Motorcycle Shell DIY Garage

Here I made a Motorcycle Shell Garage, using PVC pipe and a Tarp.

You will need 1/4 inch PVC pipe I used 7- 10 foot pieces
10- 1/4 inch elbows
10- 1/4 inch T-connectors
2-trailer hitch (or something to link all the T-connectors together ie. A long bolt with washers and a nut)
Pipe glue
Pipe saw (I used a miter saw)
Permanent marker
Tape measure
Sewing machine

Step 1: PVC Pipe

I took PVC pipe with T connectors and elbows. I made 5 U shapes.

I cut top pieces starting at 3 feet then added an additional 2 inches for each additional piece:
3ft
3ft 2in
3ft 4in
3ft 6in
3ft 8in

I cut the sides starting at 5 feet and added 1 1/2 inches
2x 5 ft
2x 5 ft 1 1/2......

Step 2: Cut the T-connectors and Put on the Hitch

I cut the T connectors to slide flush on the trailer hitch. Then slide them on.

Step 3: Cut and Sew for PVC Pipe

When you cut the tarp it is the length of each U shape, so the smallest U it is 5 feet plus 5 feet plus 3 feet plus additional room for the piping and sewing this will be the length of the tarp piece.
Measure the height by standing the PVC pieces all up with the middle piece straight up and 90 degrees and side pieces at 45 degrees, the distance between the two pieces is the height of the tarp.
Measure the 3 feet plus(sewing for pipe) on the center of the top of the tarp and begin to slope to the ends of the length of the tarp. Sew 3 inches along edges of tarp at all the places where the pipe will fit inside.

Step 4: Sew for PVC Pipe

Sew 3 inches along edges of tarp at all the places where the pipe will fit inside.
When you get to the joint area I left a small place in order to get to the joint to glue the elbow In place.

Step 5: Finnished

Put it all together and glue all the joints ensuring that your pieces are straight.
Enjoy..

Comments

[seifeldin599]

yo i have a huge harley davidson (2014 ultra limited edition water cooled for pics to check) and i wanna keep away the cats that keep scratching the damn paint and seets even though i have a cover but i think this garage would work if it was a little bigger.

[kegsfour]

I am thinking that this type of cover will be great to cover my smart car!

[LyssaDesign26]

Hi, I'm having a hard time getting all the info through the downloadable pdf. The pdf only has the text below the pictures and the pictures themselves. Do you have another pdf with all the instructions?

[davidsona]

Just curious, but what is the basic pattern and sewing locations for the tarp. I tend to do better with details.

[Andsetinn]

The side is 4 triangles with sides a and b 5 feet long and corner C 45 degrees. Using an Online Triangle Calculator I find that corners A and B are 67.5 degrees and the side c is just under 4 feet. I also find that the height of the triangle is 4.5 feet (C to c).
So the cut of the tarp should be (4.5+3+4.5)x4 feet or 12x4 feet rectangle, plus couple of inches of material on each side to wrap around the pipes. Don't forget to add 2 inches to the 3 for each cut.
Measure each corner to the centre of the 4 foot long side, then measure 4.5 feet up, and mark that triangle. Sew it together and trial fit before cutting. :)
If you use different lengths of pipes you need to adjust the tarp accordingly.

[adampudliner]

I wouldn't mind knowing this as well!

[Andsetinn]

Nice instructable.
Just an idea. If you screw the trailer hitch into a plank (4 feet plank should fit nicely) and put the stand (centerstand would be ideal) on top of that plank. Then the bike would hold the "garage" down in mild winds but the "garage" would still be easily transportable, when the bike is not in it.

[MillennialDIYer]

How is this holding up?

[lightellen]

Does this garage have UV ray protection? Sometimes, a motorcycle cover can be destroyed in one summer by the sun's rays.

[jsgraham]

I live in the Texas Panhandle. The one and only constant here is the wind. How are you keeping your cover from blowing away? Are you staking the trailer hitch pin to the ground in some way? Are you staking each end down in some fashion? If so, did you create grommets or a stake loop in the tarp for this?? If not, that may be a future suggestion for an improvement.

[DenverGee]

I have a wheel chalk that weighs about 50 lbs and I have it wire-tied to the front pipe, I did happen to sew three of the grommets from the original tarp. These are where I hooked the ties to. Thank you for the suggestion. There are many improvements that I have thought of... Keep them coming it will help others with their ideas.

[gijoebob]

I would imagine a mixture of paracord, zipties and tent stakes could remedy any wind issues.

[AdanM7]

Filling the first and second pipes with sand or concrete would also remedy that issue without adding to the size of the structure.

[csmalley311]

Can you break down whine tarp part? It's a little confusing the way it's explained above. Thanks

[rush_elixir]

cool...can you make one that fits on a GIVI box...then you just pull the tarp to cover the motorcycle?

[reitz]

Cool idea. Just a question.

Isn´t it a perfect radius?

Sides pieces would be?

2x 5 ft

2x 5 ft 1 1/2in

2x 5 ft 3in

2x 5 ft 4 1/2

2x 5 ft 6in

I thought it would be like:

2x 5 ft

2x 5 ft 1 1/2in

2x 5 ft 3in

2x 5 ft 1 1/2in

2x 5 ft

Thank you

[dryvali]

Where did you find 1/4 inch PVC? I can only find 1/2 inch and bigger at HD and Lowes

[Glimm]

pretty sure it's 3/4.

[valkgurl]

Very ingenious! And if we could fit it in the tow behind the bike trailer---even better! Ours would have to be quite a bit bigger tho as we have a large cruiser--thinking ripstop would be lighter.

Similar versions are sold--see the back of RIDER MAG if you want more info--don;t know how much now but were several 100USD last time I checked.

We have a different form of "Travel cover" that would be easy enough to duplicate--simply use a rectangle of nylon or similar measured to fit over the SEAT and TANK area. Attach elastic loops (Shock cord is fine; bungies are too much) to the corners measured to fit over your bars or lights. Ours was a "second" and I am not sure the Co is still in business but it weighs a few ounces--more than light enough and small enough to fit in a backpack--and keeps hot sun off your saddle---nice for your butt!--keeps your paint from getting too hot or any access you have on there--and also keeps light rain off. You can also stash your helmets under there if you are within sight of the bike. --jackets etc too. We use this ALL the time both for stops and over nights when traveling.

Love to see more motorcycle stuff on here!!!!!!!

[MonCal]

I could totally see myself using this for a car to prevent hail damage. It'd obviously have to be scales up quite a bit but it'd work the same I'm sure.