoulderZ" (BoulderZ) 06/28/2018 at 01:06 • Filed to: None

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Any thoughts on non-home-based classic car storage? Are the LifeStorage and similar outfits any good, or good values? Better to go with one of the dedicated classic car facilities around most cities?

Here’s the situation: After selling the turbo-EFI-converted truck,

I replaced it with a new VW AllTrack (I love it).

I still have my fun, restomodded ‘78 Datsun 280Z:

And we still have the ‘04 Jetta 1.8T (think it may finally have 70,000 miles). We have a small one-car garage, where the Z lives . The AllTrack currently has the single driveway spot. The Jetta has one of probably two spots in front of our house. The other spot is often occupied by the idiot renters across the street who are way over occupancy limits with their various couch surfers, live-in whoevers, etc . So, we’re about maxed out on parking.

Now comes the wrinkle. I’m about to ship my brother’s ‘78 280Z here to start rebuilding it. The garage spot would make the best landing place for me to start work on it. However, my Z’s collector insurance is very clear that it requires enclosed, secure, private parking. So, it can’t just go in the driveway even if I were dumb enough to do that with our brutal sun, snow, and hail. And if I start work on my brother’s Z in the driveway, which is also a bad idea for many of the same reasons , it will also block any practical use of my Z. So, I’m thinking I need to store my Z somewhere off site while I rebuild the other Z.

While I realize the best solution is to keep this place as a rental and buy something with at least a two car garage, that’s just not going to happen in any realistic timeframe. So, what luck have you had with off-site storage? Any other ideas for a solution?

I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker > BoulderZ 06/28/2018 at 07:53

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Could do one of these for a temporary solution. 

LOREM IPSUM > BoulderZ 06/28/2018 at 09:14

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Get a lift you can drive under, and stack 'e m yourself!

loki03xlh > I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker 06/28/2018 at 09:18

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I don’t think that would satisfy his insurance requirements.

Mercedes Streeter > BoulderZ 06/28/2018 at 09:45

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I stored my 2016 and 2005 convertible smarts in a storage unit alongside two motorcycles.

My two words if advice is to get a good price and make sure there’s some kind of seal between your unit and the outside world. My unit had a nice and heavy door, but you can see a ton of light through where the brick wall met the roof. They didn’t even try to seal the roof. That means when the humidity was very high or it was raining, my cars would get condensation on them. No big deal to me, but potential  consideration for you. I can’t imagine if someone were storing something not designed to get wet, ugh.

BoulderZ > I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker 06/29/2018 at 00:15

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While I do like that, our routine high winds and hail kill those off quickly here; and, as loki03xlh mentioned, the collector insurance issuer would be able to rightfully deny any claim. I’m still unsure if I can add a carport in front of the garage without unreasonably impinging on setbacks. They seem to be very reasonable regs, but they’re exceptionally poorly written for current interpretation  (prob not revised in over 50 years).

BoulderZ > Mercedes Streeter 06/29/2018 at 00:17

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Great info, as always, Miss Mercedes, and not something I’d have thought of. I’m looking at those sorts of storage units now, and will be sure to keep an eye out. I think I’m going to have to do this until I either get an off-site shop or finally admit we have to keep this as a rental and buy a new place, or do a scrape and rebuild. Both sound like expensive work, but I think we’re going to be forced in to a decision soon.

BoulderZ > LOREM IPSUM 06/29/2018 at 00:20

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I actually looked at doing that, and love the idea, but it means re-framing the roof, committing to a pop-top reno (or not), or moving and becoming a landlord, and deciding about solar (garage is on the south end, of course...). Plus the issues of blocking access (e.g.  active restoration under the good Z when I want to drive it is a big pain). Once they’re both done, though... in whatever property... hmmmm.