Shelter Logic Garage in a Box Shelter Review

The Shelter Logic Garage-in-a-Box Shelter is available in various sizes for compact cars, mid-size and the largest is perfect for an SUV or full size truck.

ShelterLogic™ garages and shelters are ideal for storing ATV’s, lawnmowers and garden equipment, small tractors, boats, snowmobiles, patio furniture, pool supplies, tools and equipment and bulk storage.

Sizes Available

The Shelter Logic “Garage in a box” comes in various sizes. This one pictured is perfect for an SUV or full size truck. It measures 13’ wide x 20’ long x 12’ tall at the roof peak, with an 8’ door clearance.

Another size available is the 12 ft. x 20 ft. which is ideal for a mid-size car.

Size 10 ft. x 20 ft. will be good for a small compact car. If you have a midsize car, remember you need to open the car doors to get in and out and this means more like 12 ft. wide to give you space to walk along beside your car or truck. Otherwise you have to walk sideways and “squeeeeze” in the car door!  

Pros and Cons

Pro:

• Reinforced galvanized steel bars provide excellent stability. Full screw/bolt connection on the entire frame
• Industrial grade cover. Waterproof, tear proof, UV treated inside and out, antifungal anti-aging fabric that withstands the elements
• Peaked or dome shaped roof prevents standing water and sheds the snow.
• No center poles, no guy ropes. This stands solidly on the anchored steel foot plates.
• This shelter will withstand freezing and thawing, extreme low and high temperatures. I have had my shelters for 3 years. They have been through heavy snowfall, strong winds and rain, and heat waves. They still look new!

Con:

• Not a lockable shed.  The shelter is for your own back yard, not a public storage shed.
• Although the roof has an overhanging trim edge along each side to keep rain from getting in, snow can drift in under the front and back, then melt and leave a puddle. If you’re not going in and out over the winter, lay some tarp along the bottom edge of the door.

Comparisons with Other Brands

There are other Best sellers on Amazon but I would NOT recommend them. Here’s why:

You’ll see on Amazon other brand names offering other carport styles that have removable doors and sides, (but I don’t know why you would want to remove them). They have mesh windows with roll up/Velcro down covers. Although the alternative brands have quicker set up with spring buttons, they are not as stable as a solid bolted frame. They also have guy ropes for extra support, but you need more space to stretch out the ropes and they could be a tripping hazard.  They would be good for a farmers market shelter or party and wedding shelter. I don’t recommend these if you’re wanting a stable, secure, dry storage shelter.

Check out the others models available on Amazon. I think you’ll agree the better choice is ShelterLogic™ for the size and sturdiness.

Assembly Tips

• Ensure a drum-tight fit for the cover to prevent tearing.
• Zip the door shut on windy days to avoid shelter movement.
• Securely anchor the shelter using provided steel foot plates.
• Periodically check and tighten bolts to maintain stability.

The Amazon reviews are very good. I’ve checked out some complaints and I see such a contrast. A few reviewers are disappointed and so many others are very pleased.  One complaint is of a weak tarp cover. I have had my shelters for 3 years, standing through heat waves, heavy snowfall, strong wind and they are still in perfect condition. I think the complaint of a tearing cover is due to the customer not ratcheting down the cover to a drum tight fit. Also, do not leave the door open on a windy day. Don’t let the shelter tarp look like its inhaling and exhaling with the wind. The gusts of wind can try to carry the shelter away like a kite so keep the door zippered shut. Be sure to mount the shelter to the ground solidly using the anchors that come with the kit. About once a year I loosen the bottom bar and step down on it to pull the tarp snug. The manufacturer recommends that you tighten up the cover when needed. You should not be able to rock or sway the frame. Check the bolts and keep them tightened.

Choosing the Right Size

If you want to use this shelter for your car or truck, consider the size of your vehicle. A 10 x 20 will store a mini, compact car. Measure the width of your car. Sure, it will fit in a 10 ft. wide shelter but now open the car door and you’ll find it is a very tight squeeze to get in and out of your car. So remember the width must be wide enough for car doors to open inside the shelter.

The Shelter Logic advertised as a “Garage in a box” is perfect for an SUV or full size truck. It measures 13’ wide x 20’ long x 12’ tall at the roof peak, with an 8’ door clearance.

Condensation Management

After a warm day and then cooling off at night you may find the inside dripping with condensation. That’s not good for keeping things dry inside. When I first assembled my shelter it was on a grassy lawn. That’s going to be its permanent location. Of course the grass will die over time. But the ground is holding a lot of moisture.  What you need to do is put down a tarp over the entire ground inside the shelter. If your shelter is 10 x 20 ft., go get yourself a 10 x 20 size heavy duty tarp. Even slightly larger and you can curl the edges up the sides inside.  You now have a nice clean dry floor in your shelter. You’ll notice the condensation is gone.

Another tip for keeping things dry – Even though the shelter has a long overhanging flap along each side to keep out rain, the back and front door just end at ground level. This can still allow a little snow to drift in under the door. You may want to place something along the front and back to give it a better seal. A row of tarp or plastic sheet held down by 2 x 4 lumber or rocks or blocks.

The first year I made the mistake of stacking boxes of books right on the floor.  The ground was not perfectly level and rain and melting snow trickled in to form a puddle on the floor. The bottom cardboard boxes soaked up the moisture and the box of books were destroyed. I suggest putting down some pallets on the ground to stack your belongings on top. You can get used pallets for free.  Just Google “free pallets” or drop by and you’ll find many warehouses and stores quite happy to get rid of their stack of weakened or slightly damaged pallets.

Ideal Storage Solutions

I have organized my shelter to store summer equipment on one side and winter items on the other side – over winter, pool, patio furniture, gardening tools, lawn mower, etc. and then winter equipment over the summer…Snow blower, sleds, snow shovels, Christmas decorations.

I use my other one as a bit of a workshop and staging area when doing renovations, storing doors, trim, cabinets and larger tools.

I now have a place for my lawn tractor over winter. You may have a boat and trailer?  ATV? I like the dome shape, plenty of head space, attractive, sturdy and dry.

In conclusion, ShelterLogic’s Garage-in-a-Box Shelter offers a reliable storage solution with various sizes to meet your specific needs. Explore the available models on Amazon, and you’ll likely find that ShelterLogic™ stands out for its size, sturdiness, and overall value.