Above 1200 Sq/FT The Suburban Working Garage in VA...now building the Highland House in the Teton Valley

Keep the hair Jeff, if i could grow it, it would be as long as I could get it. I have been follicully challenged for over 25 years now. Its ok if it turns grey as long as it doesn't turn loose!

Your Race Inc was a twin to mine, back in the day. Although, I went with blue ano parts, not red. Cool bike.
Mine was stolen, or I may still have it. Do have my stingrays from the 70's.

I took everyone's advice on the bike...nope. Did not do that. Sent shocks out for rebuild.

I just don't have $5-7k or more for a bike I want right now vs. $400. So this old Trek will suffice for a bit. Did get a bike stand to work on said bike. I have the Defender getting the A/C fixed, reworked etc. for the trip west here in the next month.



This allowed me some space to work on some things like the bikes and Volvo.



Fresh rubber - yep 26's These had tubes but going to go tubeless with the Race Disc wheels.



Getting low on Volvo parts, boxes and buckets of parts - this is good.

I need to decide if I throw the turbo on here or make that an out west project to initiate the space. I have dreams of moving freely about in a temp controlled garage space, working on two or three projects without having to shuffle them around, being able to walk and being comfortable whether it is 100 outside or -30.



Finished up the lights - subtle in my opinion. Turned out well.








Some assembly required - I replaced those rusting clips, about 7 in all at $18 a piece.



Completed and ready to go back on the car -

Trying to determine the best strategy to get “stuff” out west this late summer / early fall. We are not emptying our current house of furniture, so it will just be some pieces here and there — not enough to justify a full mover. I was thinking about either a trailer or a truck for some of the larger items. The biggest priority right now is emptying our current storage unit and getting some vehicles out there to free up space here.

Work has been crazy. My better half just started a new job, and things are only going to get crazier. No time for anything.

The reality of moving west has hit hard. How do we do it efficiently? I’m not sure we will unload the house in VA anytime soon. We still need a base of operations in the DMV for a while — work, family, etc.

I looked into PODS and similar services, but I couldn’t find anyone willing to deliver closer than Salt Lake — not even Jackson Hole.

I also don’t want to load up the new house with furniture just for the sake of filling it. Couch, TV, bed. Done for now.

Then there are the tools — how to get all that out there. At the same time, I can’t completely pillage everything in VA since I still work here and don’t want two full sets of everything. The goal is actually less stuff.

I know… first-world problems.

Anyway, some house updates. Things are moving. I did manage to sneak out there for a quick trip to deal with some pressing questions and decisions. Just a solo trip, but I had a great time.

First off, I think Jackson is one of the cooler airports to fly into. From Dulles, United Airlines offers direct flights into Jackson Hole Airport from mid-December through mid-April. I always try to sit on the right side of the plane for the Teton show.









No jet bridge, everyone is relaxed, dogs at the airport - feels like you can breath again.



This young lady has been poking around for a few weeks now -





She decided to park up for a bit...



First day was super clear...this is from the driveway.



Next up was watering our "last years" Xmas tree - hopefully this survives and we can plant it this fall.



More to come...

My humble suggestion about moving tools.... and I'm saying this as I'm in the middle of a home renovation that basically required knocking down the garage that was pretty packed with tools, Bikes (cyclist) and lots of stuff. I bought a 7x16 trailer that I used to help a family member in need move, but then after a real purge, I moved all my garage stuff in to the trailer so I had access to during renovation. I will likely sell the trailer but also an option for you for the move.

Anyway my plan for the "new" garage is to only put the things there that I love or can't replace. Using this time to just bite the bullet and buy new cabinets and benches, and some tool sets for the setup I've always wanted. You have a a good setup in VA, but you're building your DREAM HOUSE- garage and tools should match! Keep your stuff in VA- move the stuff you can't live without and buy new stuff for the new house. I'm sure it feels like you're Hemoraging money at this stage (it does for me) but in the big scheme- a pretty great new garage set up tools/cabinets is a tiny fraction of the house and you're going to spend A LOT of time in the garage. This is your chance!
MADC

Madc said:

My humble suggestion about moving tools.... and I'm saying this as I'm in the middle of a home renovation that basically required knocking down the garage that was pretty packed with tools, Bikes (cyclist) and lots of stuff. I bought a 7x16 trailer that I used to help a family member in need move, but then after a real purge, I moved all my garage stuff in to the trailer so I had access to during renovation. I will likely sell the trailer but also an option for you for the move.

Anyway my plan for the "new" garage is to only put the things there that I love or can't replace. Using this time to just bite the bullet and buy new cabinets and benches, and some tool sets for the setup I've always wanted. You have a a good setup in VA, but you're building your DREAM HOUSE- garage and tools should match! Keep your stuff in VA- move the stuff you can't live without and buy new stuff for the new house. I'm sure it feels like you're Hemoraging money at this stage (it does for me) but in the big scheme- a pretty great new garage set up tools/cabinets is a tiny fraction of the house and you're going to spend A LOT of time in the garage. This is your chance!
MADC

Click to expand...

Thanks — and I actually think you’re onto something there.

Start with my basic “dream box” of tools that covers about 75% of what I’m doing, then buy additional tools as each project requires them. My dream setup would be a Sonic Tools cabinet. I’m sure there are other options that are still great and a bit less expensive, but that’s definitely the benchmark in my head.

The issue is where I am. If I’m in the middle of a project, I can’t just run out like I can in VA and grab something. The local Ace Hardware is about it, so anything unique usually means a trip to Rexburg — about 45 minutes away.

On this trip out there, even though it was only four days, I had time to do almost nothing except focus on the house. I spent hours pouring over everything and exploring the surrounding area, which I never really get to do when the whole family is there.

I took hundreds of pictures and just got to absorb it all.

I stayed in Jackson for the convenience and walkability to restaurants and everything else, so the routine was: get up early, head over the pass, grab coffee at Wydaho Roasters (my favorite coffee place), and head to the property.

It’s about a 45-minute drive from Jackson to the house — honestly, not too bad.

Kitchen, family room drywall -

Those windows are SICK! You'll love it when you get them all open and just sit there in awe of the view. Totally worth it.

Re: tools, I was kind of in the same boat as you. I looked at Sonic seriously, but they are just too overpriced for what they are. Plus most of their kits have lots of things you won't ever touch. They look nice though. I made a spreadsheet where I compared what was in a Sonic set vs what I might get with Tekton kit or Gearwrench kit or going piecemeal with HF Icon and adding other brands to fill what they don't have or I don't like. End of the day I went down the HF Icon path for the basics plus some Wera, Klein, Astro, Tekton, etc as it made sense. And since I now decided I'll move out of my old space, all the unique things like oil filter wrenches, feeler gauges, cam tools, etc don't need to be duplicated. I'll move some of the extra stuff from the old shop to my Denver house (replace an old husky socket set I was using and will now have a full set of GW wrenches there) but I intend to do the major work on cars in the new shop. I'll maybe change wheels/tires in the Denver garage or do basic stuff around the house. Like you said, in the new space you can start multiple projects at once and move around and not feel cramped. That's where you want a full tool set.

Once you move the fleet you don't need that in VA any more...simplify.

What is your current thought process on how many years you will want (or need) to keep a home base in VA?