Bullwinkle123
Platinum Member
I have three connected garage bays I'd like to use for attachment storage (as well as vehicles/tractors), with a strong hope to restrict attachment storage to two bays if I can. I'm trying to figure out if this is viable, and what size racks and pallets to order and/or build. A car/truck will be in one bay, the tractor in the other. The racks and/or stored attachments will be in front of the vehicles except for whatever is mounted on the tractor. There is no room to maneuver the tractor with forks other than forward/reverse, so I'll only be able to store things on the floor or rack directly in front of the tractor if it requires forks to move it (in either bay).
Here's my initial equipment and storage assumptions (if it's stored and not on the tractor). I do not have this equipment yet, so this is all based on paper specs, delivery expected in T-3 weeks
The rotary cutter will almost always be stored, favoring the blade on the 3PH.
At first guess I'd think standard size 48D 40W pallets on 42D racks would be the way to go, only...
Seems like the only things which could actually reasonably go on the pallet racks are the grapple, _maybe_ the rear blade, and possibly the bucket, I just don't know until I get some advice or get these implements on some pallets to see how they position. The forks will never be on the racks because I'll need them to access the racks.
Wheeled pallets on floor? That rotary cutter isn't going to fit in _front_ of anything, unless, ... I can angle that PTO attach off to the side on the wheeled rack. How does it even fit on a pallet, it's far larger than a standard size pallet. I'm guessing the only way to avoid storing that in the third bay is if it's attached to the tractor, and frankly I'm not sure my garage is deep enough even then. So unless someone has rotary cutter insights or inspirations I'll just write off my third bay for that.
That's a mess to read about, sorry. I'm just looking for your personal experiences with any of this. What works on racks, what doesn't? How deep should the racks be? Can I use shorter racks (e.g. 32"D) for anything. I don't really want to us a 42" deep rack if I can avoid it. Where do you get "short" pallets? Or do you just have to make your own?
I'm finding plenty of places to buy used rack stuff, though southern Vermont area recommendations appreciated.
Ditto for finding a source of pallets. I have 3 pallets that have been sitting for years out in the driveway, don't think I'd want to trust those to any actual heavy equipment, they're probably worth what I didn't pay for them. Any good DIY designs? It'd be a lot faster to make a pallet if I just used plywood, is that a bad idea for load purposes? (Probably not good from a weathering standpoint).
Based on reading what I just wrote, it almost sounds like I should make do solely with wheeled pallets and forget the racks until I know more. Some of the equipment would be a fair sight larger than a standard pallet, so looking for advice from the masters.
I have a bad back, it is fully a goal make sure the tractor does any heavy lifting. All loader stuff is quick attach. Given that I presently only have two seldom-swapped rear attachments I haven't invested in a quick hitch yet.
If I do put up racks, I'm hoping for 10' uprights and 12' beams, which should nicely bisect the two-bay area which is a bit over 25' in width. The pallet forks can only reach the middle of a rack, but I have plenty of other junk to put to either side for general garage storage. Not sure if those plans will work out either, just what I'm thinking of so far, and avoids a lot of danger of vehicles hitting the uprights because they're well to the side of the parking areas.
Thanks for your advice!
Here's my initial equipment and storage assumptions (if it's stored and not on the tractor). I do not have this equipment yet, so this is all based on paper specs, delivery expected in T-3 weeks
- 72" Kubota L2296 bucket. Probably on floor on wheeled pallet. Cannot find any dimensional specs on this, it's a 6' bucket. (Kubota does not seem forthcoming with specs or manuals).
- Landpride 1072 grapple. Probably on pallet rack (on pallet). Closed this is 20.25" front to back, so plenty of room, though I'm not sure if it needs some kind of standing assist to keep it in position for quick-attach operation. https://cdn-assets.greatplainsmfg.com/ari/attach/lp/public/specs/380-092s.pdf
- 48" pallet forks, presumably on the tractor for this discussion since I'm using them to move other stored stuff
- Landpride rcf2072 6' rotary cutter. 77" overall width, 109.5" long. https://cdn-assets.greatplainsmfg.com/ari/attach/lp/public/specs/326-459s.pdf There goes my third garage bay.
- Landpride 2684 7' blade. 50.25 inches front to back, longer than a 48D pallet. (https://cdn-assets.greatplainsmfg.com/ari/attach/lp/public/specs/301-375s.pdf) Can I store this on its end so the 50" is pointed upwards?
The rotary cutter will almost always be stored, favoring the blade on the 3PH.
At first guess I'd think standard size 48D 40W pallets on 42D racks would be the way to go, only...
Seems like the only things which could actually reasonably go on the pallet racks are the grapple, _maybe_ the rear blade, and possibly the bucket, I just don't know until I get some advice or get these implements on some pallets to see how they position. The forks will never be on the racks because I'll need them to access the racks.
Wheeled pallets on floor? That rotary cutter isn't going to fit in _front_ of anything, unless, ... I can angle that PTO attach off to the side on the wheeled rack. How does it even fit on a pallet, it's far larger than a standard size pallet. I'm guessing the only way to avoid storing that in the third bay is if it's attached to the tractor, and frankly I'm not sure my garage is deep enough even then. So unless someone has rotary cutter insights or inspirations I'll just write off my third bay for that.
That's a mess to read about, sorry. I'm just looking for your personal experiences with any of this. What works on racks, what doesn't? How deep should the racks be? Can I use shorter racks (e.g. 32"D) for anything. I don't really want to us a 42" deep rack if I can avoid it. Where do you get "short" pallets? Or do you just have to make your own?
I'm finding plenty of places to buy used rack stuff, though southern Vermont area recommendations appreciated.
Ditto for finding a source of pallets. I have 3 pallets that have been sitting for years out in the driveway, don't think I'd want to trust those to any actual heavy equipment, they're probably worth what I didn't pay for them. Any good DIY designs? It'd be a lot faster to make a pallet if I just used plywood, is that a bad idea for load purposes? (Probably not good from a weathering standpoint).
Based on reading what I just wrote, it almost sounds like I should make do solely with wheeled pallets and forget the racks until I know more. Some of the equipment would be a fair sight larger than a standard pallet, so looking for advice from the masters.
I have a bad back, it is fully a goal make sure the tractor does any heavy lifting. All loader stuff is quick attach. Given that I presently only have two seldom-swapped rear attachments I haven't invested in a quick hitch yet.
If I do put up racks, I'm hoping for 10' uprights and 12' beams, which should nicely bisect the two-bay area which is a bit over 25' in width. The pallet forks can only reach the middle of a rack, but I have plenty of other junk to put to either side for general garage storage. Not sure if those plans will work out either, just what I'm thinking of so far, and avoids a lot of danger of vehicles hitting the uprights because they're well to the side of the parking areas.
Thanks for your advice!
