Toro’s M-Model carport uses a classic cold-formed gable-roof system, manufactured directly by Toro rather than sourced from a third-party catalog. It’s the straight-wall counterpart to our arch-style C Model carport — same reliable vehicle protection, different roofline, both built with Galvalume Plus® steel. M-Model carports carry a 1-year material and workmanship warranty plus a 40-year paint warranty — a different warranty structure than our arch-style buildings, which carry a rust-perforation warranty instead.
Choosing Your Bay Configuration
An M-Model carport is sized by width and bay count rather than a fixed template — single-bay for one vehicle typically starts around 12’–14′ wide, double-bay for two vehicles side by side commonly runs 20’–24′ wide, and wider clear-span layouts extend further for equipment, boat, or RV storage. Length scales independently of width, so a single-bay carport can still run long enough to cover a full-size truck or trailer. Because the structure is engineered to your specific site’s wind and snow loads rather than sold as a generic size, the same bay configuration can look different in steel gauge and bracing depending on where you’re building.
Fully Open vs. Carport-Garage Combo
The simplest M-Model configuration is fully open on all sides — just a roof and supporting frame, the fastest and most economical way to get weather protection over a vehicle. For buyers who want partial enclosure, a carport-garage combo adds wall panels and a door to one or more bays while keeping the rest open, giving you an enclosed storage or workshop bay alongside open vehicle parking under the same roofline. This is a common middle ground between a fully open carport and a fully enclosed garage, without committing to one or the other.
Customization Options
- Doors: Roll-up or walk-in doors for any enclosed bay in a carport-garage combo configuration.
- Color and trim: Options beyond standard galvanized steel to match your property.
- End walls: Partial or full end enclosure to block prevailing wind and driving rain without fully enclosing the structure.
- Height: Extra clearance available for RVs, trucks, or equipment that need more overhead room than a standard vehicle bay.
Why Steel Over a Wood-Framed Carport
A wood-framed carport is often the cheaper option upfront, but it comes with the maintenance, rot, and pest exposure wood carries everywhere else — repainting, sealing, and eventual structural repair that a steel frame doesn’t need. Wood posts in direct ground contact are also the first point of failure on a wood carport, since moisture wicking up from the soil accelerates rot exactly where the structure needs to be strongest. An M-Model carport is engineered once to your site’s actual wind and snow loads, precision-manufactured rather than framed on-site board by board, and assembles with simple nut-and-bolt construction that a DIY buyer or local contractor can handle without specialized equipment.
Uses Beyond Vehicle Protection
Many buyers use their carport for more than just a car — ATV and snowmobile storage, RV and boat cover, or a shaded outdoor workspace are all common configurations, and a carport-garage combo extends this further by giving you a fully enclosed bay for tools or equipment alongside the open parking area.
Permits, Codes & Engineering
Even an open-sided structure like a carport is engineered to real structural requirements, not just a roof on posts. In the United States, that means design loads calculated to the ASCE 7 standard published by the American Society of Civil Engineers, referenced by the International Code Council‘s International Building Code. In Canada, that’s the National Building Code of Canada. Toro’s in-house engineering team — not a third-party engineer most competitors outsource to — calculates your carport’s design loads for its specific address before it ships.
M-Model vs. C Model: Which Should You Choose?
Both carport lines provide the same reliable vehicle protection; the choice comes down to roofline and manufacturing source. M-Model uses a classic cold-formed gable roof, manufactured by Toro directly. C Model uses a self-supporting arch-style design, manufactured by our sister company Future Buildings and sold through Toro. Neither is structurally “better” — it’s a matter of which profile fits your property and preference.
Related Building Types
Carports | C Model Arch Carport | Garages | Quonset Hut Buildings
Further reading: Steel Carport Buying Guide for First-Time Buyers | Carport vs. Garage: Which Is Right for You? | Can You Install a Steel Carport Kit Yourself?
Find Your Carport Configuration
Whether you need a single open bay or a full carport-garage combo, Toro Steel Buildings engineers every M-Model carport to your exact site. Request a free quote to get started.