Storing tractor and implements outside or under a roof?

[mike35549]

I had a 18x41 metal carport with both sides enclosed to store my tractor and implements in. I see a lot of people around where I live that just leave there tractor and implants outside all the time and was just curious where folks on here store there tractor and implements.

 

[oosik]

I store my tractor in a three sided stall in my four bay carport. All my other implement are stored out in the orchard on pallets. One exception - my Wallenstein chipper is in another bay in the carport. I don't mind if the paint fades on my implements but I don't need my tractor tires rotting off the rims in the sunshine and since the chipper has moving parts, it probably does better under cover. None of my other implements have moving parts, like the chipper.

 

[oldafretired]

I keep my tractor and all implements/buckets in my shop. My mini ex couldn't fit through the 8' high shop door so I had a small pole barn made for it with a 10' high door. These things cost too much (for me anyway) to just leave outside.

 

[JRobyn]

IMHO, the important thing is to keep the SUN off as much as possible. At least in moderate climates. That's what will rot your tires, crack your seat, and fade your paint.

So a shed, aluminum carport, even a ShelterLogic "tarp barn" works. What you definitely DO NOT want is to put a tarp over it where gobs of ground moisture will rise up into the inside of the tarp and everything under it, and cover it all with mold and mildew.

 

[cat fever]

I store all my equipment in the barn.
The hay is in a different barn.

 

[redman135]

Store the tractor in a shed if possible. The little 40 hp had it's own shed and the 70 hp had to share a shed with the hay if there was space, back in the farming days.

 

[theg]

Great view

 

[Wagtail]

The tractor(s) and all implements are stored in my 5-bay shed (exception is the ballast roller). With a concrete floor, the implements are all on wheeled pallets for storing them away in a group and for ease of rolling them into position for changing around.

My shed faces South (Southern hemisphere) to keep everything out of the sun.

 

[Bronco82]

My tractor was in the heated garage last winter, and will be crammed in there again this winter. But with any luck, next summer will build a 32 x 40 or so metal quansi-hut type storage garage and that will be its new home. That's the dream anyway.

 

[TheMan419]

I store all in a barn. Running out of space because we also store hay in there for the horses, and the horse trailer. With all the snow and rain we get the tractor will always be inside. If needed the harrow has no moving parts so it will be the first to go outside. Not sure after that.

Next project will be to get all the implements on pallets with wheels so I can move them from here to there easily. That will actually gain me some space. Floor of barn is concrete so I am good.

 

[Turbys_1700]

My tractors are in the dry. The Ford stays under roof in a shed along with the brush hog. The Workmaster stays in my father's converted metal RV garage. My implements stay outside except for the grapple. I'm in the process of freeing up some storage space in the barn now for my implements.

 

[Soldier415]

Everything is outside currently. Trying to get a barn built

 

[wagne223]

Tractor is stored under a pole barn. Roof only no walls. Implements are under a suspended tarp. (rope between trees with tarp across in a tent like shape) Tarp does not lay on implements and is open all around for air flow.
I am in FL though so no long winter buried in snow. Just daily storms in the summer.

 

[TNhobbyfarmer]

I store all my equipment in the barn.
The hay is in a different barn.


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Lynn, every time I see pics of your property, I get jealous. Just beautiful.

It looks like you have a combination of concrete and gravel in your equipment storage area. Correct? Is the gravel crusher run? I am going to put gravel in a dirt floor pole barn I use for equipment storage. I have debated in my mind about whether to use crusher run or maybe 3/4 clean gravel. I am thinking that if i use crusher run and wet it down a few times, it will pack nicely and work well. Any suggestions by you or others would be welcomed.

 

[bspeedy]

Lynn, every time I see pics of your property, I get jealous. Just beautiful.

It looks like you have a combination of concrete and gravel in your equipment storage area. Correct? Is the gravel crusher run? I am going to put gravel in a dirt floor pole barn I use for equipment storage. I have debated in my mind about whether to use crusher run or maybe 3/4 clean gravel. I am thinking that if i use crusher run and wet it down a few times, it will pack nicely and work well. Any suggestions by you or others would be welcomed.

I would recommend against crusher run for inside use. I had it in my pole barn for a couple years. It was a dust storm every time I started something up. Fan would blow the dry dust around and make a mess of everything. Use washed gravel or, ideally, concrete.

 

[bspeedy]

My tractors and equipment are all inside my pole barn. Best money I've ever spent. Keeping things in a dry, dark location really slows down the aging process.

 

[TerryR]

My tractor and a few implements live in a small enclosed, shown here during re-siding:


The rest of the implements are kept in a covered shed:

 

[TNhobbyfarmer]

I would recommend against crusher run for inside use. I had it in my pole barn for a couple years. It was a dust storm every time I started something up. Fan would blow the dry dust around and make a mess of everything. Use washed gravel or, ideally, concrete.

Thanks for the heads up on the crusher run Bspeedy. It makes sense that the dust would be problematic. I know concrete is the best option, but I don't spend a lot of time at the remote cabin so I'm having a hard time convincing myself to spend the $$$'s. That's always an option at a later date.

 

[TXHF]

Thanks for the heads up on the crusher run Bspeedy. It makes sense that the dust would be problematic. I know concrete is the best option, but I don't spend a lot of time at the remote cabin so I'm having a hard time convincing myself to spend the $$$'s. That's always an option at a later date.

We are going to start with something like this and maybe close in the drive-through center later. Overall it will be 44' wide x 36' deep. The two 12' wide add-ons on each side will have concrete floors while the center will be just washed gravel. The center will be 20' wide. The guy quoted me $18k for all of it. Another $3,600 to enclose the ends with 12' rollups.

 

[Creamer]

IMHO, the important thing is to keep the SUN off as much as possible. At least in moderate climates. That's what will rot your tires, crack your seat, and fade your paint.

So a shed, aluminum carport, even a ShelterLogic "tarp barn" works. What you definitely DO NOT want is to put a tarp over it where gobs of ground moisture will rise up into the inside of the tarp and everything under it, and cover it all with mold and mildew.

The other thing the sun eats are rubber hoses and seals - think bearings, hydraulic hoses, belts, etc. Consequently I store anything with moving parts inside if possible. Angle blade, box blade, landscape rake, etc. who cares if the paint fades.

My bushhog mower (came with the place) had water in the gearbox when I got it from being stored outside. If you can get them up off of wet dirt or grass it helps too to keep the rust down. I had a neighbor whose finish mower froze up on him because he left it set for about 6 years - it was rusted real bad underneath. The deck will last much longer if it doesn't rust.