Inexpensive hay storage / Super - Moo-tel??

ejb · Jun 11, 2004

Anyone ever buy and/or have experience with a super-moo-tel or other equivalent "clearspan" buildings for ag use? Farmtek for one sells them.

https://www.farmtekcatalog.com/lg_display.cfm?page_number=324

Basically it is a greenhouse-like structure used as a barn. On a cost per square feet basis it seems like a really inexpensive way to add more capacity/storage, but I wonder how difficult these are to setup, how long they will last, and how they work under heavy snow/wind conditions?

The guy I bought my flock of sheep had one (maybe not the exact brand), and my first impression when I pulled into his driveway was very negative, but when I went into it, it was so nice and warm (in late fall), airy and bright, compared to my dark and cramped "butler" building. He highly recommended the concept, but looking for other opinions.....

Also, if not this, anyone have ideas on inexpensive ways to store hay? I need to purchase and store 500 to maybe 800 bales of hay for the upcoming winter because I can get it a lot cheaper "off the field" than out of someones barn 1 pickup load at a time, but I need a method to store it having already filled up all available space...opinions?

Egon · Jun 11, 2004

Is a well drained site and tarp coverage an option or is the climate too moist?

Egon

ejb · Jun 11, 2004

>>Is a well drained site and tarp coverage an option or is the climate too moist?

I suppose its a possibility..probably the cheapest, but also my last choice. My climate is non-costal New England so not sure if that qualifies as "too mosit" or not. Probably not, but I would defintely need pallets on the ground.

Would you use a regular blueplastic tarp for this, or else get a special type that would last longer? Seems to me the cheap blue ones never really last that long, and aren't all that waterproof...

polecat · Jun 11, 2004

HOW MUCH SNOW DO U GET ON AVERAGE THERE EJB???? /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

Egon · Jun 11, 2004

Really can't say but have also seen black plastic used. This would probably work best as it will be full length. Ropes and tires are one way the plastic is held in place.

Egon

StoneHeartFarm · Jun 11, 2004

We tend to throw up what we call "tarp sheds". You attach them to the outside of an existing shed or barn. They are basically pole construction, with a shed style roof. I just throw OSB up for a roof and caulk the seams. If I feel real energetic, I stain or paint it with discount rack paint from Depot. The walls are set up just like a pole barn, except we use tarps for siding. Doors are simply a flap of tarp.

Gather some old pallets for the floor and cover with scrap wood.

They make fast hay shelters that can come down in a few years when additional barn storage is available. The OSB (unpainted), will last for several years, as will the tarps.

Steve

PS. Betcha didn't know I was so cheap, did ya?

SPIKER · Jun 14, 2004

Around here they have a few of those storage areas and they appear to hold up and work well inOhio with High wind and Snow as well as high humidity year round.

BUT what is done locally is to use one of those new fangles bale wrappers, it/they use srink wrap to fully encapsulate the bales and then just leave them on the side of the fields. the srink wrap comes in a 24~36" roll and you pick up a bale and set it on the machine, the bale SLIDES down the machine on a mech of some type and that slide makes the srink wrap spin around the bale snuggly wrapping it up and then it stops spinning as the bale slides farther down then grab a 2nd 3rd ect bale and feed it on the same way in this way you end up with a big LONG tube OF SRINK WRAPPED BALES. JUST BACK INTO THE END AND PULL ONE OUT WITH THE BALE SPEAR AND off you go. (sorry crap loc) anyway you may hav eto deal with the left over srink wrap but it maybe much less costly and easier to store if you have the space. oterhwise a local guy has about 300 acres he does only hay in, then sell is mid winter all over the states. trucks it by the semi loads. he has 2 or 3 of those tarp storeage barn things as seen at farmteck home page...

Mark M /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Dave___in___CT · Jun 15, 2004

Hi...

I'm currently putting up a "clearspan" 2-car garage from FARMTEK...

See Attachment for picture...

It's 26'widex24'longx12'high... round-top style... 10oz green cover fabric... the main cover has a 3-4' wide clear center part the length of it to let light in... and 2 crank-up garage doors... cost ~$1,500... was a closeout...

Constructing the pipe frame is straight forward once you get the parts figured out... seems top-quality pipe & fittings...

I spent ~6 hours reading the instructions... inventorying the parts... and putting together the 8 main 26' wide hoop sections (4 pipe pieces each)...

My girlfriend and I put all the frame members together... took ~10 hours... and some creativity getting the 1st 2 roof rafters to stay up until I connected 'em with the cross pipes (purlins)...
Worked off an 8' stepladder...

Most pipe connections are "swaged" end pipe... fitting into unswaged pipe end... secured by self-drilling "tapcon" screws...

I still have to square the unit up... anchor it... assemble the rear and front panels and install 'em... then install the main cover...

2 people is the minimum to do the job 3-4 would be a lot better...

Best to set the building on level or fairly levl site... I used 3/4" mixed size aggregate for a level base...
Also bought & installed heavy 6 oz. tarp-like plastic from FARMTEK for a vapor barrier under the stone base...

I compared the clearspan to the Garage-it? brand... clearspan is definately better... but costs more...

You can see a few of their buildings at their place just ouside Hartford CT... that's what I did... there is also one very large clearspan shelter there too... maybe a day trip for you...

This is where they cut... size... and detail and the tarp-like "fabric" for the covers...
I understand they make their own pipe at their place in the midwest...

The round top shelters are best for snow-load areas...

I dunno how of of this relates to the Moo-Tel...

Hope this helps...

Dave...

Dave___in___CT · Jun 15, 2004

2nd picture...

The roof rafters are spaced 4' apart... I had 1 extra one you see spaced at 2' on the far end... (part of the "closeout" special...) /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Dave...