What's up with these tarp shelters at the farm auctions

[check]

Wish you were closer, I'd buy a frame

LOL. My neighbour wants it, too! It is perfectly good, is all I used from the package was the top. His shelter caved in and buckled all of the metal framing, because he left too much snow on top.

 

[TemporaryKubotaOwnerMark]

His shelter caved in and buckled all of the metal framing, because he left too much snow on top.

That's why I got the alpine style. It sheds the snow, even wet, sticky snow. I usually wind up with a ridge of snow on the very peak, and that's it. The rest slides off.

 

[Looking4new]

That's why I got the alpine style. It sheds the snow, even wet, sticky snow. I usually wind up with a ridge of snow on the very peak, and that's it. The rest slides off.

It might be more money, but it is less aggravation and worry if you can't be there every time it snows.

 

[PILOON]

Leaving my home I see 5 collapsed shelters on a 10 min run and identify 4 that will probably also bite the dust when it gets milder.

When most shedded snow is on one side and frozen that's OK but come spring thaw softens that leaning pile it causes a shelter to fold and collapse.

Ideally they want clear passage on both sides to clear snow but also trees to shelter from high winds.

The majority sold in box stores are so flimsy that they really don't stand much of a chance of survival for a typical Quebec winter.
The real good HD ones cost almost as much as a decent DIY shed would.

I built a DIY shed/garage for my mom's car 15 years ago for about $1000. and it still has another 15 yr life in it.

 

[mapper]

We bought the Costco 10X20 version a few years ago, it lasted about 2 months until we had a windstorm with 50+ mph gusts. At that point it went airborne and flew up over the shop and ended up in a heap against our lathe house 100' away. My wife and a neighbor disassembled it before it could do anymore damage.
Last year I repurposed the frame into a greenhouse, needless to say I anchored it down a bit better this time. The green house has solid framed in ends and I used a double layer of 6 mil uv stabilized greenhouse film, an inflation blower keeps the plastic tight so it does not flap in the wind. It seems to be working a lot better as a greenhouse than it did as a shelter:laughing:

 

[Paul Thornton]

Mapper, would love to see your greenhouse, I've thought of doing the same thing.

 

[JRobyn]

Not sure how you guys are anchoring yours down, but solid anchoring is ESSENTIAL if they are to survive anything more than about 40 mph winds. I used the "auger" type anchors, but our soil was much too hard and rocky to get them in, so I used a post-hole digger, sunk them in at least 12" and thoroughly tamped the backfill. One at each corner. Then ran a 3/16" aircraft cable from each anchor completely over the top of the frame back down to the other anchor and cinched each one down with stainless turnbuckles. One at the front and another at the back. Held up to everything until the EF3 tornado dropped a big old pine on it. Squish!

 

[TemporaryKubotaOwnerMark]

Not sure how you guys are anchoring yours down, but solid anchoring is ESSENTIAL if they are to survive anything more than about 40 mph winds.

Agreed! I used 1/2" rebar driven at an angle (maybe.... 20 degrees?) about two feet deep. Seems to be working. Heavy clay soil helps. Wouldn't do much good in sand.

Held up to everything until the EF3 tornado dropped a big old pine on it. Squish!

Yeah, that'll do it! Was that covered under warranty? :laughing:

 

[Looking4new]

The platform mine sits on is on top of gravel. 4x4s laid lengthwise from front to back and 2x8s laid cross ways with 1/2" gap between for snow and slush drainage. I anchored the back of the shelter to the platform the front stock anchors are in 12" holes with cement.When the new one goes up I will anchor the platform with rebar.

 

[PILOON]

If we are talking winter usage, remember that any pins, rods driven in for retention will be frozen into the ground and therefore you don't actually need deep penetration if that helps.