shed size

[derekn]

I'm looking for some advice on sizing a tractor shed.

My garage is overflowing (push mower, rototiller, gardening tools, ...), so I'm planning to build a shed in the near future. I'm also planning to buy a tractor, but that's probably a couple years down the line. I expect it will be a 20-30 hp tractor, plus attachments. I'll definitely need a mower (~10 acres of old pasture), and probably eventually a disc and/or tiller, and who knows what else.

If I'm going to build a shed, I figure I might as well make it big enough to hold the eventual tractor. So... how big should it be?

 

[Deere Dude]

40x60

I had a 36x54 and it ran out of room so everything was kind of jammed in it.

I had in the shed a tractor, attachments, work tables, storage racks, washroom, truck and other odds and ends.

 

[newbury]

Any zoning requirements?

For example in my location in Fairfax, Virginia I can build a shed up to 256 sq ft without a permit. At my other place in Mississippi there are no permits required. A 256 sq ft shed is big enough for my B7610, but just barely. I don't think I could get my M4700 into that area.

For a 30HP tractor plus attachments I'd plan on about 30x40 at least with outside covered storage for 3 point attachments, like lean to extensions..

 

[4570Man]

I've got a 60x80 shed and a 40x100 shed. Combined they are nearly big enough.

 

[TheMan419]

If you build it they will come.

 

[Wagtail]

G'day Mate and welcome to TBN from Downunder.

What type of annual weather will you expect at the building location? Do you need a fully enclosed (with rolled doors) shed or would a 3-sided open bay structure suit, with perhaps 1-2 bays enclosed to make up a workshop?

For example, this is what I have:

 

[BoylermanCT]

I'd go with a 2 bay garage, 1 bay for the tractor, the other for lawn mower, snow blower etc with lean to's on both sides for covered storage for the implements for the tractor.

 

[derekn]

Re zoning -- everything over 120 sq ft has to be permitted.

Re weather -- I'm in northern California, about 25 miles from the coast. No snow, but it does get pretty windy, so I'd be nervous about a 3-sided structure during the rainy season.

I have a garage and workshop already. If I build a tractor shed bigger than our house, the wife will kill me
The 2-bay garage idea sounds pretty reasonable.

 

[KennyG]

At least two car garage size
Make it taller. Need 8 foot tall doors for many CUT tractor ROPS to clear.

 

[Wagtail]

Re zoning -- everything over 120 sq ft has to be permitted.

Re weather -- I'm in northern California, about 25 miles from the coast. No snow, but it does get pretty windy, so I'd be nervous about a 3-sided structure during the rainy season.

I have a garage and workshop already. If I build a tractor shed bigger than our house, the wife will kill me
The 2-bay garage idea sounds pretty reasonable.

No need to be nervous about the wind if the shed is built correctly... and for the 'wind zone' that it's at (yes, there's such a thing as a wind zone category). My 5-bay shed was built on a reinforced concrete slab and the frames are incorporated. A cement floor is highly recommended, that way you can mount your 'future' tractor implements on wheeled dollies/pallets for ease of positioning/mounting and storage. Don't 'wait to do the floor later', it's a real pain in the arse to do it after the fact. Mind you, a slab will cost almost half the total cost of a shed, but it's worth it.

Your weather sounds to be somewhat similar to my own.

As to zoning; On the one hand, the permit (and 'finished' inspection) means the the work/construction was completed correctly = piece of mind for you. On the other hand, your property tax will go up as you've improved the value of the property... and there's no sense trying to hide the structure due to Google Earth pictures.