Working in a tent?

[ph9]

I haven't done any home mechanics for years, and I suspect I'll run into a lot of problems, but I'm thinking about attempting some work on an old Toyota Yaris. I don't have a garage to work in, and I remember working outside in the past, usually on winter nights! I'm wondering about the feasibility of erecting a flysheet around the car when I need to work on it. I don't need anything too big - just enough to cover the car and let me work around it and open the doors, and ideally with 6ft of head room. It would need to be able to stand up to Highland gales, so presumably some sort of dome-style tent would be best. Is this a good idea, and can you recommend something suitable?

[G600]

What about a gazebo?

[psi310398]

Would an old Army mess tent - https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MK3-British-Army-12x12-... or First Aid Station do the trick?

Very sturdy and the side panels can be rolled up. I used to work on a car in one but the tent is long gone.

Peter

[GreenV8S]

If you're going to be working on the ground I suggest you put something insulating between you and the ground. Also keep your tools in a metal toolbox and heat it up to as hot as you can hold before you go out. In my experience that makes a huge difference to the comfort level. The rest of it is just a matter of keeping wind and rain off and having some light, which you can sort out however you prefer. A gazebo would make a good temporary garage as long as you have sides on it but doesn't give you much spare width and not convenient to keep putting up and down if you're thinking this would be temporary.

[ph9]

Thanks for the options, and the tips about insulating and keeping warm.

Yes, it would just be to keep out of the wind and rain/snow, and to hang a work lamp. Rather than a large work tent I could drive the car into, I was thinking of a dome tent with aluminium (or fibreglass) poles, but just the flysheet without an inner tent or floor. I thought I could erect the tent next to the car, then lift it over the car before pegging it out.

[CrutyRammers]

A pop-up gazebo with sides sounds like a good bet. I've got a couple of cheap ones without sides which I use for working in the garden when I need cover outside, and I've had the car under it a couple of times. Get a decent one with sides and I'm sure it'd work fine.