First, make sure the shelter itself meets your – and your vehicle’s – needs. Consider the weather of your location. Do you experience large amounts of snow or rain in winter? Make sure, then, that the structure is strong enough to hold up to it. At the same time, the portable garage or carport should provide all-around protection against water, moisture, and UV rays, and an enclosed shelter is often ideal in this respect. However, if you presently use a valance carport or portable garage for shelter, modify it with appropriate side walls and front and rear panels.

If, on the other hand, you haven’t even purchased a carport or portable garage, find one that not only meets your physical needs but is also large enough for the vehicle and meets local ordinances. Before even looking at carports and portable garages, measure your vehicle – its width, length, and height. Add any appendages, such as a vent on an RV, into the dimensions as well.

At the same time, many areas have ordinances for portable structures, and they may restrict where you can add your carport or portable garage and how large it can be. Research these before looking at carports and portable garages, as they may end up posing limitations on the type of shelter you can buy. Otherwise, a carport or portable garage that violates these ordinances or building codes may need to be taken down or modified, and your boat or RV won’t be adequately protected as a result.

Portable garages are an affordable option for storing either of these seasonal vehicles. The shelter should have dimensions of the vehicle – measure the vehicle before you purchase anything – and should be installed in concrete into the ground. These shelters consist of a galvanized steel frame and an enclosed polyethylene canopy. To protect the vehicle inside, the canopy has been treated to be UV resistant, waterproof, and mold, mildew, and rot resistant. The strength of the frame, additionally, keeps the shelter from collapsing from wind or snow.

After the structure has been installed fully, the vehicle can go inside. For the six or more months the vehicle is in storage, however, it should be checked on occasion for mildew, mold, or dry rot build up – not likely, but it can happen – or animals living inside the shelter.

Tarps are another option for storing a vehicle. Many manufacturers carry tarps large enough to cover seasonal vehicles. Like purchasing a canopy, you should also know the dimensions of the vehicle before you buy. Tarps are draped around the vehicle and secured at the bottom by bungee cords or tie-downs.

In all cases, a tarp or a canopy protects the vehicle from exposure to water and UV rays, both of which can damage the surface of the vehicle. Water, additionally, builds up and attracts mildew and rot. As an option for storing, a canopy or a tarp gives protection and breathability to a boat or RV.

For permanent outdoor canopies, what is the difference between a portable garage and an RV or boat shelter? Typically, it’s the size and the selection on Canopy Hut’s new product pages reflects this. The shelters on the boat canopy page can cover at least one boat, while the RV shelters are all long canopy structures with walls designed to cover at least one RV. The larger RV shelters are both wide and long to hold two RVs. In addition, other permanent outdoor shelters Canopy Hut now carries include car canopies, which are enclosed or open carports for one or more cars to fit under in all kinds of weather. All of these permanent outdoor canopies are by Shelterlogic.

The other new products now offered by Canopy Hut are temporary shelters that can be set up outdoors with ease. These shelters are called party tents, pop-up canopies, or wedding tents depending on the size – wedding tents are typically the largest of this kind – and Canopy Hut now has trade show canopies. If you’re planning on attending a trade show outdoors with many items to protect, one of these canopy structures can be folded up in your car and can be set up quickly once at the trade show. As this canopy is only for temporary use, it is designed to be taken out, put up, and transported with ease.

Shrink wrapping a boat is similar to shrink wrapping for any other product, but the primary downside of shrink wrapping a boat is its lack of breathability. The typical material is a plastic, flame-retardant UVI (UV inhibitor) which, when used with heat shrinking or welding methods, seals in moisture. Although the material is somewhat better than not protecting a boat, the sealed moisture will lead to mildew and dry rot. In addition, a heat shrinking package for a boat costs about $200 for storage for one year.

For the most economical option, tarping a boat with a heavy-duty poly tarp is your best bet. Although the tarp will typically last one winter, its durability to the elements will protect your boat. Polyethylene, as a material, is a breathable material will keep out moisture but, due to a high dernier of fabric weave, the polyethylene will also keep out moisture. In addition, a heavy-duty poly tarp is often UV treated and will protect the paint from fading and surface material from cracking.

A long term option for protecting a boat is a portable garage. A portable garage can store other vehicles during the year but the structure is breathable and, like a tarp, is UV treated, as well as anti-fungal treated, and will keep out water and UV rays and will allow for air circulation.