Storing Tractor Implements

[BoylermanCT]

Like many tractor owners, I have slowly been collecting a number of implements. Bucket, forks, man lift cage and plow up front and tiller, snowblower, bush hog and chipper on back. Wanting to keep them out of the elements, but not having a ton of extra floor space, I decided to go vertical. I picked up a 12’ x 12’ pallet rack with 3 shelves on Craigslist for $700 and mounted it to the frame of my new pole barn with lag screws. I picked up heavy duty plastic pallets on CL for $20 each and strap each implement to a pallet and then use the forks to place the pallet on a shelf. Each shelf is rated for 5000 lbs, and in reality each one will hold 1500 or less. Pretty happy with how it all works. Only my bush hog won’t fit, so it will stay outside for now.

Anyone have any additional suggestions?

 

[spruce Deere]

That is a slick set-up boylerman. Some of my implements are under the shop lean-too, some parked in a line out in the weather.

When I get around to finishing the machinery shed, I just might 'build-in' implement storage like that

Price of lumber right now I can wait...

 

[jaxs]

I picked up a 12’ x 12’ pallet rack with 3 shelves on Craigslist for $700 and mounted it to the frame of my new pole barn with lag screws. Only my bush hog won’t fit, so it will stay outside for now.

Anyone have any additional suggestions?

^ Snip ^

I thought you would never ask.
Pull rack away from rear wall enough to alow impliments to hang over and prevent accidently hitting wall while moving things around. That wil alow rotating long,narrow impliments. If you are concerned with stability,run a 2x4 from top of rack to building frame. Move man cage to vacant spot on top and bucket from floor to where cage was. Park the hog on floor where bucket is now. If hog must live outdoors,clean top and underneath deck and "prop"deck upright aginst a post so water doesn't stand on deck and reduce condensation on underside. Overall you did a nice job.

 

[BoylermanCT]

Thank Jaxs. The chipper will be going on the top shelf, its on the ground right now because I still have to assemble it - adding the intake chute extension on the side and the exit chute on top. With the exit chute in place, it will be too tall to fit on the other shelves. I do like the suggestion on giving a little extra space as I have been wondering how long before I puncture the wall with the forks!

 

[ededic]

Make sure you clean every nook and cranny of your equipment that has been outside. Mice will love the new pole barn home after you move them indoors.

 

[pmsmechanic]

You could store your pallet forks in one of the pallets on the rack.

 

[3 Horse Ranch]

Pretty happy with how it all works. Only my bush hog won’t fit, so it will stay outside for now.

I like it and I am envious. Just left behind a 12x24 implement shed with a hard floor and now in the new place I only have room to park my tractor out of the weather on a rough gravel floor and everything not attached stays outside.
I was surprised to see your building doesn't seem have roof insulation. Where I was in western Washington it was almost mandatory to prevent the roof from sweating on cold mornings. It would rain inside and wet things a bit.

 

[jaxs]

If you don't plan adding another upright and beams,consider cantilvered arms suspended from upright. Fabing arms is simple if you have a torch and welder. Arms can also be made from angle iron by drilling holes for carriage bolts with heads to fit teardrops in upright.

 

[Mrsig]

What a great set up thanks for posting.

 

[Smokeydog]

That’s a spectacular storage system and building. Sturdy rack and pallets. Even though I use pallet forks a lot, tractors are poor forklifts so you know to be careful. I have too much stuff but like storing equipment out of the weather as much as possible. A lot of the equipment is stored just inside sheds or barns meant for animals or hay. Most the tractor can’t fit all the way in.

 

[mikester]

Looks good...I don't think fastening the uprights to 2x10's would pass a safety inspection. They should be securely fastened to your concrete floor or shimmed with steel plates.

 

[BoylermanCT]

When I planned the barn, I was going to have plywood sheathing on the roof to combat condensation. OSB was $13 a sheet and the roof would need 48 sheets. So only $600 bucks. But when the roof went up, OSB was $56 a sheet and $2700 was too much for the budget. So far we have not had any condensation issues. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

The 2x10's on the bottom are to spread the weight of the legs out across a larger area. Didn't want to crack the concrete floor, especially at the back edge where the legs are only a couple inches from the edge. The top of the uprights are lag screwed to the carrying beam and corner post of the barn. But good idea to bolt the legs to the floor.

 

[oosik]

I'm pretty limited on "under cover" storage. So ..... those implements with moving parts or bearings are under cover - - chipper, grapple, rear blade. Those with limited moving parts are each on their own pallet out in the orchard - - ROBB, disk harrow, LPGS, single bottom moldboard plow, FEL bucket.

I should sell the disk harrow. It's a small one - Land Pride 1048. Not sufficient weight per disk to do much good here.

 

[bdhsfz6]

Like many tractor owners, I have slowly been collecting a number of implements. Bucket, forks, man lift cage and plow up front and tiller, snowblower, bush hog and chipper on back. Wanting to keep them out of the elements, but not having a ton of extra floor space, I decided to go vertical. I picked up a 12’ x 12’ pallet rack with 3 shelves on Craigslist for $700 and mounted it to the frame of my new pole barn with lag screws. I picked up heavy duty plastic pallets on CL for $20 each and strap each implement to a pallet and then use the forks to place the pallet on a shelf. Each shelf is rated for 5000 lbs, and in reality each one will hold 1500 or less. Pretty happy with how it all works. Only my bush hog won’t fit, so it will stay outside for now.

Anyone have any additional suggestions?

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Great setup!

Like you, I ran out of floor space to store implements some time ago. I looked into a second pole barn but the prices have skyrocketed in the last couple of years. Although I had no floor space left, everything from my waist up was empty so I did what you did and went vertical.

In my case, I used an industrial hydraulic equipment lift and built a 14' X 10' platform on top for implement storage. It will lift 14K# so it can also be used to work on equipment. I use forks to move the implements but I can lower the platform to allow more clearance and keep the center of gravity lower for better stability.

The cost was less than 25% of what a new building would run and there were no new real estate taxes involved.

 

[deezler]

I would leave the man cage outside, it's aluminum after all. Then I agree to move your bucket up, and bring the brush hog inside for that floor spot.

Looks good! I wish I had indoor implement storage.... not in the cards unless I build another barn and plan for it.

 

[Jims1025R]

Inspired by the 1960's TV show "Thunderbirds", I fitted barn door sliding track to the ceiling of my shed, with a roller and cable with a hook of the correct length for each accessory. I can back up to the one I want, slide it left or right to align it, and because it's hanging, it's easier to couple to the three point hitch on the tractor. Just consider the total weight of the suspended accessories.

 

[ruffdog]

Put the rotary cutter on wheeled dollies on the front corners so you can push it around by hand. Pile stuff on it during the off season.

 

[Oaktree]

I'm envious of the shops some of you guys have. A bit out of my budget, all of my attachments live outside under tarps. Tractor is garaged in the winter since I use it to plow snow, but rest of the year it lives under a tarp too.

 

[pmsmechanic]

I'm envious of the shops some of you guys have. A bit out of my budget, all of my attachments live outside under tarps. Tractor is garaged in the winter since I use it to plow snow, but rest of the year it lives under a tarp too.

I built an 1800 square foot storage shed for roughly $8000 CAD. I bought some rafters on sale and built the rest. I scrounged where ever I could. I found 2600 square feet of tin for the roof for $600. I had to cut and overlap it to make the lengths work but hey I have a storage shed. One end is 28x30 with a 10 foot high wall. The other end is 32x30 with a 12 foot high wall. It took me roughly ten years to finish but I have a storage shed. The point is that you can do it if you really want to.

 

[fishdrivel]

Like many tractor owners, I have slowly been collecting a number of implements. Bucket, forks, man lift cage and plow up front and tiller, snowblower, bush hog and chipper on back. Wanting to keep them out of the elements, but not having a ton of extra floor space, I decided to go vertical. I picked up a 12’ x 12’ pallet rack with 3 shelves on Craigslist for $700 and mounted it to the frame of my new pole barn with lag screws. I picked up heavy duty plastic pallets on CL for $20 each and strap each implement to a pallet and then use the forks to place the pallet on a shelf. Each shelf is rated for 5000 lbs, and in reality each one will hold 1500 or less. Pretty happy with how it all works. Only my bush hog won’t fit, so it will stay outside for now.

Anyone have any additional suggestions?

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Wow! That is a sharp set-up you have!
I think you just wanted me to be jealous!