Backhoe Outside Storage

[downsizingnow48]

My B21 backhoe has spent its whole life outside since I bought it new in 2004. The cylinder rods look like new.

 

[ThirdMan]

My portable garage from Costco is 1.5 years old now. It has kept my backhoe and tractor out of the elements until I have a more permanent solution.

 

[AVIVIII]

My portable garage tent leaked and collapsed within 2 years, ultimately causing more damage to my tractor than if I had just left it outside. Then I built a quick and dirty pole barn.

 

[newbury]

I have a 1970 Case backhoe loader that's spent it's entire life outside in the weather and it has no pitting on the cylinders. If you're that concerned about the cylinders pitting then as Strantor said, store them fully retracted if possible. You could also spray the chrome portion weekly with WD-40.

Be careful with tarps, sometimes they are worse than leaving something uncovered. They can trap moisture underneath and it can't escape and allow the implement to dry out whereas untarped they get wet when it rains but they dry off quicker too.

Use fluid film

I store all attachments outside and only cover the tiller with a canvas tarp. All are stored on wooden pallets however over a gravel base. There is some fading of the paint jobs, but it doesn't affect their utility. The rusty working/digging parts shine right up when put to work. I spray the mold board plow and the potato plow with Fluid Film which helps a bit, but probably doesn't make much difference anyway. Two tractors are stored in a ShelterLogic unit...and the other is either in the garage or covered with a tarp outdoors. Been doing this for about 10 years.

Sometimes, my method varies with the season or the weather.View attachment 564797
Cheers,
Mike

P.S. That is a cheap blue plastic cover over a canvas tarp covering the tiller which is also sprayed with Fluid Film.

Most farm equipment was designed years ago to live outside. Fluid Film is the next best thing to rubbing it down with sheep wool.

 

[Lelandwelds]

Corrosion X heavy duty will stop rust in salt water. Fluid film works better than WD40 and is cheap.

 

[MESSMAKER]

I think the sun is the worst culprit.

 

[oosik]

Outside storage - - - Ummmm I store anything that has moving parts under cover in one stall or another in my open carport. This includes - tractor, grapple, chipper & riding lawn mower. The remaining implements are out in the orchard - each on its own pallet, up and off the ground. Bottom plow, land plane grading scraper, disk harrow(oops) and roll over box blade. Been that way for the 36+ years I've lived here. I have no dedicated storage building and most likely never will.

I tried covering a couple of the implements with a tarp. Didn't make much difference - except, it provided a good spot for rodents to nest.

Speaking of nesting - - on ANY implement - - watch out for nesting wasps, hornets or yellow jackets. Especially those implements that have open ended tubes, box channels or enclosed areas. No one needs to be surprised when hooking up an implement. I speak from experience.

 

[oldballs]

Good point oosik. Those wasps love little places to nest......I've been trying Fluid Film spray to prevent nest where there is a likely place. For me, the "moving parts" are the FEL and tiller.....along with the sprayer and chipper/shredder and the Cyclone rake. The FEL has to be stored on a concrete surface if I ever want to get it remounted.
Cheers,
Mike

 

[Geotech]

I, too, am nearing tractor purchase toward the end of the year. I plan to get a rotary cutter, box blade and grapple. I've pretty much decided that I'll buy a 20 ft shipping container. I should be able to fit the tractor with grapple and rotary cutter inside and the bucket and box blade can live outside, stashed out of view. I may have to back the rotary cutter in and then pull forward with the grapple overhanging the cutter. I will probably eventually make an extended cover off the shipping container for the implements and other things. For me the shipping container works well with the theme of my recreational property which already has a 20 ft shipping container onsite ready for conversion to a cabin. The shipping container should add a little security, too. Though if someone has the balls to come steal a tractor, they probably have the means to crack open a shipping container.

 

[MikeR 2018]

I, too, am nearing tractor purchase toward the end of the year. I plan to get a rotary cutter, box blade and grapple. I've pretty much decided that I'll buy a 20 ft shipping container. I should be able to fit the tractor with grapple and rotary cutter inside and the bucket and box blade can live outside, stashed out of view. I may have to back the rotary cutter in and then pull forward with the grapple overhanging the cutter. I will probably eventually make an extended cover off the shipping container for the implements and other things. For me the shipping container works well with the theme of my recreational property which already has a 20 ft shipping container onsite ready for conversion to a cabin. The shipping container should add a little security, too. Though if someone has the balls to come steal a tractor, they probably have the means to crack open a shipping container.

I am also considering what size shed I need. How wide is that shipping container? What size tractor do you anticipate getting?