Carport prep - Cedars must go!

[myyaz33]

Getting a carport for the tractor and other "stuff" and need to get the area ready for the install. Have to take out 3 or 4 cedar trees that really need to go anyway and then build up the ground a foot or so.

Cut down 3 of the cedars a few weeks back and then tried a dull stump grinder on one of the stumps without much success. Needed to get the grinder back as it had already been a long day so I decided I could dig it out with the loader (backhoe project is still in garage). Here are a few pictures of one of the stumps and the hole left. You really can't see the second pile of dirt but there are two of equal size. Once I got most the roots cut and the soil removed around all sides I was able to pull the stump out. It wasn't exactly easy and it took a few hours but was happy with the way the T273 handled it. I just loaded the tires with WWF this week and probably would have spun out without it. Glad the WWF thread popped up this week and got me motivated.

 

[myyaz33]

Got cedars out and the area prepped with the carport now installed. Had to build up over 3ft on one end to get it level. Used some good clay and packed the heck out of it about every 3 inches of material I put on it.

Not sure what kind of aggregate I will put in on the ground but with the weather thinking about getting colder, I'd better get it figured out soon. I was thinking crushed concrete or asphalt millings.

Anyway here are a couple of pictures.

 

[Dmace]

Very nice! That carport looks like mine but with sides, is it a T-N-T Carport or other brand?


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That is a lot of fill to level it off, maybe try and find some large rocks to hold up the sides from heavy rainfall runoff which will all be coming off the roof of that carport.
In the picture above, you can see the remnants of the trees I cut down before the carport went up, it's much easier to cut them before you have $1200+ sitting under them.

 

[myyaz33]

Yep, TNT Carports.

Not sure what I am going to do about the run off yet, but I do plan on putting some posts at four of the corners to hold it a bit more true. Wind seems to shift it more than I thought it would. I am also going to enclose the end with the gable. Hopefully before winter.

 

[myyaz33]

Put a couple of posts in the ground and it made it quite a bit more sturdy. Also found out that the ROPS is higher than the gable end of the carport.

There will NOT be pictures!

 

[myyaz33]

I will give you one chance to find what is wrong with the picture. Not necessarily a good day today.

 

[EddieWalker]

If you didn't want it upside down, then I'd say you got a bit of a problem.

Is it still sound? Just flip it back over and go crazy anchoring it down this time.

Good luck,
Eddie

 

[myyaz33]

Eddie, she's toast I am afraid... Many pieces now. It is probably in worse shape due to me trying to keep it from going over and hurting the neighbors property.

I got some interesting video footage. Gimme a day or two for the sting to wear off and I will post it somewhere.

 

[two_bit_score]

Got cedars out and the area prepped with the carport now installed. Had to build up over 3ft on one end to get it level. Used some good clay and packed the heck out of it about every 3 inches of material I put on it.

Not sure what kind of aggregate I will put in on the ground but with the weather thinking about getting colder, I'd better get it figured out soon. I was thinking crushed concrete or asphalt millings.

Anyway here are a couple of pictures.

Looking good. Can you get any decomposed granite where you are? It packs great and makes a good surface.

 

[myyaz33]

Looking good. Can you get any decomposed granite where you are? It packs great and makes a good surface.

You might look at post #6 again and see if you still think it is "Looking good." If you still do, I will sell it to you!!

 

[Dmace]

Ouch! That is tough to see, it makes me think twice about enclosing the sides on mine too! That must have been one h*ll of a wind storm...

 

[JDeerekid]

How was it anchored in the ground? I had a canvas carport do that to me but didnt have much damage. Will insurance cover it?

 

[myyaz33]

How was it anchored in the ground? I had a canvas carport do that to me but didnt have much damage. Will insurance cover it?

It had 6- 4ft pieces of rebar pounded in the ground as well as 3-8ft fence posts buried and tamped with with 2x4 chunks screwed to the bottom of the post for extra holding power. The frame was wire to the posts.

One of the posts was snapped just above ground level the other one was ripped out of the ground and the third one was unscathed. 60+ mph winds.

Insurance will cover it I supspect. Haven't done the math to see if its worth it yet.

 

[EddieWalker]

Reading what you did to anchor it sounds like you did a pretty good job. But obviously, it wasn't enough. I'm wondering what it would take. I thought that Mobile Home anchors would work, but then you run into the problem of fastening the carport to the anchors. Would half inch rebar through the bottom of the frame have held if pounded down deep enough. Say six feet and at an angle?

I guess the best way would have been to dig a footing and poured concrete. then bolted it to the concrete.

Are you going to put in a new one?

Eddie

 

[myyaz33]

Reading what you did to anchor it sounds like you did a pretty good job. But obviously, it wasn't enough. I'm wondering what it would take. I thought that Mobile Home anchors would work, but then you run into the problem of fastening the carport to the anchors. Would half inch rebar through the bottom of the frame have held if pounded down deep enough. Say six feet and at an angle?

I guess the best way would have been to dig a footing and poured concrete. then bolted it to the concrete.

Are you going to put in a new one?

Eddie

This was kinda one of those temporary (2-3yr) solution until I could have better building so I didn't want to put much into it. As you suggest, I didn't quite put enough into it I guess..

Anyway, no plans yet. Maybe build pole barn this spring? Sound like a TBN project? My implements,etc. look really funny just sitting there all naked and bunched up to keep warm.

 

[two_bit_score]

You might look at post #6 again and see if you still think it is "Looking good." If you still do, I will sell it to you!!

Well, I would not be your best buyer. Sorry to see you had bad luck. Sometimes good comes out of it. Hope it does for you.

 

[2manyrocks]

Bummer. Not many posts start out good and then go bad. At least you weren't under it.

 

[myyaz33]

Ok the sting has wore off I am finally sucking it up and posting the video of "How I Helped Ruin my Carport".

Carport :: carport_kite.flv video by myyaz33 - Photobucket

Sorry it took so long. I guess one good thing is that I am getting started on a new "real" building.

You can save your "should have done it this way" posts as I have posted this for entertainment purposes only.

-Marty

 

[hobie]

Marty, When you first posted of losing the carport, I really felt your pain. Watching your hard work and $ blow away is still painful. Big kudos for you for learning from your mistakes, and continuing! Brian

 

[myyaz33]

Marty, When you first posted of losing the carport, I really felt your pain. Watching your hard work and $ blow away is still painful. Big kudos for you for learning from your mistakes, and continuing! Brian

Thanks for your condolences.