Fabric Shelters

[Botabill]

I know this is probably not the right place to start this thread so I apologize but I wasn't sure where it should go. Anyway... I've been looking at buying a Fabric Shelter (eg garage in a box) and I was wondering what kind of experience my fellow tractor enthusiasts have had with this kind of shelter. The one I'm looking at is at the TSC store and cost $299. It has 2 inch powder coated pipe frame and is 12 feet X 20 feet. Thanks.

 

[MrJimi]

Go and look at Samsclub near you
Jim

 

[Dmace]

I got my Cover-it brand tarp carport from BJ's wholesale club about 6 years ago for $290 and it held up really well considering that it was not designed for snow but I kept it up all year long. It was 12wx20lx10'h and fit the tractor well, it was a little cramped with the backhoe off and I had to park in the dead center because the cab made it a little tall. For the price, it's tough to beat.

I just purchased a metal roof carport for the tractor seen here and if I did it all over again I would go this route first. For about $800 more, it will last 10 times longer and is double the size so now there is so much room, I can even park my dump truck in there. Although the tarp carport was fully enclosed which was nice, hopefully I can enclose mine before the snow falls.

 

[john_bud]

I had one from Menards. (like Home Depot, Lowes, etc). It was about 250 or 300 bucks if I recall. The tarp part started failing in 2 years with small thin spots and some rips. It was toast after 3 years. That was OK as the pole shed expantion of 25' was completed by then (part of the plan). So it was about $100 a year to use. It was in the shade of some trees, so there was not too much direct sunlight nor strong winds.

It was "ok" for short term needs, but don't plan on it being around very long.

Maybe putting a 2nd expendable tarp over the top would make it last longer?

jb

 

[Farmwithjunk]

I bought one a few years ago to shelter a fresh painted tractor while I had another in the shop painting it. We had a freezing rain (1/2" of ice) followed by 3" of snow. I spent the next couple days trying to get a smashed pipe frame and a frozen tarrp off the tractor trapped under it. I'm not a big fan of 'em now.

 

[Timber]

I love them but you do have to do more than what is done in the Box and you have to keep the snow off them or they will collapse on you. I just set up 2 of them this year for the season comming. The 2 that I have are made by Shelter Logic and are 12' x 24'. I bought them at BJs for $300

 

[Timber]

 

[Dmace]

Timber,

I had the exact same one but different sized. I am sure you noticed that all the joints are just put together and the large tarp that serves as the roof and sides keep the tension on the whole thing. I noticed the whole thing was a little flimsy when I first set it up so I bought a box of self-tapping screws and put one in every joint where a pipe went into a connector. I highly recommend it.

Here it is covered in snow:

I couldn't leave the front door on because my cab is too high.

 

[Timber]

I did a thread somewhere on setting one of these up. I have 2 of them from this year that are identical. I like to set 6"x 6" posts 4 " into the ground and clamp the support pipes to to them. The other thing I like to do is add some webbing over the top to help take the snow load but like I said you have to keep the snow off it. That may mean going out in a storm several times with a push broom and popping the roof from the inside. I also lay a piece of tarp down on the ground to keep stuff dry from the ground moisture. I have carpet down over the ground tarp and the other 1 has pallets down on top of the tarp. In the roll up door I use a piece of 1 PVC conduit to stiffen the roll up door as well as the back wall. I like these Shelter logic Jiffy buildings because the are well designed. The roof and side walls are 1 piece. You can also see the reef pipe stitched into the side wall. How long it will last is up to you. Take the time to set it up well and take care of it and it will last years. I have another that is not as well made and it is up over 4 years now in 2 different locations

 

[Timber]

I did see your New shelter there with the Metal roof. Those are very nice and you don't have to worrie about the snow load. Are you going to build sides for that as well. That is almost a garage

 

[Dmace]

I did see your New shelter there with the Metal roof. Those are very nice and you don't have to worrie about the snow load. Are you going to build sides for that as well. That is almost a garage

My local car dealer is a reseller of the T-N-T carports and lists all the prices on their website. To close both sides with the same metal panels is $375 for the 7ft sides and 21ft long unit and to close the gabel ends are $585 each. So to close both sides and the back end would be an extra $960. I am sure I can do it with either plywood or metal roofing from Home Depot for much cheaper. I will post pictures if I decide what to do.

 

[Diesel-ME]

I have three neighbors who have installed various brands and models of these shelters over the past few years. The one thing that I have learned (Botabill take note) is that the round ones are WAY better in snow country. I have seen numerous pitched roof models collapse under snowload while the rounded ones seen to hold up better.

One of my friends runs a sport fishing camp and has deployed 3 or 4 (including one HUGE one) Shelter King brand rounded shelters for boat storage. That brand seems to hold up better than the discount store brands. As I recall a one-car sized one sells for $400 locally.

~paul

 

[scesnick]

I wonder if you could buy just the frame. Sheet metal is ALOT cheaper than they are selling it for. Of course, if they would sell it for what you could buy it for locally, they wouldn't be in business long.

 

[Dmace]

I wonder if you could buy just the frame. Sheet metal is ALOT cheaper than they are selling it for. Of course, if they would sell it for what you could buy it for locally, they wouldn't be in business long.

I would be willing to bet those prices I listed are higher than the metal alone to pay for installation also. That is included in all these prices. I highly doubt they would sell the frame alone.

 

[scesnick]

I would be willing to bet those prices I listed are higher than the metal alone to pay for installation also. That is included in all these prices. I highly doubt they would sell the frame alone.

I was thinking more along the lines of just buying the pipe frame, or whatever is used, and then installing the metal on my own. Doesn't really look like it would be "Rocket Surgery" as my daughter says. But bending the pipe to specs would be a bit tougher I'm sure.