My garage is running out of space....need more ideas.

Today I cleaned the garage, added a few more secondhand cabinets, and generally organized things. I also moved two spare engines out of there that were taking up space.

Basically, this garage has to be able to fit a smallish project car (either the e30 or the GT6, depending on what's happening, or the WRX in a pinch) in "my" bay. The wife "owns" the other bay and even after 10 years of marriage that appears to be non-negotiable

So, I'm quite certain that I'm almost at max capacity here......and have run out of ideas for stashing more tools, stuff, etc....I'm kind of a creature of habit, so I don't tend to easily think up "new" ideas that I haven't already tried, lol

So, look at the setup and tell me how I could do it better, or what I can add. And keep in mind that anything has to be on a GRM budget...e.g. "not much."

two notes: 1. I have a single bay garage out back that I use for winter GT6 storage, all the yard equipment, lumber, house-related stuff, etc..... It's a hassle to move anything heavy (engine hoist, press, welder) from there to the main garage, so I kind of have to keep all this stuff up in the house garage. 2. I can't physically expand the garage in any direction (including up). 3. I can' t get a new house and/or build any additional garage space elsewhere. 4. I don't plan on buying any new "big" things....I really just want better ways to store smaller stuff, organize parts, etc.

go!

You have a tire trailer don't you? Without knowing how/where you store it, I'll throw this one out there: Keep your tires stored on it.

Other idea that would probably blow your budget and also not allowed by the wife/zoning/whatever: Roll-up garage door. Then you could build that shelf in a better way.

mtn wrote: You have a tire trailer don't you? Without knowing how/where you store it, I'll throw this one out there: Keep your tires stored on it.

The rally tires are stored on it.....it's parked around the side of the backyard. The tires up there are the WRX's winter tires and a couple e30 spares. It's more empty now that I sold off the WRX's track tires and moved all the GT6 wheels around back

mtn wrote: Other idea that would probably blow your budget and also not allowed by the wife/zoning/whatever: Roll-up garage door. Then you could build that shelf in a better way.

I think you hit all the points on why that can't happen and are correct on all points, haha...

That is pretty cool though.

How about down.. can you expand down? Why can't you expand. It seems pretty much optimized. It really doesn't look like there is much in the way of space. that isn't doing anything. Is their any equipment you don't use enough that you could rent/store offsite. What about offsite storage (Rental). Sure it sucks but it seems like what you need. Can you expand the existing bonus garage. Can you build a low shed for the garden equipment opening up space in the extra garage? I'm guessing no on all this but...

Only suggestion within the current space would be convince the Wife to allow you to build a shelf over the hood and roof of the 4 runner. She probably will freak but it's about all you got.

If the zoning laws in your neighborhood allow it, I would consider a shed or a run down enclosed trailer from Craigslist. Aditionally, you could fill up the rest of the garage with parts and move the car outside with either a larger awning extending from the house or a "portable garage". You could also invest in a storage unit for your non-essentials but I could justify just about everything in there as essential. While you can't expand up, you can expand down, I say that only half jokingly. I couldn't help but notice how the 4Runner's spot was marked with with red tape. I also heard the $2013 classifieds has a few vacancies.

nocones wrote: How about down.. can you expand down? Why can't you expand. It seems pretty much optimized. It really doesn't look like there is much in the way of space. that isn't doing anything. Is their any equipment you don't use enough that you could rent/store offsite. What about offsite storage (Rental). Sure it sucks but it seems like what you need. Can you expand the existing bonus garage. Can you build a low shed for the garden equipment opening up space in the extra garage? I'm guessing no on all this but... Only suggestion within the current space would be convince the Wife to allow you to build a shelf over the hood and roof of the 4 runner. She probably will freak but it's about all you got.

Can't expand down...that's the slab. Bedrooms are above, family room is behind. Can't expand forward since it's the fascia of the house. Can't expand left or right because it's the rest of the house one way and alreaday at the zoning limit the other way.

Really I'm just thinking about small stuff/ideas. I don't need to move big industrial equipment in here, just looking for some creative ways to stash things, etc......

I have considered the shelf option over the hood of the 4runner, actually. Just haven't figured out a way to do it without an outside post, unless I run a steel I-beam all the way across the garage. But yeah, that may be the next step.

The bonus garage is a future plan, but it's a wood-floor on stilts, unfinished, no power, etc. Right now it's good for basic storage. In a few years I plan to pour a slab there, insulate/drywall, run power, etc. But until then I don't want to do too much work in it. And I really hate working on anything in it....it's against woods so there are tons of bugs, critters, no breeze in the summer, etc.

On a side note, this thread is only because I'm bored tonight and looking for new ideas to store/use/organize smaller things (e.g. like the baby bottles I use for little stuff). I know people have other ideas like that

Are all the containers full? Softside storage collapse to the smallest space.

Mmadness wrote: If the zoning laws in your neighborhood allow it, I would consider a shed or a run down enclosed trailer from Craigslist. Aditionally, you could fill up the rest of the garage with parts and move the car outside with either a larger awning extending from the house or a "portable garage". You could also invest in a storage unit for your non-essentials but I could justify just about everything in there as essential. While you can't expand up, you can expand down, I say that only half jokingly. I couldn't help but notice how the 4Runner's spot was marked with with red tape. I also heard the $2013 classifieds has a few vacancies.

This is northern va.....so I can't put anything "run down" in sight of the road, haha....no awnings or old trailers :)

Again, parts aren't the issue. I like being able to work on my cars in the garage, and have all my stuff there, which is why I'm looking for ideas. I think I've done a lot of creative things to make space, just looking for more of those creative ideas from others.

In the end, I "can" move anything I want to the back shed. That's not the issue....it's just inconvenient to not have stuff I need up where I need it. Most of my spare parts/engines/etc are already back there. The garage is just for tools and functional things at this point.

And yeah, the red line....to show my wife to GET CLOSER TO THE DAMN WALL since what you can't see in this pics is that there are also a strolled and several kid toys/bikes that sit "between the bays"......which invariably end up crammed up against whatever car I have in there on my side, haha.

TRoglodyte wrote: Are all the containers full? Softside storage collapse to the smallest space.

the silver one is all my welding gear and it's full. The blue one is my rallycross gear that usually is in the e30's trunk (but I'm doing work in there right now). The black one is e30 parts that I'm working on/using right now.

But I like the softside container idea. Any specific suggestions of ones that don't suck?

How about a four post moveable lift. You could store one car on top, perhaps the one from the back garage, freeing up that space and have the space below to work on other cars. And of course you would also have a lift to work on cars with. You could roll the whole contraption out in the drive way if you needed more room (temporarily) inside. Of course that would cost a fair bit of money and you would have to have ceiling clearance and a 220 line out there. Hey, you asked for ideas.

Oh just saw the GRM budget reference. Kinda leaves that out then.

irish44j wrote:

TRoglodyte wrote: Are all the containers full? Softside storage collapse to the smallest space.

the silver one is all my welding gear and it's full. The blue one is my rallycross gear that usually is in the e30's trunk (but I'm doing work in there right now). The black one is e30 parts that I'm working on/using right now. But I like the softside container idea. Any specific suggestions of ones that don't suck?

Surplus seabags are the best. If a sailor can pack enough for a 6 month cruise . Cruise the thrift shops and see what fits your needs specifically.One for welding gear, one for safety gear......etc.

irish44j wrote: Today I cleaned the garage, added a few more secondhand cabinets, and generally organized things. I also moved two spare engines out of there that were taking up space. Basically, this garage has to be able to fit a smallish project car (either the e30 or the GT6, depending on what's happening, or the WRX in a pinch) in "my" bay. The wife "owns" the other bay and even after 10 years of marriage that appears to be non-negotiable So, I'm quite certain that I'm almost at max capacity here......and have run out of ideas for stashing more tools, stuff, etc....I'm kind of a creature of habit, so I don't tend to easily think up "new" ideas that I haven't already tried, lol So, look at the setup and tell me how I could do it better, or what I can add. And keep in mind that anything has to be on a GRM budget...e.g. "not much." two notes: 1. I have a single bay garage out back that I use for winter GT6 storage, all the yard equipment, lumber, house-related stuff, etc..... It's a hassle to move anything heavy (engine hoist, press, welder) from there to the main garage, so I kind of have to keep all this stuff up in the house garage. 2. I can't physically expand the garage in any direction (including up). 3. I can' t get a new house and/or build any additional garage space elsewhere. 4. I don't plan on buying any new "big" things....I really just want better ways to store smaller stuff, organize parts, etc. go!

I see a very large black SUV taking up almost half of the garage. I suggest trading it for something smaller. Maybe a bicycle?

Feedyurhed wrote: How about a four post moveable lift. You could store one car on top, perhaps the one from the back garage, freeing up that space and have the space below to work on other cars. And of course you would also have a lift to work on cars with. You could roll the whole contraption out in the drive way if you needed more room (temporarily) inside. Of course that would cost a fair bit of money and you would have to have ceiling clearance and a 220 line out there. Hey, you asked for ideas.

believe me, I would love to. But it's only a 9-foot ceiling, and half of it is 2 feet lower when the garage door is open.

In the end, I would have loved to get a house with a bigger garage or more bays....but in this area a 3-bay house runs $800k+ so that wasn't an option unless I moved further out toward the exurbs.

I will note I'm not complaining.....just fishing for little ideas (not as grand as you guys are thinking, I think). I'm the only house in this neighborhood that has this......which was put in before the county put max "shed" sizes into effect about 20 years ago:

But it is a project for a couple years down the road for when I can afford to do it, and when I can make it more easily accessible (right now, I can only get the little GT6 back there....the other cars won't fit between the house and fence clearance.

mndsm wrote:

irish44j wrote: Today I cleaned the garage, added a few more secondhand cabinets, and generally organized things. I also moved two spare engines out of there that were taking up space. Basically, this garage has to be able to fit a smallish project car (either the e30 or the GT6, depending on what's happening, or the WRX in a pinch) in "my" bay. The wife "owns" the other bay and even after 10 years of marriage that appears to be non-negotiable So, I'm quite certain that I'm almost at max capacity here......and have run out of ideas for stashing more tools, stuff, etc....I'm kind of a creature of habit, so I don't tend to easily think up "new" ideas that I haven't already tried, lol So, look at the setup and tell me how I could do it better, or what I can add. And keep in mind that anything has to be on a GRM budget...e.g. "not much." two notes: 1. I have a single bay garage out back that I use for winter GT6 storage, all the yard equipment, lumber, house-related stuff, etc..... It's a hassle to move anything heavy (engine hoist, press, welder) from there to the main garage, so I kind of have to keep all this stuff up in the house garage. 2. I can't physically expand the garage in any direction (including up). 3. I can' t get a new house and/or build any additional garage space elsewhere. 4. I don't plan on buying any new "big" things....I really just want better ways to store smaller stuff, organize parts, etc. go!

I see a very large black SUV taking up almost half of the garage. I suggest trading it for something smaller. Maybe a bicycle?

I have 2 kids and a dog. The 4Runner isn't nearly big enough, and the wife will not park outside....it was one of the deals we made when we bought this house.

Actually, the 4Runner is surprisingly compact in exterior dimensions...it's only like 6" longer than the Mazda3 that used to park there, and a tad wider. Most of its bulk is in height.

Yeah, a buddy of mine just traded his speed3 for a 4runner- nice trucks. I was surprised at how "un-lengthy" it was.

I like the engine hoists parking spot.

You could build some shallow storage bins and install them on the underside of that black shelf unit by the garage door, similar to this: http://pinterest.com/pin/6966574394501108/

It looks like you could fit more/better shelves next to your press to consolidate your cleaning supplies.

You might be able to add a fairly big shelf above your tall gray cabinet. One end would attach to the existing black shelf above, and the other end could be suspended from the ceiling.

next to the press those are little shelves I added, they're for my daughter to put her little stuff on, and they're very small. I used to have larger shelves where the press is, but they stuck out and I couldn't get around them when there was a car parked on that side, so they had to do.

All my cleaning supplies are in the black cabinets to the left of the garage door, which I just added.

not follwoing on the tall gray cabinet....you mean one that extends over the where the car is? I thought about a bigger "loft" over the inside half of the garage, but then it blocks all my ceiling lights.

AndreGT6 wrote: I like the engine hoists parking spot.

thanks, that's been adjusted a few times. I keep wanting to move it to the back shed since I don't use it much, but it's so damn heavy and would have to drag it over lousy terrain up a hill to get it there. I did that last year and said "never again" :)

mndsm wrote: Yeah, a buddy of mine just traded his speed3 for a 4runner- nice trucks. I was surprised at how "un-lengthy" it was.

unfortunately, on the inside it's not much more spacious than a speed3. When we go anyplace for the week with the kids, we put a cargo box on top as well. It's really not a big truck, but I wanted something capable of good off-road/beach performance and towing and not a "crossover"....and I love the way they look and are built with Toyota quality (zero issues, not one, in 5 years).

Looks like a darn efficient garage as-is. I have one possible idea though..

How far down are your garage door rails hanging - below the 9' ceiling? With a low overhead kit, or possibly just a normal setup, you can possibly modify the track placement (add more vertical rail) so the door "stores" higher (closer to the ceiling).

"Low Overhead" track kit

This may only relocate your current shelves.

^^ interesting point. I may have to do some investigating.