Traction Tractor Cover

[Diane59]

Hi, We don't have a place to store our tractor yet and was wondering what everyone else does for a tractor cover. Any ideas? What are the brand names you like and pros/cons? Thanks in advance for the help! Diane

 

[oosik]

Well - no idea of any covers by brand. Internet search should provide results. Main reason I would cover the tractor - keep the tires out of the sun. UV from the sun will really tear h*ll out of tires.

Consider this - a covered tractor provides a good hiding spot for small rodents. The "wrong" cover in a breeze with sand paper you pretty new tractor finish.

If I had to leave my tractor out in the open - cover the tires, cover the seat, cover the dash. All three can be adversely affected by sun.

 

[Gale Hawkins]

The 8x12' HF silver tarp last about it year or so. On the 3000&3600 they make a perfect tent and stay on well. I use drive way reflector marker stick on each end to form the tent and attach it to the tractors.

 

[Gordon Gould]

Yup - Tarp and bungies. Pretty good protection and way better than nothing.



gg

 

[Tompet]

Horror Freight portable garage 10x17 that would work. I got one a few years ago with coupon for under$150 with tax to store some other stuff. Hopefully I'll get pole barn finished this year and maybe use it for firewood storage, something else or give it away.

I had one before this that wasn't as well made and got 7 or 8 years out of it. On old style you couldn't order just a replacement cover, don't know on new ones.

They also have a 10'x20' car canopy for $120, but with a 25% off coupon....not too bad

 

[Tompet]

Yup - Tarp and bungies. Pretty good protection and way better than nothing.

View attachment 555513

gg

Yup, did that too in the past.

 

[LMychajluk]

IMO, if you're going to use a tarp, run a line between a couple of trees as a ridgeline, pitch the tarp in an 'A' configuration (either square or offset 45deg), park the tractor underneath, then stake down the corners. It'll keep the weather off better and eliminate the tarp from resting on the machine, where it will trap moisture and potentially cause rust spots.

Otherwise, maybe something like a ShelterLogic garage. I think the 'SUV' models are taller / have bigger doors, and the ones that aren't snow rated aren't that expensive.

 

[Gale Hawkins]

IMO, if you're going to use a tarp, run a line between a couple of trees as a ridgeline, pitch the tarp in an 'A' configuration (either square or offset 45deg), park the tractor underneath, then stake down the corners. It'll keep the weather off better and eliminate the tarp from resting on the machine, where it will trap moisture and potentially cause rust spots.

Otherwise, maybe something like a ShelterLogic garage. I think the 'SUV' models are taller / have bigger doors, and the ones that aren't snow rated aren't that expensive.

Do you not not have wind damage to the tarp and tractor?

 

[TractorGuy]

I have my small tractor under a metal carport type shed I purchased from a portable building company for $600. It was a lot model I had to reasemble myself. It keeps the sun off but the tractor still gets filthy. Have so far kept the rodents away with smelly moth balls. I think you can get a 12x20 delivered and put up for under a grand.

My 99 model backhoe sits out in the weather as it has it's whole life. I think it may have one original tire. Rodents have been a problem a couple of times but I have caught it before major damage. I stuck a bag of mothballs on top of the radiator the other day. Hopefully that will help.

I know someone that had to resort to leaving the hoods open on their vehicles. Rats destroyed wiring harness twice to the tune of $1200 a pop. If the tractor sits more than a week at a time you need to keep check for rodents. Squirrels are as bad or worse as rats.

With a high enough wind tarps will abraid and damage a finish. They are also difficult to get positioned so you don't have water sitting in some spots. Just messy to deal with in my opinion.

 

[CMV]

Local friend has his parked on his land in the woods. Throws a tarp over it with bungees. I said that was worse than just leaving it uncovered since the trees will shade it mostly. He was sure tarping it would be better. The mice agreed and love their new home

 

[LMychajluk]

Do you not not have wind damage to the tarp and tractor?

We don't keep any of our equipment under tarps (though I may start doing so w/ a couple of imlements, since we're running out of space in the garages). But, I've pitched a few tarps while camping in some pretty substantial storms, and as long as you can get the edges low enough so that most of the wind blows over the tarp instead of catching it from underneath, there's usually not a problem. Don't use bungies to guy out the corners - use line (paracord is fine) and check it once in a while to make sure the lines are taught. Snow may be an issue during the winter, but I don't think the OP will have that problem in Atlanta.

 

[Gale Hawkins]

We have never had rodent issues l have to wipe the white cat hair out of the seat.

 

[AxleHub]

I've had my Massey tractor since June of 2015 - so that's three full years. Its been stored outside on the concrete driveway in full sun and full rain or snow during the entire time. I've never experienced any mouse or rodent issues. I often cover the seat with a large black heavy duty garbage bag. At times - I've had a certain type of cover I put over most of it except the fel arms/bucket etc. etc. The covers I've used are designed for large motorcycles or atv units. We have lots of wind here also. Unit is just fine with little sun fade or aging to be seen. Once a year I use a "restore" product that makes it look showroom new - including handle covers and dash and metal and plastic surfaces and vinyl seat and steering wheel. I attribute no rodents to the fact I provide no shade and it only sits on concrete instead of gravel or grass.

Just my experiences for the 1st 3 years.

by the way - south facing sun exposure all year long.

 

[Gordon Gould]

I have kept a lot of equipment in the woods. The rodents here aren't smart enough to recognize a tarpped machine or at least don't seek them out over uncovered stuff. They will inhabit anything that is parked in the woods and has a warm engine and warm oil filled transmission/hydraulic system. They can always find a place to stay dry and comfy tarp or not.

gg

 

[Gale Hawkins]

This is a 1980 that has set out uncovered most of its life I was told by the last owner of 32 years when I bought it from him a few months ago.

 

[marcusmerritt]

Ford 2000; 3 cyl gas; 4/1 trans....I have no barn nor shelter for my tractor but have a friend in the billboard business and he scored for me a 14'x45' flex-face billboard which I cut up into tarp sized pieces. I take the muffler off the exhaust pipe, put a can on it, then an upside down large plastic mixing tub over instruments and seat, then lay the 8x10' 'tarp' over the tractor. I use spring clamps to secure the tarp to the back fenders and both steering arms. It keeps the rain off and, so far, no varmint except a wasp nest under the hood. It's also large enough to cover much of the rear tires. A word of caution...do not drape a tarp all the way to the ground. I did that once and, when I removed the tarp, the tractor was covered completely in condensation. Every surface. I use the smaller tarp now and it allows enough air movement to prevent condensation. You can find the same kind of billboard tarp on-line at places which recycle the billboards into various sized tarps - Google 'billboard tarps'. Before finding the billboard tarps, I was using regular tarps and the sun and rain killed them after about 3-4 months. Have been using the same billboard tarp for about a year and a half now and it still has a lot of life left. Can still read the Wendy's ad on one side of the tarp.

 

[Gale Hawkins]

The muffler on Rusty will just slip off and on so when tarping for a long period I take off the muffler for a better fit. I need to look at the 265 MF that I have it on tight. The 1966 3000 diesel has the factory downdraft exhaust like the ones out of the 50's.

Air flow is key for sure.

Like they are calling for up to 6" of rain this weekend so I have at least the dashes and seats covered. I have another transmission top shifter plate that should not let in rain around the shifters for Rusty I hope to get to soon but with the 4th of July coming up soon it may be next year now.

 

[Omega Woods]

I use Shelter Logic SUV 12x20 portable garages that someone mentioned earlier. They will suffice until I can get a building built. I paid about $500-600 for each one at Northern Tool with discounts.

 

[MitchellB]

When I first got our 8N tractor I quickly discover here in the humid southeast that things rust sweating under a tarp so we cobbled together some lightweight sheet metal roofing panels and laid it over the old swing set to park under. It kept the rain and snow off. Then I ran across a place selling 18x20 carport covers installed for $600. All I needed was to provide a level spot to install it on. I decided to build a cement pad, just so I would have a decent place to work on projects.
View attachment carport.BMP
A few years later when we had to remove our above ground swimming pool, I used the sheet metal ring to make sides to the the carport cover. The added benefit to the new sides was I now get a nice breeze that blows thru there most of the time and more storage protected space on the sides.