To tarp or not to tarp

[fried1765]

I would tarp it to keep precipitation off, recognizing there are times when you will want to take it off and let any moisture out. My :twocents: on leaving implements outside; everything I have including my tractor is out in the weather but not by choice. I'm not a farmer so my equipment is paid for out of my pocket, not as a business expense. Seeing what was once a nice looking piece of equipment fade and get rusted is like watching dollar bills burn, whether it affects the usability or not. I have an older single bottom plow which had always been stored inside until I bought it; the rust may not make it any less affective yet it still doesn't make me feel good about it. My BH was in my father's barn for 30 years and still looked nearly new; even though I try to keep it tarped it is already fading, as every storm seems to be preluded by high winds and the tarps eventually disintegrate when it's on the tractor it is outside.

I consider myself fortunate to be able to sore everything inside, with over 3700sf of enclosed storage space.
It is not very organized, and when I need more space I am forced to rearrange.
I have given boats and cars to my sons, but they simply reappear when it is time for Winter storage.

 

[cqaigy2]

I consider myself fortunate to be able to sore everything inside, with over 3700sf of enclosed storage space.
It is not very organized, and when I need more space I am forced to rearrange.
I have given boats and cars to my sons, but they simply reappear when it is time for Winter storage.

:laughing::thumbsup:

 

[Industrial Toys]

Sometimes the cost to house equipment isn't really worth it. But, as well as protecting equipment, for me, it's as big a deal, not having your place littered with equipment. Cram it all inside and close the doors.

 

[fried1765]

Sometimes the cost to house equipment isn't really worth it. But, as well as protecting equipment, for me, it's as big a deal, not having your place littered with equipment. Cram it all inside and close the doors.

That's ME !!!!

 

[Beaver Cove Deere]

Logging winch, chipper, snow blower are not left outside but I have no choice with the rotary deck until I build a shed for the attachments. I'm not a fan of leaving stuff outside in the weather except for the forks.
For now I keep a close eye on the deck for any rust forming. When any is found I flap wheel it, prime and color match paint the area. So far it's only needed it once in 4 years. Everything gets greased before storage.

 

[mred2]

I have friend that pours old motor oil over everything, outside or under cover. It doesn't look good, but no rust.

 

[dragoneggs]

I have a few non hydraulic implements and they sit under the fir trees. So, they are always shaded but occasionally need a good powerwash to get the grime off (spring/fall) maintenance. I keep my tractor, z turn, BH attachment under deck cover but open on three sides so they stay dry. If I didn't have that space, I would at least build a lean to out of wood and metal roofing coming off the house or garage that is permanent vs. tarping and creating moisture and pest problems. The winds around here in the winter make tarps tough to secure and still allow airflow. At that point, a ShelterLogic makes more sense.. but costs more dollars. My :2cents:

 

[Industrial Toys]

If I could chose between rusty but clean quipment and prestine equipment covered in OLD CRANKY OIL, I would take the former. What an irresponsible thing to do fo the ground water though. Or is this massively overblown?

I still maintain that the SUN is your biggest enemy anyway.

 

[Jstpssng]

If I could chose between rusty but clean quipment and prestine equipment covered in OLD CRANKY OIL, I would take the former. What an irresponsible thing to do fo the ground water though. Or is this massively overblown?

That was my first thought also... and one thing which you and I agree on. :thumbsup:
I tried old crankcase oil as B&C oil for a very brief time, and quickly decided that the savings aren't (isn't?) worth the mess.

 

[Industrial Toys]

We painted stuff like wood sheds with it in the 80s. Then my Dad did the picnic table which was never used after that again. Back then you wouldn't have given it a second thought to spread it down your driveway to keep the dust down. With behavior like that, you wonder why there is a clean drop of water to drink. I mean, REALLY wonder.

 

[Jstpssng]

I remember my father draining the oil onto the gravel driveway, as you say. Then he started saving it in 55 gallon drums. At one time he has several, which he took over to the landfill and emptied them out.
It was perfectly acceptable back then.

 

[Industrial Toys]

Maintenance guys would go out to a dozer or something out in the boonies and drain the oil on the spot.

And I'm told railroad workers would use 2" or bigger diesel dozzles, put them on the ground still pouring out fuel to move the locomotive to get to the next tank. That might also have been deliberately done to skew the efficiency numbers over steam operations.

JD has a little plastic bottle, a couple of onces capacity, and a network of hoses that catches the three drops of fluid spilled from the rear aux couplers when you remove, on our 6200. A young person must have thought of that.

 

[Jstpssng]

Yesterday to prepare for our first winter storm of the year I consolidated all of my implements and covered them with a big tarp. With the BH sticking up though it was hard to tie the cover down well. Of course the storm was precursed by the obligatory high winds, and my tarp ended up doing a really good job of keeping the ground dry next to my pile.

 

[fried1765]

Yesterday to prepare for our first winter storm of the year I consolidated all of my implements and covered them with a big tarp. With the BH sticking up though it was hard to tie the cover down well. Of course the storm was precursed by the obligatory high winds, and my tarp ended up doing a really good job of keeping the ground dry next to my pile.

Don't you have a Woodmizer?
If not, you need one, so you could build some storage.
Sure wish I had bought one when I was younger.

 

[Jstpssng]

Don't you have a Woodmizer?
If not, you need one, so you could build some storage.
Sure wish I had bought one when I was younger.

I sure wish that I had bought one when I was younger, also. Then everything I have might be under cover now. It's on my list of things before I retire, but that day keeps getting pushed back.

 

[fried1765]

I sure wish that I had bought one when I was younger, also. Then everything I have might be under cover now. It's on my list of things before I retire, but that day keeps getting pushed back.

Maybe try to find a way to slowly move it up your $ priority list?
It might actually pay for itself, if you did just a little custom work occasionally.

 

[Jstpssng]

^^^
I actually have enough lumber lying around to put something up; I just need a little more site prep. I'm having an excavator in next spring to do some work which I"ve been trying to get done for 4 years. People say they will do it but never show up.

 

[Industrial Toys]

You want something, you need to be the squeaky wheel.

 

[mred2]

I heard of a man that was almost put in jail for putting oil down on a dirt drive. But the highway department puts down oil on the ground before they pave a road. They can do it, but you can't.
I don't pour oil on my equipment, but I have had lines break in the past. I put down washing powder. Wet it in. The grass grows back within a year.
We do try to recycle everything that we can. But I don't know of anyone that doesn't spill a drop when changing their fluids on a tractor. And how many recycle their oil filters. At work we are required to open, drain and then crush the filters.