Separate building for hay storage/tractor parking

[vxf111]

I am toying with the idea of creating a separate area on my property for hay storage/tractor parking. The hay is in a 12x12 stall and the tractor was parked in a 12x12 bay that is now my wash stall (though it only took up about 10x10 of that space)… so I think I need about 10x20ish area, give or take (I don’t need to move ALL the hay).

My plan was to, several years down the line, do a proper pole building. But I am wondering if one of the below other options might be acceptable either long term or short term. I am considering…

-A 10x20 used shipping container. Pros- not very expensive $1500, can be dropped in place and moved anywhere else or sold later, readily available, does not require building, comes with a floor and a door, should not be in danger of being blown around. Cons- not the prettiest thing you’ve ever seen, maybe a smidge smaller than would be ideal/tight quarters, might need to build a ramp to get the tractor in.

-A 12x24 shelter logic fabric garage (http://www.shelterlogic.com/shop/garages/sheltercoat-custom-garages-round). Pros- cheap $700, can be moved/sold later, good size, doesn’t really need a floor. Cons- needs to be built, might be blown around (not sure how these hold up to snow), also not the prettiest thing ever.

-A 10x25 Arrow shed (http://www.shelterlogic.com/shop/arrow-sheds/steel-sheds/commandertm-series-storage-building). Pros- maybe this is nice enough that it’s just as good as a pole barn so it could be my long-term solution, much nicer looking, shouldn’t be a wind/snow risk. Cons- most expensive choice-- when you add in a concrete floor it’s going to be $3000, requires someone to build, means I have to commit NOW to where I am putting a building and I am not 100% sure I am 100% ready to do that.

-A 12x26 Carolina Carport. Basically the same pros/cons as the Arrow shed but it’s an even nicer/better sized building and it’s going to be $5000-6000 including the concrete floor.

Has anyone used any of these? Does anyone have any feedback on how they work for my proposed use? Other ideas for ways to keep a small tractor and about 12x12 stall worth of hay safe/dry and stored effectively?

I am not handy. So anything that has to be built means hiring someone unless it is an INCREDIBLY simple kit.

[King_s_Ransom]

We have a Carolina Carport for hay storage. It has been a great purchase and very simple process. We do not have a concrete floor – we put down limestone screenings, compacted that and then put wooden pallets on top before loading our hay. This works for us and we also store our tractor inside, too.

Things I love about Carolina Carports:

They come when they say and the carport was up in a couple of hours.
We paid extra for wind and snow rating and that thing has not budged.
Not bad looking.
Keeps everything dry as I had hoped.
Very easy ordering process.
For a relatively small amount, the building can be moved.

I called to talk to them about moving … I wish I’d bought a bigger building. I was thinking that if I went ahead and got a bigger one, could they move this one out to the field to be used as a run-in shed? Yes, if they are here to put in another building, they will move this one for $400. Wow, I think that’s really reasonable.

I like the building a LOT.

[vxf111]

[QUOTE=King’s Ransom;8833949]
We have a Carolina Carport for hay storage. It has been a great purchase and very simple process. We do not have a concrete floor – we put down limestone screenings, compacted that and then put wooden pallets on top before loading our hay. This works for us and we also store our tractor inside, too.

Things I love about Carolina Carports:

They come when they say and the carport was up in a couple of hours.
We paid extra for wind and snow rating and that thing has not budged.
Not bad looking.
Keeps everything dry as I had hoped.
Very easy ordering process.
For a relatively small amount, the building can be moved.

I called to talk to them about moving … I wish I’d bought a bigger building. I was thinking that if I went ahead and got a bigger one, could they move this one out to the field to be used as a run-in shed? Yes, if they are here to put in another building, they will move this one for $400. Wow, I think that’s really reasonable.

I like the building a LOT.[/QUOTE]

If you don’t mind me asking, how much were the screenings? And how big of a building did you buy?

[TheJenners]

Only 10x10 for the tractor? What kind of tractor?

[King_s_Ransom]

I don’t mind your asking, but I don’t really remember everything, it’s been several years.

The screenings were de-minimus – maybe a couple hundred dollars. We rented a compactor machine to compact it all and a friend had a bobcat to spread it all out for us. Very inexpensive solution.

You don’t need a foundation for these buildings because they use these anchors that screw into the ground. Saves a ton of $$.

We got the building certified to 130 mph winds which added to the cost. I believe our building is approx. 20 wide by 26 deep. I just ran a cost estimator for one similar to ours and it comes out at less than $3,000.

We did not put a front on the building, we did close in the sides and back. Leaving the front open saved money and also makes it easy for us to get in and out of it. We placed the closed ends against the prevailing winds and this has worked out well for us. We have never had rain blow in past the first couple of feet of the open end, again because that end faces away from the prevailing winds here.

This has been a very cost-effective solution for us. I only wish I’d made it bigger!

PS – the reason I wish I’d made it bigger is that I would like to store the horse trailer in there, too. D’oh! I did not have a trailer when I bought the building.

[ElementFarm]

I think any of those could work, but my advice is to spend the money up front and get your permanent solution now, if you can. I can’t count on both hands how many farm-owning friends and neighbors are still using their “temporary” solutions 5, 10, 15 years later. If you are okay with how a shipping container or tractor trailer truck body will look, then go for it. But if you think you’ll just use if for a year while you save up for the ‘real’ solution, you might be surprised how that 1 year turns to 8… it’ll be expensive to move, and then there will be gap while the permanent building goes up in that spot, and by then you no longer have an interim solution for your hay.
People always say they will ‘add on’ or ‘renovate’ or ‘replace the ugly car port with a pole building’. But I would say the vast majority never get around to it (somewhat like trying to return to college 10 years after your 1-year break… but I digress…)

we had a separate 3-sided hay/storage building put up when we bought our farm last year. Ours is 36x15 and has plenty of room for hay, baled shavings, tools, and tractor. I think we paid about 8K for it from the local contractor.

If you think you eventually want a permanent building, at least ask the local lumber yards who the local “pole building guy” is and get a site visit and quote. It may be less than you’d expect, and you can always shave initial costs by using tarps and pallets under the hay, like we are this year, or painting it yourself, which we did, and requires bare minimum handiness.

[vxf111]

[QUOTE=TheJenners;8834038]
Only 10x10 for the tractor? What kind of tractor?[/QUOTE]

John Deere 210 I think

http://s5.photobucket.com/user/vxf111/media/Fox%20Chapel%20Farm/photo32-1.jpg.html?sort=3&o=79

That’s it sitting in the 12x12 space and it’s not even all the way touching the back of the wall. There’s a wheelbarrow in front of it that must be 3-4 feet wide and to my eye it’s only taking up about 2/3 of the width. So if it only takes up that much of a 12x12 space I think it would fit in a 10x10 or maybe 10x12 space?! It’s not large.

[vxf111]

ElementFarm… you make a very good point about going “permanent” and I would be 100% on board if I felt committed about where on the property I want this building. I have 2 spots in mind. Both will require earthmoving/making a commitment to a space (one place has a big stump that would need to be removed, the other has an existing smaller shed that would need to be moved) and I don’t feel like I am QUITE there yet in terms of deciding between the two spots. Maybe I just need to get decided!?

KR, thank you for that info. That’s very helpful.

[Pocket_Pony]

I would get as big as you could afford. When we first moved to our first farm we had 12x12 for feed room and hay storage. We built onto the back of the barn a 12x36 hay storage and it was so nice to be able to store more hay. Now our hay storage is is 12x24 (but 2x as tall as the last space so we can store almost a year’s worth). I park the tractor in the barn aisle. If you could go 12x36 and tall that would be awesome.