Harbor Freight vs Shelter Logic Shed

Comparing the Harbor Freight 10x17 shed to the Shelterlogic 10x20.

Reference video (Shelterlogic 10x20 installation):

Ground anchor tool to adapt to cordless drill or other driver:

[jamesmccabe]

I have put up 2 Harbour freight 10x17'
One I mounted to a 10x20 wood deck. The extrema 3' of deck makes a great outside work area. When I get the grame put together I go around and put 1 -3/4" self tapping screw in every joint.
This really makes the frame solid 1/4 x2 lags with washers were used to secure legs to the deck.
I live in the Northeast so snow load happens, sheds been up for 6 years and still going strong
The first one I put up was exactly the same but was put on a paved area. I ran 6x6 hemlock beams down the outside 17' runs. I used 1/4" x3" lags with washers, two in each leg and all other connections got one 3/4" self tapping screw. That shed has been in place for 8 years and is still perfect.
It got hit with a blast of wind between 65 and 80 mph during a vicious storm and when all has said and done. The shed had moved a total of 1". All other similar sheds in the neighborhood were completely destroyed.
I was offer money several times over the next weeks to put up my neighbors sheds. I politely declined and offered to help and show them how to fortify their sheds so it wouldn't' happen again as long as we all worked together on each others shed. It brought our community together and I don't remember the last time that I've been working in my yard and someone didn't bring me a cold beer as a thank you.
Oh, all sheds are still standing and this is year 5
God Bless, and be good to each other

[vonSchwartzwolfe]

I've had my HF set up and bolted to the ground for 5 winters here in Northern NY state. Still kicking.

[notreallyme]

In case anyone is interested YES you can paint a car in a Harbor Freight garage. Came out really good. Used a blower to ventilate.

[vaalrus]

After a few of my own, and putting up SL and knock-off fabric shelters, I find the SL ones have a better assembly scheme, but the knock-offs are fine, if slightly more annoying. After dealing with the fabric replacement, while I’m sure the “premium” fabrics at their price would hold up fine (I’ve got a ‘professional’ fabric quonset that’s going on 10 years), when the fabric shreds on the current units under my care, I’m going to source some steel roofing or siding, and just screw the metal right to the frame. I’ve done this once already, and it turned out very rigid, and handles wind and snow just fine.

[NoOneIsGoingToSaveYou]

Have had my Harbor Freight Shed for 2 years now with multiple winds storms winds gusting to 50 mph. It has stood up very well. I have it anchored to 6" x 4" Timbers that run the perimeter of the shed. It has dulled in the sun but other than that so fat so good.

[Amber-mvwz]

I have no experience with Shelter Logic sheds, but we've had our HF shed up for 4 years now & have been impressed. The only weak point we've found is that the sun eats the cover up quickly, but we've just kept a UV resistant tarp over our cover & it's worked a treat. Just this Sunday we woke up to see that overnight the wind had picked it up, turned it 180 degrees & carried it about 25 feet from its proper location. I expected it to be a total loss but upon inspection we found that the 2 center legs on one side were slightly bent & the rear leg on the same side was badly bent like a Z. We were able to straighten all the legs out, picked it up & put it back where it belonged. It's tougher than it looks. This was our fault for not checking the anchors recently. The cables connecting it to the ground anchors were badly rusted & simply broke. This coming weekend we'll be anchoring it to a wooden base to prevent any future problems. I fully expect it to last another few years.

[CelloandAnayaJ]

Had my 65’ mustang under the HF garage for well over 2 years while I restored it…anchored it into the ground and it worked without fail the entire time….set it up in a about an hour by myself…. Highly recommend

[FordGator]

My only complaint about putting the HF shed together versus the Shelter logic is that pipes didn’t stay together as I was assembling the HF shed. I used ratchet straps to hold the pipes together as I assembled the shed. I left the ratchet straps on the frames to help support the roof for the snow load. This will be the first winter for the HF shed so we’ll see how it holds up. It’s the third year for my Shelter logic and it seems as good as new.

[kennycollins]

First impressions Shelter Logic seems way nice. Placed mine right next to my HF that had been there for 3 years prior. I’m now on my second year with the shelterlogic and the top is completely torn up like a rag doll just after the first year. I would definitely buy another HF if they made them as big. Yeah they sell a 10 year cover but I’m not paying another $1000 on top of the $650 I paid for the shelter. Meanwhile the HF was only $200 and is still going strong 5 years later no tears nothing.

[dizzysdoings]

I had an older HF one up for years! You used to be able to buy a replacement cover for it, then they changed the style.
I don't recall now how big it was. I used it to store hay. I just put a new 20x20 tarp on it every year.
The frame is still in good condition. It's all slip joints. It doesn't have the anchor pins, but instead has pegs that go in the ground through the frame.
Currently, I'm not using it, so I took it down. I'm planning on moving this year. Once I do, I'll be using the framework to build a greenhouse.

[tomwilcox]

PNW where we're not known for sunshine, HF cover sunrotted in two years. Opening's zippers failed before two years despite being loose. The frame while not super heavy duty looking has held up two silver hd tarps from HF for 4 years after the original cover shit the bed. Actually, for what it is, the frame is the best part.

[lhxniyp]

Looking foward to a follow up about the tarps condition through times! Thanks for sharing

[fhuber]

A neighbor got the HarborFreight version. After 6 months the fabric was getting bad. They got R-panel and screwed it to the frame. That held for 18 years. (and I moved... I think it's still standing)

[crxess]

If you want to insure long Cover life with the Harbor Freight 10'x17' purchase the Silver 15'2" x 19'6" heavy duty tarp and keep the Top/upper sides covered. The $32 annual or longer investment will protect the cheap Non-UV covering from the Sun as well as increasing Wind resistance.
* My first Cover lasted 9 months, then split on the morning sun side and slid to the base, exposing everything on that side. then the rest started slipping over the top. I Rigged it and got a Tarp to rig it until the $100 replacement Cover arrived.
Now, I replaced the original Cover and reinstalled the Silver Tarp. The Silver Tarp survived for about a year, then split on the morning sun side.
Within days I picked up a replacement Tarp and recovered the enclosure. This tarp is on Year (2), but I saw the Silver Tarp on sale and grabbed one as a reserve.
$32 dollars every year or two beats $100 Special order, wait and worry, every time.

[bosshawg]

Good review and comparison. I've noticed as well that the usual higher brand names associated with portable garages have started to cheap out in quality while Harbor Freight is stepping it up a tad and at highly competitive pricing.

[alexo]

Thank you ! Great video. I appreciate you taking your time and sharing this with us. 👍🏻👍🏻

[MapleRidgeHomestead]

Great review, just picked one up from Harbor Freight for $189 on sale!

[swiftarrow]

I’ve been uniquely able to compare the shelterlogic versus HF through a storm. Both were properly installed. As a result of my experience, I do NOT recommend HF sheds. The way they rely on the tarp cover to tension everything together is not strong. The metal ties used in HF are thinner walls and rust more, as well as bend easily. Shelterlogic guarantees their covering for a single year, and you can buy a 10 year replacement cover. Harbor freight failed within a year.

From now on I buy the shelterlogic sheds because the increased cost is 100% worth it when considering the cost of storm cleanup and damage to what I put inside the shed.

[bazenga]

The massive price increase of the Shelter Logic is ridiculous. Gotta love this economy we're living in... If we could get the leaders of the country to put America and it citizens first, wouldn't that be breathe of fresh air. Nice video by the way, thank you.

[plyduster]

I have a shelter logic shed that I have had for five years two things I did I purchased 2x6 for the shed to set on then anchored the 2x6 to the ground with re rod then naturally anchored the shed tubing to the 2x6,
As far as the door I put a pice a pvc tubing in the bottom of the door then it is easy to roll up when you open it.