Racing the weather for a <$600 "garage"

[workinonit]

I find it amusing that your equipment sits outside but half of your permanent storage is full of firewood.

 

[KennyG]

Works out the same price in Can$, it's not cheap

The cost will look a lot more reasonable when you look at it as a permanent solution vs. the cost and time required to replace the tarp every two or three years. Pay now or pay later.

 

[2manyrocks]

I built a permanent metal roof shed for my tractor because it's better protection than a tarp, doesn't rip or sag under a load of snow and I don't have to keep replacing tarps. Cargo container would also been a nice option, but wood and metal were easier to find at the time. That said, I understand putting up a temporary solution which is far better than letting equipment sit out in the elements.

 

[two_bit_score]

That said, I understand putting up a temporary solution which is far better than letting equipment sit out in the elements.

Absolutely.

 

[BryceSteiner]

I put a larger one up several years ago - Shelter Logic - 12x24 I think. I wired it with outlets and lights. With the 11' opening and it holds up fine. When I need to change out the fabric I'll probably just put purlins over the tubing and put steel on top. Then frame in a garage door and an external door.
We have tremendous amounts of wind and it's held fine. I live right in windmill country too.

 

[IndyIan]

I started with one of these for the tractor and its had a good size cedar tree top that snapped off in the wind fall on it, and while the cover got a few tears, the structure survived fine. This profile sheds snow very well and as long as you don't want to use the doors these silly things seem to last as long as you add some decent anchoring(3.5' t posts hammered into ground level and an angle works well) to hold down the tarp along the tensioning bar along the bottom. I have the south facing door permanently closed and the north facing open and now it stores 12 4x5 round bales every year. The replacement cover is getting about due for a replacement, but has lasted 8 years so far. It's fairly well sheltered from the wind as long as the cedar trees hold up... But has survived some serious storms. If you want the cover to last and don't care about looks, you can buy a huge cheap tarp on sale, fold it in half and put it over the proper cover just to eat UV rays for a few years.

 

[two_bit_score]

This profile sheds snow very well and as long as you don't want to use the doors these silly things seem to last as long as you add some decent anchoring(3.5' t posts hammered into ground level and an angle works well) to hold down the tarp along the tensioning bar along the bottom.

I'd say you done pretty good with one that has lasted strong for 8 years!

 

[deezler]

I find it amusing that your equipment sits outside but half of your permanent storage is full of firewood.

Haha, I see you are from SC. We heat our house exclusively with that wood - having it completely dry and readily accessible all winter long is indeed a very high priority for me. I kept my firewood outdoors in the elements with various rudimentary coverings for years before I got that metal carport, and it SUCKED. Hardwood firewood needs to season (dry out) for several months, if not a year+, in a place with airflow, but out not in the rain and snow.

You can get damp firewood to burn ok in a woodstove, but you send half the BTUs up the chimney, along with a load of creosote. Never again, for me.

 

[deezler]

The cost will look a lot more reasonable when you look at it as a permanent solution vs. the cost and time required to replace the tarp every two or three years. Pay now or pay later.

I don't think I could ever bring myself to pay 1/2 or 2/3 of the original purchase price of one of these sheds, just for a new cover that you know would ultimately fail again in the same timeframe.

I expect my new shed cover to last the better part of a decade here. I'm at ~10 years for the yellow, cheaper, inferior 10x17 HF shed in the back of my initial photos.

I don't understand why some of you lose covers so quickly, to be honest. Extreme wind exposure? Failure to get the cover on nice and tight, or leave the doors open? Or never clear the snow/ice off?

 

[nyone]

Ground compaction is very important to the stability and longevity of the structure. Soil should be compacted in lifts. Each lift should only be as thick as you can effectively compact to 95%. In your case I see about 18" of fill on the far end. This should be done in 2 or 3 lifts with proper moisture content. The tractor tires can be a effective compaction tool. A bucket of dirt and tire marks on every square inch should suffice. GL

Dont worry these tent garages dont last long enough for the ground to settle to much. I got 2.5yrs out of one and every snow storm I had to clean it off and shovel out the sides.

The metal car port he has is way better of a option.

 

[workinonit]

Haha, I see you are from SC. We heat our house exclusively with that wood - having it completely dry and readily accessible all winter long is indeed a very high priority for me. I kept my firewood outdoors in the elements with various rudimentary coverings for years before I got that metal carport, and it SUCKED. Hardwood firewood needs to season (dry out) for several months, if not a year+, in a place with airflow, but out not in the rain and snow.

You can get damp firewood to burn ok in a woodstove, but you send half the BTUs up the chimney, along with a load of creosote. Never again, for me.

I get it but firewood or my farm equipment, I think my equipment wins out.

 

[deezler]

I get it but firewood or my farm equipment, I think my equipment wins out.

I get where you're coming from too, I hate seeing my tractor attachments sit outside all winter (thankfully now they wont!). To be clear it was never my tractor or any power equipment, just implements.

But that's also kind of like saying, I don't mind if my furnace runs at half the efficiency and struggles to keep the house above 65F, just so some well painted/powdercoated pieces of metal don't ever get wet. Poor tradeoff.

 

[deezler]

I never posted this pic from the backside. My car hauler is looong, guess the beaver tail has to take the elements still, haha. Still better than the entire trailer living outside.

One thing that I didn't really think about when building the foundation walls, it how the zipper doors obviously wont reach the ground and seal up the shed. Not a problem at all with this long trailer poking out each end, but maybe a drawback if and when I have other goods inside. I have an idea to make a folding wooden ramp on each end (or at least the rear side) , but sort of doubt I'll ever get motivated or find the time to engineer and build such a thing. Not really necessary.

 

[KennyG]

Should be easy to extend your doors. I assume you have a pocket at the bottom of the door. Just slide some kind of rod through the pocket and tie a flap of tarp material to it.

 

[bdhsfz6]

I had considered one of these fabric buildings until I saw what happened to a friends' on a neighboring farm. He replaced his 12' x 20' "tent" twice due to damage from wind, tree branches and even falling icicles from the barn roof.

After it collapsed completely during an ice storm, he replaced it with two 8' x 20' shipping containers. He spaced them 12' apart and plans to cover the space between with a shed roof.

Nothing wrong with these tent buildings in areas not prone to weather damage. Just not around here.

 

[nyone]

I get it but firewood or my farm equipment, I think my equipment wins out.

Wet firewood..useless. wet equipment..same usefulness.

 

[LD48750]

I don't know... My 76 year old Ford 2N lived outside most if not all of its life & I finally sold it for more then I paid for it.
I only sold it because Mama said I couldn't keep 3 tractors & it was the oldest.

 

[two_bit_score]

One thing that I didn't really think about when building the foundation walls, it how the zipper doors obviously wont reach the ground and seal up the shed.

That looks great!

If that was mine I would wind up with all kinds of stuff stacked on the trailer so whenever I needed it all that stuff would have to be moved.

 

[two_bit_score]

Nothing wrong with these tent buildings in areas not prone to weather damage. Just not around here.

They are not right for everyone. Those double shipping containers with a roof between them can be made to look very nice if someone wants that. They are very durable from what I've seen.

 

[ning]

Have any of you tarp-shed people used ex-billboard vinyls? Prices vs tarps seem really good, though you need to grommet them yourself; I've read fantastic things about their strength & lifespan.

I got one to cover my duck tractor (movable 8x20 metal/mesh quonset thing) but my "temporary" tarp from last year is still holding up so my vinyl is still in the box.