Paul Rochdale
Registered user
I've just experienced one of the most mentally and physically demanding weeks for years. It's like this. I've always hankered after a large timber garage/workshop like those infernal yanks have. In the UK, we are used to tiny garages, if we are lucky enough to have one. Cosy, warm and snug, just the place for my kitcar and three motorbikes. Years ago I received a small inheritance and put this sum aside for the day when I finally took the plunge and bought one. I had been quoted £3500 for a made-to-measure timber garage although I had to lay the concrete slab. As the piece of land I had mentally set aside for it is on a slope, it would need foundations to to prevent it sliding down the hill we live on, and into the River Medway.
A few weeks ago, whilst browsing on eBay, I came across the garage (we say 'garidge' in the South). It was in timber with a pair of double doors, and at 6m square seemed to fit the bill. Any problems? Well, it was still standing so needed to be dismantled, and, err....it was in Lancashire, 250 miles away. Well I bit the bullet and put in a high bid and won it. I owned a 6m x 6m garage and had to find a way to bring it back to Kent.
I contacted a few firms who rented trucks, not really knowing what size truck I either needed nor could drive on my licence. Edward had just passed his HGV test in the RAF so whatever we could find, one of us would be legal. Very few firms would entertain renting to a private individual but one local firm did agree. From the dimensions it would seem the largest pieces would measure 3m x 2.4m but the steel A-frame which supported the pitched roof would be 6m long. I chose a 7.5 ton Iveco truck with solid sides (as opposed to 'curtain sides') and I could have one for £254 for the two days I thought it would take to recover the garage. One hire firm filled me with foreboding about O-licences, wide loads, Police escorts, etc, which turned out to be pure BS. Edward who would be coming with me would not be allowed to drive the truck as their insurance company would not cover anyone who hadn't held a licence for that class of vehicle for at least a year.
On Thursday evening I collected the truck - my, I'd never driven anything that size before and even when in the Army, I only drove Bedford 3-tonners. It actually drove like a big car and 1st and 2nd gears were almost unneccessary, they were that low.
3am Friday morning I set off in the emerging light and collected a sleepy Edward in Maidstone. Governed at 56mph, as all UK goods vehicles now are, we made steady but slow progress up the M1 and M6 towards Lancashire arriving in this very isolated village at 9.30am. The garage looked massive and I really wondered what on earth we'd taken on. The entire insides were covered in chipboard panels, nailed over the timber, and all of these had to be crowbared off to get to the panel retaining bolts. We worked like slaves removing the roof panels, the very heavy steel A-frame and the wall panels. There was a hitch when the entire front wall fell over, gouging a chunk out of the newly rendered garage a couple of yards away. By 3.30pm we'd miraculously loaded up the entire garage including the mighty A-frame and we said our farewells and headed off back to Kent. At this rate, we'd be able to return the truck to the hire company and save on a days rental. A mile down the country lane, I got too close to the branches of overhanging trees and - BANG - the nearside wing mirror smashed and the nearside (electric) window no longer worked. Damn! We continued on our way, my pride very bruised. I really, really take it badly when I make a mistake when driving/riding. Got back at 9pm after 500 miles and seven hours of hard labour, in time to see the final episode of 'The Apprentice'.
Up next morning at 4am - it's now raining - and Edward, Heather and I begin to offload the dismantled garage. Wilting under the heavy weight of the panels, we offloaded everything by 6am, and I set off to return the truck by the 7.30am deadline. Fearing I'd lose hundreds of £ of my deposit, the guy noted the damage. "The wing mirror will cost about £20, they are always going. The window? It's probably an internal fault. A sign of old age". I almost feinted with relief. I returned home soaked in the perspiration caused by my waterproof coat to have a hot bath and catch up on my kip. What a few days it had been! I am now looking forward to getting my kitcar and three motorbikes under cover for the first time together.
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A few weeks ago, whilst browsing on eBay, I came across the garage (we say 'garidge' in the South). It was in timber with a pair of double doors, and at 6m square seemed to fit the bill. Any problems? Well, it was still standing so needed to be dismantled, and, err....it was in Lancashire, 250 miles away. Well I bit the bullet and put in a high bid and won it. I owned a 6m x 6m garage and had to find a way to bring it back to Kent.
I contacted a few firms who rented trucks, not really knowing what size truck I either needed nor could drive on my licence. Edward had just passed his HGV test in the RAF so whatever we could find, one of us would be legal. Very few firms would entertain renting to a private individual but one local firm did agree. From the dimensions it would seem the largest pieces would measure 3m x 2.4m but the steel A-frame which supported the pitched roof would be 6m long. I chose a 7.5 ton Iveco truck with solid sides (as opposed to 'curtain sides') and I could have one for £254 for the two days I thought it would take to recover the garage. One hire firm filled me with foreboding about O-licences, wide loads, Police escorts, etc, which turned out to be pure BS. Edward who would be coming with me would not be allowed to drive the truck as their insurance company would not cover anyone who hadn't held a licence for that class of vehicle for at least a year.
On Thursday evening I collected the truck - my, I'd never driven anything that size before and even when in the Army, I only drove Bedford 3-tonners. It actually drove like a big car and 1st and 2nd gears were almost unneccessary, they were that low.
3am Friday morning I set off in the emerging light and collected a sleepy Edward in Maidstone. Governed at 56mph, as all UK goods vehicles now are, we made steady but slow progress up the M1 and M6 towards Lancashire arriving in this very isolated village at 9.30am. The garage looked massive and I really wondered what on earth we'd taken on. The entire insides were covered in chipboard panels, nailed over the timber, and all of these had to be crowbared off to get to the panel retaining bolts. We worked like slaves removing the roof panels, the very heavy steel A-frame and the wall panels. There was a hitch when the entire front wall fell over, gouging a chunk out of the newly rendered garage a couple of yards away. By 3.30pm we'd miraculously loaded up the entire garage including the mighty A-frame and we said our farewells and headed off back to Kent. At this rate, we'd be able to return the truck to the hire company and save on a days rental. A mile down the country lane, I got too close to the branches of overhanging trees and - BANG - the nearside wing mirror smashed and the nearside (electric) window no longer worked. Damn! We continued on our way, my pride very bruised. I really, really take it badly when I make a mistake when driving/riding. Got back at 9pm after 500 miles and seven hours of hard labour, in time to see the final episode of 'The Apprentice'.
Up next morning at 4am - it's now raining - and Edward, Heather and I begin to offload the dismantled garage. Wilting under the heavy weight of the panels, we offloaded everything by 6am, and I set off to return the truck by the 7.30am deadline. Fearing I'd lose hundreds of £ of my deposit, the guy noted the damage. "The wing mirror will cost about £20, they are always going. The window? It's probably an internal fault. A sign of old age". I almost feinted with relief. I returned home soaked in the perspiration caused by my waterproof coat to have a hot bath and catch up on my kip. What a few days it had been! I am now looking forward to getting my kitcar and three motorbikes under cover for the first time together.
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