We work too hard to have some thief come and steal our stuff. Drugs are everywhere and the addicts addicted to them and most will steal anything to get high.
I hear that! Thieves really chap my hide. Hence my dilemma with this concept... If only everyone was good.
My farm is only 6 miles from where I store my tractor but found that I didn't use my tractor as much as I wanted to because of the hassle of getting it to and from the farm, decided to get a shipping container.
Now if I have an hour of tractor work I don't waste that much time getting it there and back, have the tractor insured and still worry about theft but am getting a lot more use out of tractor.
The only thing I keep in container is the tractor and implements, all tools go back to town with me.
This is what I am imagining will happen with me too. I see possible big benefits there, but I might be overestimating my ability to get out there and work.
Been through the same thing, and I transported the tractor every time I needed it. I got good at loading/unloading. Often, I'd load up the night before so in the morning, I could just head out.
I too am getting close to being pretty efficient. Having an HOA here requires me to hide the implements behind the smallish tractor shed, and then the trailer is hidden back across the other side of the yard and is in an area that requires the tractor to move it... Loading the night before is the way to go for sure.
This would get my vote. It only takes one theft/vandalism incident at the remote property to wipe out a lot of your hard work and efforts to have a nice tractor and equipment to go with it. Even with insurance to cover it, which is really just a bandaid for the physical theft/damage, but it won't help the emotional aspect of it too much.
If you do decide to leave it stored on the remote property, go ahead and prepare yourself mentally that at some point it will get stolen or vandalized, and when/if it really does happen, then it won't be such a killjoy.
Good input. Things like options, toolboxes, specialty grapples, 3rd function valves, etc... can be a bit of a pain to replace for sure.
By chance do you have a neighbor who would let you store the storage container on their property near their buildings or such. You might could have customer latch assembly to offer protection for the lock itself from a grinder.
Possibly have an on site option with neighbors and I need to explore this one more. I have great neighbors on both sides. Both quiet and honest family guys who have helped me out in a bind when I have been out there. I've even left my tractor, equipment, and trailer on their properties from time to time when needing to do multi day jobs. I just hate imposing on folks and prefer to not be a nuisance. I think if they had a hundred plus acres I would work this angle harder, but at 20 acres+/- I may stick to the "borrow a parking spot for a few days" strategy from time to time.
Well, you have to make the drive out there and back, regardless, so you're going to spend time driving no matter which place you store the tractor. So you're real time spender is loading/unloading twice. Can you become more efficient in that task? Can you leave some things on the trailer? It takes me about 10 minutes to load/unload and hook up/drop the trailer. So that 20 minutes per day is time well spent for me. As mentioned, someone that's determined can steal anything quickly. We own remote property (only 9 miles away) and I used to leave my IH2500b out there year round. And the battery was stolen. And the lights were stolen. And animals chewed it up, etc... but it was basically not worth someone going to prison over, so they never stole the tractor itself. Anyhow, I'd never leave my current tractor out there unless I had a building or container to store it in with active burglar alarm system over cell phone with battery backup power.
Good thoughts. I am getting better at loading and unloading, but in addition to getting the tractor in a shed out back and hiding implements behind that, I then need to hide the trailer back on the other side of the lot before calling it a day. (To avoid getting a letter from the HOA.) I have mastered the tractor and implements. Once the trailer is pulled out onto the drive, I can go back and hook up a 6' cutter, then load my bucket inside the grapple and finally use the lip of the grapple to grab and hook the box blade. Then the whole shooting match goes on and off the trailer at the same time. If this place didn't always have to be so stealthy for HOA requirements, I could have a quicker load and unload scenario. Also - with an equalizer hitch I have another couple/few minutes there getting stuff prepped. I do have nice organized totes for chains, binders, hitch, pins, etc... now and it is getting better.
Get a container. It's not hard to modify the padlock area's (4 of them if you desire) so that a grinder is unable to reach the lock. Then if your really worried, wire in an additional battery switch or pull the ground wire and keep that with you.
Definitely on my to do list if getting a container or even smaller building.
Why do you unload when you bring it home? I'd only unload if I knew I was not going to use for a few weeks. Otherwise throw a tarp over it and be ready to roll.
Heck in Houston you could probably put a 20' on your trailer, or get a hi-cube 40' for less than $2,500 delivered.
Per the above comments - I would be getting a letter from the community manager about my redneck tendencies if I left the tractor and gear loaded on the trailer.
I am looking into the containers as well. Lots of them nearby and you can get well used ones closeby for the price you note, or really sharp "one trippers" for about $4,400 bucks. Those ones are like new and a nice, neutral, light gray color.
Its also quite beneficial to be on first name bases with the County Sheriff & State Police. They will stop by and check in with me several time a year. It is known & seen by my neighbors that the police visit occasionally. Word spreads. Every little bit helps.
Completely agree. I try to be nice to those folks and have also gotten to know the local forester who manages the big timber tracts behind us and all around that area. I tell him to use my place for access into the forest anytime he needs a shortcut in hopes that anything strange looking will get me a phone call from him.
If you store it, unless you can afford a new one, PLEASE INSURE IT. People will steal the color out of your eyes if they get a chance.
Indeed. Having appropriate insurance on replaceable stuff, and good strong safes for the irreplaceables lets a guy sleep a little better while out of town. Also affords some protection and compensation when fires hit too...
Build any outbuilding twice as big as you think you will need.
As I said, I elected to just go ahead and build my shop in the spot chosen since I needed the storage anyway. That was the best $30K I ever spent.
Costs continue to rise for building materials so anything that you can afford to build now is going to be cheaper than it will be several years into the future.
Wisdom right there. The 30K garage option is the 2nd order issue I am also struggling with now. For $5,000+/- I could get the temp tractor storage solution, but for $30-$40k we could dig a well and get septic in place as well as a smaller shop with a bathroom and AC.... That would make working and playing out there much nicer now wouldn't it?!?! (Boy y'all sure know how to spend a guy's money...)
And to the OP and anyone else planning similar stuff -
I need this right now... Really like that use of containers.
I had considered doing just that when I built my shop but my bid for a stick built, turn key 30x52 was so cheap that I just went with onsite construction from the ground up.
I have found one place that will put up an enclosed carport type structure with doors and a window, (30' x 30') for $10k. Would have dirt floors and no plumbing, but might be a place to get out of the rain or sun. Perhaps not as secure as a container though...
I have been living with a similar situation for 7+ years, my property is 50 miles from where I live. Driving 100 miles round trip is a pain made worse by having to pull a tractor, I leave mine at the property. Buy an inland marine policy to cover your tractor and attachments and don't worry about it. Statistically I image you would be taking more risk with both the tractor and yourself towing it all the time as opposed to it being stolen. You're going to want a storage shed at some point anyway so might as well get it done.
Good Luck with your decision.
I think you are spot on from a liability standpoint. Hauling is relatively safe in my opinion, but there is almost always at least one accident on the road heading up or down. Having 8,000#s of tractor, trailer and gear crunching me or someone else would be a nice variable to eliminate.
THANK YOU ALL for your input. I am glad to see that my internal back and forth is not dissimilar to the thoughts presented here. Definitely can chew on this a bit more and will start putting some $$$ aside for future build while fine tuning my pit stop load/unloads. Below is a shot of my "one man band" loading set up with all the main gear I use save for hauling chains, binders, straps, tools and grease/lube tote. I think I might consider a container or small outbuilding/container to leave the machine and some tools/grease, etc.. when doing work over periods of days or weeks, but then haul the machine back to town if I need to travel out of the country or won't be able to run the tractor for more than a few weeks for whatever reason... Thanks again everyone!
