A portable garage is a movable and often temporary shelter for vehicles or other valuable investments. Portable garages are commonly bought by those needing extra storage space. They may also be purchased if the owner does not want to invest in an expensive and permanent fixture on their property. Part of their attractiveness is in their mobility, as it means that they can be uprooted and used in different locations later.
The most popular item protected by a portable garage is a vehicle. While protection of a car or truck is usually at the top of a purchaser's priorities, a portable garage can also house other types of vehicles like RVs, campers, motorcycles, boats and various work or leisure vehicles like tractors or watercraft. A portable garage can shield any type of vehicle from weather elements, vandalism and pilfering as long as the vehicle can completely fit inside it.
In addition, portable garage shelters can be used as storage facilities. Work equipment and tools, sand and salt piles, and hay can be found in rural portable garages. For the resourceful rural dweller, a portable garage can even function a greenhouse, extra workspace or a shelter for livestock like horses or cattle.
The garages can be custom built to specification or purchased from stock designs. Materials used to increase the durability of a portable garage include aluminum, powder-coated or galvanized steel for frames and polyethylene for covers. Despite the use of rigid steel, portable garages may come in a wide variety of colors, sizes and styles to suit the needs or preferences of the buyer. A benefit of polyethylene is that the material is waterproof, but does not trap water. This means that mold and mildew accumulation is minimized during rainy or cold weather when ice may build up and on vehicles before being driven into the garage.
Extras that may be offered during a portable garage construction or purchase include surface anchors or attachments, double-layering of polyethylene and choice of "rip stop" material. Ultraviolet (UV) light protection and an inner black scrim can also be implemented into garage materials. Where UV protection is sought, all sides of a garage can be designed so as not to allow UV rays to penetrate the garage from any angle. Portable garages may also be purchased as kits so that the buyer can set up the garage himself. These garages can last for several years after the initial set up without the need for significant modification.