Made out like a bandit today. Y'all might want to check it out...

[BoatGuy]

So, as you all know, we've been needing a barn of any sort, to milk our goats and cattle, as well as store some hay out of the weather. But, funds are not necessarily there for a project of the size that I "want". So, we've been looking at alternatives to tide us over on a temporary basis.

We've looked at $595 carports, with intentions of walling them in later. But, the $595 version is 12' w x 21' l x 5'. So, it's a little short. I could extend the height for 50 bucks or so. But still, with no walls and Oklahoma winds, it was only going to be a little better than standing outside in the rain, trying to milk.

The other day, we were in Tractor Supply and they have a "Garage in a Box" that is 13'W x 20'L x 12' H and it's completely enclosed with a polyethylene cover. List price is $499. But, there was a sign on it that said "Everyday Low Price $349". We went back today to buy it.

When we got the 300 pound box onto a cart and wheeled it up to the counter, they rang it up at $249. I immediately questioned them about it, and they said that it was "in the computer that way". We haggled about it a little. I want to be honest. But, they assured me that the computer price was what they would charge. So, with my haggling and honesty satisfied, we took the deal. It even came with a number of options.

In all, at $349, it's a bargain, I think. It seems to be well made and when the cover starts deteriorating (it is pretty heavy duty and UV resistant), I'll probably re-cover it with fiberglas or corrugated steel roofing. So, at $249, we're going back to get another next payday.

If you need something like this, I can't guarantee that the price is the same everywhere. But, even at $349, I'd buy another.

Just thought I'd let y'all know.

http://www.shelterlogic.com/ProductDetail.aspx?ProductId=005d5d77-c60d-48c0-a1d4-9df80095b3e8

http://www.shelterlogic.com/UserFiles/Images/Products/62693_230x230_01.jpg

[Farmgal]

we seen this way back when.  we ended up with metal carport with sides   I often think of getting one for the camper now tho.


I checked our Tractor Supply.  Ours is a list of $599.   but I have to mention this to hubby and when near TSC again we will stop and check.

YOU DID well on that deal for sure!!!!

[Johnny-Max]

I had one once..... It flew away

[Farmgal]

I had one once..... It flew away

      

that is what worries me and why we went metal 

[BoatGuy]

I had one once..... It flew away

I know what you mean... It came with 4 - 15" augers to hold it down. That's not near enough for Oklahoma winds.

But, we're ordering (TSC didn't have them in stock) 2 packages of Easyhooks for about 40 dollars or something like that. Pound the hook into the ground about 3 feet with a driving rod, then pull up on the attached cable with the bucket on the tractor (or the 3 point hitch), and the hook turns sideways underground. I'm going to put one on EVERY leg (12). So, I don't think it will go away, unless our house is travelling with it, in the tornado.

Since it IS a fabric covering, I am also putting it just outside the pasture fence (inside our "people" compound), so the cattle and goats won't be able to break in and get the hay. I'll be putting in a fence and gate, leading to one end of the building, so that I can lead the does straight from the GCU (Goat Containment Unit...lol) to the milking area, and back to pasture after we're finished milking.

The other end has a "rollup" door and we can go into that end with a tractor, to put up hay and straw. If we're able to get another building, I'm going to use that one just for hay and straw, and use the other end of this one as a shop area where I can build our projects out of the summer sun and winter snow, without having to put up the tools every night, and getting them back out every morning... like the radial saw, welders, etc... (although I'll have to see how welding under a plastic tent works out... have to be very careful and it may not be safe. just have to wait and see).

[BoatGuy]

I got the building up and anchored. So far, it has withstood 20+ mph winds. But, I am concerned about the rollup doors. The zippers have a knack for unzipping in high winds. I put lanyards on the zippers and anchored them, when the doors are shut. Another thing that has me bothered, is that there is a pole, weighted with sand, at the bottom of the doors. The seam is only glued and not stitched. So, when the zipper came undone, it started whipping in the wind and the glue is starting to separate. I am taking some precautions to keep it from spreading.

In all, I'm not going to recommend this to anyone. It is serving it's purpose. But, I'm going to be happy if it lasts a year. In the meantime, I'm going back to TurboCad and continuing to design our new wooden barn.

I should add that the doors can get unwieldy in the wind, when you open up both ends.

[Wagoneer]

Thanks for the heads up, I am still going to check it out.  In the back of the house I have next to zero wind problems.  I may have a place it will work.

[BoatGuy]

It's been 8 months since we got the mini-barn. It's gone through some tough winds and rain. We're about to see how it does with snow and ice.

The roof opened up a little this past summer. I think it was probably a matter of the hot sun softening the adhesive that holds it all together, and me tightening the straps a little too much. Yesterday, I got a warm and windless day. So, I decided to try and fix it.

My first try was with 3M 77 Spray Adhesive. That was a no go from the start and barely even held for a second. So, I made a quick call to Shelter Logic and they told me that they use 3M 90 Hi Strength Spray Adhesive to build them. It's pretty expensive stuff, at $18 per can. But, I figure part of that is the hazardous material shipping it costs to get it here.

That spray worked great and I've done all the patching (while standing in the bucket of the tractor, wondering how long it would be til Karnie got home, if I dropped the ladder). Now, there's no place for water to get to our hay.

You definitely don't want to do this in the wind, for many reasons. I had to loosen the straps that hold the whole cover on the frame. I had to spray the adhesive and didn't want it to come back and hit me in the face (it still got all over my hands). And, you don't want to have to sit there and hold the seam together. Also, if it's too cold, the adhesive isn't going to set as well.

One of the biggest I foresee for the future, are the ducks. I honestly didn't know how sharp duck claws were, until I picked up one (he went into a dog pen and tried to commit suicide) and he scratched me. The other morning, I saw a duck on top of the barn. So, it's only a matter of time before one goes through the cover. For that, we've gotten some spray on sealant. It comes out as a liquid, but instantly forms a pretty thick rubber seal. Pretty cool stuff.

[BoatGuy]

Not quite a year. Yesterday, the big storm rolled through Oklahoma with it's 70 mph winds and 5" of rain. Karnie told me this morning (I'm working in Arkansas) that it was probably destroyed. It was never supposed to be permanent. But, I was hoping that it would last longer. Her exact words were "you know what a wave looks like?". I thought that was especially funny, being asked of a former boat captain.

Anyway, she is currently milking by hand until I can check out the milking machine that got thrown into the mud and muck. And, I'm probably building a milking building when I get home.

Not much of an anniversary. But, she's safe and that's what counts.