Tractorport - protecting my investment

Quigly · Sep 22, 2003

Built a quick 6' x 12' tractorport for the Buck today and used it to level the ground next to my steel shed where the tractorport attaches. Had to dig three shallow holes for the pre-made cement post mounts (haven't found that PHD yet). Might add some cross thatched wood on the side for morning sun protection next. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

Boondox · Sep 23, 2003

Looks like it'll do the job just fine!

I did something similar off the side of my garage. It measures 12x16 feet, and I used hinges where the joists attach to the garage wall so in the winter when the ground freezes and expands, the entire roof will rise and fall.

But that appears to be a problem you don't have. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Pete

Dutchman · Sep 23, 2003

I'm thinking of doing the same thing next to my pole barn. Funny, I built a 28 x 36 pole barn to house the tractor, implements, and assorted 'stuff'. It keeps getting harder to get the tractor in with the implements and assorted stuff.

Soundguy · Sep 23, 2003

Very nice addition.

I love building small structures for the farm.

A couple years ago, I made a 10x10 shade structure to put salt blocks and hay rack out for the animals near the barn.
A little bit later, I found I needed a temp stall to hold some of the smaller animals... So I used fence boards to convert it into a 10x10 stall, with a cross buck style door on hinges.... but then found I still needed the shade /shelter for the hay and salt.. so added another open 10x10 off the back of that... using the back wall as a common support.
Earlier this year I added another tractor.. a small one.. a IH cub.. and needed a place to store it out of the weather, as it has been garage kept... Since my NH 1920 and ford NAA take up most of the extra space in my horse barn, and the 8n takes up the only free port in the garage, I yet again added on to that now 10x20 rectangular structure, making it 'L' shaped... added a cross buck swinging gate on one end, and used fence boards again to completely board up the long wall.. except for a single board opening for air flow.

The tractor pulls in, still leaving some overhang inthe rear for hay and salt...

I really need to do the 'right thing' and add a real pole barn.. but seems like this stuff just creeps up on me, and i have to make do as I can.. besides... these little 10x10 tin roof structures go up in about 2 hours by myself just using a hammer, nails, and a circular saw, and a ladder.. and som 2x4'10 pt lumber... all for less than 200$...

Not as all purpose as the pole barn I need.. but much cheaper.. especially looking at the some of the prices people want around here for a pole barn...

nice work!

Soundguy

fivestring · Sep 23, 2003

Clever minds think alike!!! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

I built my 12x16 off the side of my workshop, also.

Quigly · Sep 23, 2003

Ha, ha,ha... I just have to laugh at my acre of structures. You'd think I was growing out buidlings for harvest! In the past I always wondered why all those rural ranch houses had all those structures all over their property when I would go on driving vacations... NOW I KNOW!

Current structures at Rancho-De-Quigly:

1) 8'x 8' chicken coup turned into an International Harvester Travelall parts and lawn mower shed.

2) 14' x 10' steel shed added when I moved in because there was no garage.

3) 8' x 6' old rusted steel shed that was already here is full of hand tools and general left over junk.

4) 8' x 8' Ketter plastic shed just added next to the house for home repair tools, paint, and general stuff used every day.

5) 30' x 20' steel trap covered Travelall-port houses my International Harvester toys and provides a wonderfull shaded work area (soon to be extended to 40' x 20').

6) 12' x 6' Tractorport now added to the 14' x 10' steel shed.

Yup! (ha, ha, ha...) I just realized my place is beginning to look like all the rest... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

StoneHeartFarm · Sep 24, 2003

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Funny, I built a 28 x 36 pole barn to house the tractor, implements, and assorted 'stuff'. )</font>

Hmm, sounds like home. I built a 30x40 and the only thing I can get in there is my garden tractor. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif Shoulda copied Cowboydoc and built one of those 100x120 jobs.

Naw, if I did, it would just be full of that much more junk. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

Steve

Soundguy · Sep 25, 2003

I love it!

Don't feel bad.. you aren't alone. Since you divoulged yours.. I'll tell about mine.

Ok, after we built the house, we added a 24x30 2 'car' garage in the pasture.. was stick with vinyl siding.. figured I would use some for storage.. some for workshop.. some for tack/feed... well... 1 bay is storage.. 1 bay is the workshop...but I have to back the 8n out to use it! The remaining 9x24 area is the feed/tack area... and I thought we were getting one too big..sheesh.

Next added a 36x24 horsebarn built by the same people who did the garage.. so they matched the roofline, and joined them.. the garage being matching shingles as our house, and the barn being a matching color tin roof.. ( actually looks ok.. honest! )

The horse barn is divided as a 12' pull thru, and then 2 12x12 stalls, and then a 6x12 stall for a mini, and the remaining 18x 12 area holds the NAA and NH 1920

Next to that is that 'growing' L shaped structure I made... which by the way will transform into a full square this weekend, as i already bought more nails, 2x4's and roofing tin yeasterday.....ho hum...

He have a fenced dog kennel with a 6x16 tin roof coverd area for shade for the doggies. .. that is between the house and garage.

Lets see.. out inthe back pasture I started out with a 8x8 turkey coop.... extended it another 8' when they started breeding. Added another 8x8 for a couple chickens... extended it another 8x8 to give the turkeys all the room except for the last 8x8 area for chickens. Added a 10x7 free standing chain link dog kennel next to the last 8x8 chicken area.. and put in.. more chickens. ( yes.. this is a 32x8 bird coup subdivided with wire fencing. I made it out of 2x4 welded wire horse panels.. nice and thick.. heavy.. keeps animals out.... comes in 5' x 16' sections. )

That runs along the back fence line at the left rear corner of the pasture. Just up from that was the first pig pen.. was roughly 10x20.. fenced area, with a 6x6 covered tin roof for the piggy. Added another piggy, and fenced in another 10x20 area.. added another 6x6 tin roof. After allw as said and done.. I think the pig pen is way too big... I think one would have suficed... but we were thinking of breeding them and wanted a place to seperate the young-uns from the boar... oh well.. it is done now and I aint changeing it..

So yes.. you are in good company with the 'structure' farms...

Soundguy
The chicken and turkey coops have both open areas and some tin roof covered areas for shade... ( yes this is a

fivestring · Sep 25, 2003

Pictures!!!
Let's see pictures!!!

Junkman · Sep 28, 2003

the Junkman formula for space is ...... junk will occupy space in direct correlation to the amount of space that is available without regard to the space that is allotted to other priority items.... ie.... the tractor and car will be outside and you will never know how you acquired all the junk in the garage. When you move, you will get a 40' roll off dumpster and put it all into it and not even miss it. I know, because after I built a 30' x 42' garage, I built another for the cars...... now the cars still are outside and it seems that the new garage has filled up with more of what I don't need...... but just can't part with.... Now I am trying to sell it all off on e Bay....... sold enough to pay for a new tractor, but still haven't made a dent in the pile.. need another lifetime just to sell it all off......