Advice on building a tractor shed?

[Hoodoo]

Well now that I have my new baby, I need to build a house for it. I'm thinking a pole style structure (but I cant find any poles, so I'll just use pressure treated posts. I'm also going to house my golf cart and riding mower in it as well. So I'm thinking 20 ft wide x 14 ft deep, using 9 poles (3 rows of 3). Shelves in the back for parts, oil, tools, etc..... Some kind of cover on the 3 side walls up to maybe 5-6 ft high....?

Can't decide yet whether to have a shed roof or gable....as I kinda have to place it, it will be facing more or less West and that is where the weather comes from (generally). But here in northern Arizona, we have not that much rain (15" yr) and it only snows a couple times a year, so I really just want to get these machines out of the direct weather and sun.

Thinking of running a couple of beams across at top plate level to hang/lift stuff from...?

All ideas welcome...I'm thinking you guys have done this before....

Disclosure: I am a long time builder so don't need any construction advice (necessarily), just looking for tips and tricks

 

[riptides]

Build to lumber dimensions. 20X16 example.

Build 12 foot clearance.

Build to complete, lockable enclosure for security.

Golf cart, riding mower and tractor? Build it bigger.

 

[3 Horse Ranch]

It is very unlikely that you will ever regret building considerably bigger than your current needs. A building twice as big will cost more now, and considerably more later. If it were me I would be thinking more along the line of 20w by 28d. As the open end is facing west, 14' will not shelter your tractor from the sun completely, especially if you leave an attachment on the back and/or a loader on the front. UV is hard on paint and plastic.

 

[Roadworthy]

I don't know what kind of poles you're looking for but the pole buildings around my area use 6 X 6 pressure treated lumber for the poles. Many people prefer commercial girts for the added strength but builders generally do charge a little more for building that way.

 

[KennyG]

By 20 feet wide I assume you mean that is the access side. Can you go deeper? 14 feet seems really small. I would suggest forgetting the center posts. Use trusses to span the roof. I would never want center posts in a storage building. It would only be a matter of time before I hit one.

 

[airbiscuit]

Hard to beat the size, price, convenience of some of these carport companies.

 

[riptides]

airbiscuit makes a good point.

Check out costing of steel vs lumber, and then availability. If you are handy, you can dress out a steel frame rather quickly.

 

[Hughman]

My tractor lives in the garage but I did build a three sided metal carport for my other toys (RV and pontoon boat). I built a 20x30 and all I can say is I wish it was 5 feet bigger in both directions.

 

[rgr33]

I thought I had plenty of space in my barn when I built it. I only had one tractor at the time, and needed some hay storage too.

since then, the horses and cattle are gone, but have added another tractor, 2 rv’s, UTV, trailers, implements, and a whole lot of tools and chemical storage.

The barn has been expanded to twice the original size, in addition to a secure shed for tools and chemicals.

Build bigger now, it’s cheaper than adding on in the future, and you will never regret it

 

[jyoutz]

Well now that I have my new baby, I need to build a house for it. I'm thinking a pole style structure (but I cant find any poles, so I'll just use pressure treated posts. I'm also going to house my golf cart and riding mower in it as well. So I'm thinking 20 ft wide x 14 ft deep, using 9 poles (3 rows of 3). Shelves in the back for parts, oil, tools, etc..... Some kind of cover on the 3 side walls up to maybe 5-6 ft high....?

Can't decide yet whether to have a shed roof or gable....as I kinda have to place it, it will be facing more or less West and that is where the weather comes from (generally). But here in northern Arizona, we have not that much rain (15" yr) and it only snows a couple times a year, so I really just want to get these machines out of the direct weather and sun.

Thinking of running a couple of beams across at top plate level to hang/lift stuff from...?

All ideas welcome...I'm thinking you guys have done this before....

Disclosure: I am a long time builder so don't need any construction advice (necessarily), just looking for tips and tricks

You might want to check with Eagle Carports. I was going to build a carport several years ago and after pricing out the materials, it was cheaper to order the carport than build. They have lots of different design options, including pole barn type. Just make sure that you have them install with the optional earth anchors. In the relatively low elevation Chino Valley where you live you may not get much snow load, but wind can be an issue, so I would order/design with the higher load ratings in mind.