Tips On Small Garage as Workspace
Posted by djzero1984@reddit | projectcar | View on Reddit | 31 comments
I'm thinking about getting a project car but my garage is petite. Car I'm looking at is 6" longer, 3" wider than the ILX modeling here. Was thinking about a pegboard on that bumpout near front passenger side, maybe squeezing a skinny workbench onto the back wall, some shelving overhead. Any other tips for tool/part storage when working in confined spaces?
Double-hokuto@reddit
About 1 million times better than my situation š„². I envy your tiny garage.
I think parts storage would be my worry. I use the 120qt sterilite containers for that in my situation, and stack them in a closet.
masterventris@reddit
If you are planning on filling this with tools then you will want to consider upping the security of that door, and maybe the window.
Sucks you have to worry about this sort of thing, but thieves love tools and a single pane window on a flimsy door is easy pickings.
CiforDayZServer@reddit
Do Yoga... I turbo charged my civic in my condo garage, you have to squeeze between the tool boxes/car/storage just to have 1-2ft of space lol.
newcarguy2019@reddit
Tool and parts for just the car or overall household? Just car stuff doesn't have to take up much space. I have a 2 car garage but did everything within 1-car space. Swapping transmission, pulling rearend, etc. All my tools fit in a plastic tote on a shelf and the jack and stands take up the only floor space. I didn't need a workbench or pegboard.
Juanzilla17@reddit
You have more garage space than I do. Iām jealous.
chiefmatemikey@reddit
Same Iām incredibly jealous, I can barely stand next to the wide side of the car ( a tiny Miata that is practically the only thing that would fit) much less take off a wheel like this guy could!
No-Guey@reddit
What about a storage shed outside that door to keep toolbox and stuff. I did all my work on the driveway and store stuff in my one car garage. I live in Southern ca though so weather isn't an issue.
Beneficial_Duck_1622@reddit
This is the secret. I go for a policy that nothing but the car is allowed to live on the floor. Makes the space dramatically more flexible for various kinds of projects.
Plastic-Kiwi-1366@reddit
You need to be able to move side to side. Make your workbench 18ā or so deep and maybe 5 or 6 feet wide so you can move it from one side to another. Ā Shelving shallow and up high.Ā
Jakomako@reddit
If you want inspiration for what can be done in a small space, check out Mad4Motors on YouTube.
chuck-u-farley-@reddit
Upward storage as seen here. I have a decent size garage but still space is at an absolute premium. This setup only sticks out 15 inches.
SnowboardingEgg@reddit
What do you have on the floor under the wheels? Rubber mat over concrete? Just curious lol but beautiful setup!
chuck-u-farley-@reddit
Thanks! Yes they are simply rubber mat pieces so the coating doesnāt lift on the floor from the tires. Hot tires are brutal on any coating so I didnāt even want to mess with it.
Aaron707@reddit
Awesome Oldsmobile.š
Big-Energy-3363@reddit
Shelving up high all around!!
Tobias---Funke@reddit
Strip Lights on the wall sides helps hugely.
Tobias---Funke@reddit
Itās bigger than mine!
Super_Burrito777@reddit
You have plenty of space in there
David80HF@reddit
You're on the right track with the pegboard and overhead shelving. I'd add a foldable workbench that you can fold down from the back wall when needed. Magnetic tool strips are great for easy access without taking up much space. Also, consider LED strip lights under shelves for better visibility without bulky fixtures. Rolling tool carts can be a lifesaverātuck them away when you're not using them. For the infrequent stuff, utilize the ceiling with hooks or mounted storage. Worked wonders for my 993 project in a tight space.
thatslunchpeople@reddit
Good comments here. With a single bay the space on the sides is precious. I chose to have no shelving where the wheel wells normally are. Try one brake or suspension task and you'll see why. Agree with thinking of all the space, the height of the walls, and those shelves that hang from the ceiling. Also agree with creating secondary storage for tools / parts you're not using on that job....a shed, extra bedroom, whatever. Standardize your storage containers to maximize space. If you get into a big job all the involved parts going on and coming off need a place to stage. Plan ahead. Also lights. A small space is difficult to light well so you can see all the nooks and crannies. I have two strings of overhead 24" lights and a bunch of little ones I can position for the task.
I deal with Summer heat and I have a portable A/C unit. In the past I have put the car half way in the garage and staple gunned a tarp around the garage door frame, covering the outside of the car to the ground. The A/C kept in under 80 degrees inside. Be careful if you use a heater around combustibles.
thatslunchpeople@reddit
Oh and the wheel dollies are 100% a good idea. Just get the car inside and you can slide it to one side or the other, whatever helps.
confusedtophers@reddit
I built my last garage shop with all rollaways. Everything became modular and I could Tetris myself so many configurations. If I do it again, Iād build them out of wood and use bigger castors.
Witty_Primary6108@reddit
Do you have a basement? I do all my wrenching in the parking lot and all my storage in the basement. Itās a hassle but life is life. Getting a two car garage next week though. It comes with a house. š¤·š¼āāļøš¤£š¤š¼
nopester24@reddit
Outer wall has to come down or cover the driveway
FortuneHeart@reddit
Not sure how much space you have in front of the garage, but I always pull my cars about half way out of the garage until Iām done.
Any_Championship_674@reddit
I have a tiny garage and getting wheel dollies from harbor freight was the smartest thing I ever did. If you can tuck your car into the corner youāll get tons more space.
Local_Bobcat_2000@reddit
Iāve had mine about 20 years and love them. One person can turn a car 360 degrees.
Radius8887@reddit
I've pretty much always worked outside my barn and used the barn for tool storage or moved the chunks of the car I'm working on in there. Most of my stuff won't fit in even a large garage (school bus, kodiaks, big trucks). Pretty much the only thing I own that will fit is my elcamino and even that will probably be worked on mostly outside once the body comes off the frame since that's where my tractor and other lifting equipment is.
cxhlxn@reddit
Iām in a similar boat. Hope this helps:
built in wall based shelving, use height to your advantage and add a lip so things donāt roll off or tip. Height will go a long way as your horizontal space is more finite.
place a marker or glue a wood piece to the floor where the rear or front wheel can make contact to tell you to stop so you can maximize space in the back
focus on pulling In where the passenger door is closer to the wall, so you 1. Have more opening space and 2. Can store more on that side
planned organization on where pieces and things will go before purchase helps. You can also use Ai to plan different layouts with photos.
Hope these help!
Mottsmatots@reddit
I'll second the height is your friend. I restored a car and rebuilt the engine in a garage about that size and couldn't have done it without all the vertical shelving.
Zalanox@reddit
Stuff tool boxes into the back left and right corners with a small bench in between them. Kind of like a mini F1 station.
Itās a nice little spot! Update us with after photos.