We do not have a garage or a barn. We have something we call the barn but it does not allow us to park the tractor much less implements inside.
The tractor is going on its 11th year outside. I wish I had a place to put it but we do not. Maybe in the next year or two a barn might get built....
I used tarps for a couple of years but the metal on the tarps would scratch the tractor so I stopped using them. I have only had one mouse in the tractor and it died when I started it up. No problems with water in the engine oil and I know because I do UOA. No idea on the hydraulic oil but figure it is ok.
There has been fading of the plastic but I think if I buffed it the fading would disappear. The only real problem is the seat "cushion" has separated from the seat bottom. Looks like there is expanding foam gluing the cushion to the seat bottom and the glue just failed. Could have been from being outside but I just think it was time for the glue to fail.
Tires are ok. Only ok because there are chunks tore out of some of them because I used the tractor in the woods and rocks and tree limbs/stumps/etc gets run over. Not easy on tires. Surprised I got 10 years out of the tires to be honest.
I thought about getting a cheap shelter. But cheap shelters look cheap and I do not like the look. The more expensive ones were just more money and getting into a price range of building a proper barn. Frankly, anything short of proper barn is a waste of money for me. We get high wind gusts for some reason and any tent like structure or even the metal ones do not seem like they would last long. We have had several storms over the years that have taken down very large trees and lots of them. As well as winds that have broken 24 inch diameter trees in half.
The tarps I use to cover the wood pile last 5ish years before the UV kills them. Using something similar for a shelter just seems like a waste of money for me.
Funny thing is, the tractor paint is as good as new. No fading. It is only the plastic fenders and such that have faded. No real rust either on the tractor. Most of the rust is on the box blade. A bit of dirt work wears of the rust.
Wish the plastic fender had not faded, and they have not faded much, but as long as it works I could care less. It gets scratched up in the woods anyway. I bought the tractor to do work and save me money not look like a show vehicle.
The wifey's family has a tractor sitting in a barn. Now it is likely 30 years old at this point. But it looks like scat. All tore up and rusted. Keeping it in the barn did not really help it at all. Still runs though. :thumbsup:
I think I could spend a day power washing my tractor and buffing it and you could not tell it had been kept outside.
Wish I had a barn though.
Later,
Dan
