Portable Garages: A Guide to Convenient Backyard Storage

When your garage is already crowded and paying month after month for a self-storage unit feels excessive, a portable garage can provide convenient storage right in your backyard. With a large roll-up door, reinforced floor construction, and customizable options, Old Hickory Building & Sheds portable garages are ideal for storing riding mowers, lawn equipment, tools, seasonal belongings, and other bulky items.

Whether you want to free up space in your existing garage or create a dedicated area for larger equipment, a portable garage offers convenient access and flexible storage without the hassle of traveling to an off-site storage facility.

Why Choose a Portable Garage?

Some things simply don’t fit through a standard entry door. Larger items like riding mowers, lawn tractors, and utility equipment often need more clearance and floor space than everyday household storage. Keeping these items in a portable garage makes them easier to access while freeing up space elsewhere on your property.

The Garage Package combines the convenience of a portable storage building with the easy access of a traditional garage-style entrance. Available in Utility and Lofted building styles, these buildings offer practical storage for lawn equipment, tools, seasonal supplies, and workshop essentials.

Floor space, natural light, wall space, entry points, and organization can all shape the design of your shed. Planning these details early can help you choose a shed style, size, and customization options that better support how you’ll use the building day to day.

Make Equipment Access Easier with a Roll-Up Garage Door

One of the biggest benefits of a portable garage is the wide entrance.

Old Hickory Building & Sheds Garage Package offers an 8-foot by 7-foot or 9-foot by 7-foot roll-up garage door. The package also includes a separate solid walk-in door and a 2-foot-by-3-foot single-pane window.

The roll-up door makes it easier to move riding mowers and other bulky equipment in and out of the building while the walk-in door provides convenient everyday access.

An 8-foot-wide door requires a wall at least 10 feet wide while a 9-foot-wide door requires a wall at least 12 feet wide. Also, keep in mind some building widths may require additional skids.

Choose the Right Garage Style for Your Needs

Old Hickory Buildings & Sheds offers the Garage Package for both Utility and Lofted building styles, giving you flexibility to choose a layout that works for your storage needs.

The Utility Garage features 8-foot tall walls and an open layout for storing larger equipment, tools, and other belongings.

The Lofted Garage provides the same convenient garage door features with additional overhead loft storage. This additional space is ideal for keeping smaller items, seasonal supplies, and other belongings off the floor, leaving more room for larger equipment.

Choose Flooring for the Equipment You Plan to Store

Planning to store heavy equipment in your portable garage?

The floor deserves just as much attention as the doors and building size. Large equipment can place significantly different demands on a floor than boxes, seasonal decorations, or household belongings.

The Garage Packages include pressure-treated floor joists spaced 12 inches on center to support heavier loads. We also offer two main flooring materials:

5/8-inch pressure-treated square-edge plywood: Pressure-treated plywood for customers who want resistance to termites and fungal decay. Available upgrades may include 3/4-inch or doubled 3/4-inch decking.

5/8-inch engineered tongue-and-groove panels: A smoother, more uniform floor surface, with 3/4-inch or doubled 3/4-inch upgrades available in participating areas.

Floor strength depends on more than the decking material. Old Hickory Building & Sheds’ floor-load chart lists a 450-pound point-load limit for 5/8-inch decking with 12-inch-on-center joists, provided the load is evenly spread over at least a 5-inch-by-5-inch area. Thicker decking has higher point-load limits, and spacing between concentrated loads matters, too.

If you anticipate storing heavy items, like safes, upright toolboxes, or weight training equipment, in small areas of your portable garage, make sure to review floor-load requirements and available flooring upgrades.

Customize Your Portable Garage for Everyday Use

The right options and add-ons can make a portable garage more useful for the way you plan to use it.

Shelving and workbenches can help organize maintenance tools, lawn supplies, and smaller items without taking up valuable floor space. Add pegboard above a workbench to keep hand tools, extension cords, and gardening supplies visible and within easy reach. Additional windows can bring in natural light, while structural and framing upgrades may be available depending on the building style and intended use.

You can also choose from available siding finishes, roofing materials, and paint colors to give your garage shed a look that complements your property. With so many ways to customize your building, a portable garage can accommodate everything from lawn equipment and recreational gear to tools and general storage, all in one convenient space.

Find the Right Portable Garage for Your Property

When your existing storage space no longer has the room or easy access you need, a portable garage can be a flexible alternative to paying for off-site storage.

The best place to start is with what you plan to store. Consider the width and height of your largest equipment, how much open floor space you need, and whether shelving, a workbench, or overhead storage would make the space more useful.

Ready to find the right portable garage for your property? Visit your local Old Hickory dealer to explore available buildings and compare Garage Package options in person. If you have something specific in mind, use our 3D Builder to customize your building’s size, colors, roofing, and add-ons.

FAQ: Portable Garages