My On Trailer Summer Storage

[Cubby]

Well the sled got kicked out of the shed for summer storage - just takes up too much room. But I want it to be protected from the elements (sun. rain). Here is what I did.

1. Prop the sled up in the front and read.
2. Installed a generic cover.
3. Made a 4x8 frame using 2x4 with a 4x8 sheet of plywood on the top.
4. Covered that with a 12 x 16 heavy duty tarp. Bungeed in mutliple place to keep it in place and to prevent billowing in wind.
5. Tuck the trailer away in a corner of the yard.

I will tape the tarp seams where it is folded to keep them together. Cost me under $80 for everything.

If it works well I will expand the frame to a full 8 x 10 and store the snowblower under it next year.

 

[yamahamm]

Nice, but i would make som sort of ventilation on top off that so it doesn't condense.

 

[sgauthier]

no reason why that wouldn't work. just hope someone doesn't hook up to it and drive off. I've got 3 that i need moved to work on my sons 68 cougar so instead of storing them in my trailer, i'm lucky enough to have someone with a big shed (my brother) to take them for the summer. unfortunately you never have enough room, i should have made my garage a 40'x 60' instead of a 30' x 40' with 12' walls, oh well.

 

[Teamblue4]

Nice, but i would make som sort of ventilation on top off that so it doesn't condense.

X2

 

[Cubby]

Its open on the bottom - hoping that would be enough for ventilation. Its always windy in my yard. I plan to open the tarp often in the summer when its dry and sunny out just in case.

Its behind a locked fence so should be protected from theft. Will put it up on jack stands and might even remove the wheels.

I had a restriction on the shed size - built a 12 x 12 which is the max size allowed. If I could I would have built a 20 x 20 shop! Had I known I would have built a 3 car garage when we built the house.

 

[InRBigness]

I think it will be fine without unwrapping it. As for theft, you do what you can but in the end its the Insurance companies issue if it disappears.

 

[superfan75]

That's a good idea and it should work well. I'm thinking of doing something similar for my garden tractor. It will be a lean-to off the back of the garage, but with tarps like you used. Once I bring the bike down from upstairs there wont be room for everything. I want the sled inside so I can work on it and get it ready for next winter. I think it'll work good and not cost much.

 

[smoothride]

Take the wheels off the trailer. Thefts don't like to work. That is why they steal things.

 

[Cubby]

Its very secure and out of sight but I will remove the wheels. Easy enough. I would have loved to have an enclosed trailer but prices are nuts - at least in my area.

 

[Koenig]

My advice would be to get a box of Dryer static sheets(Bounce) and stuff them everywhere! Do yourself a favor beforehand... the mice nesting and squirrel nut storage, chewed wires, etc. They're unbelievable when they find a snowmobile!!!

 

[Sevey]

I think your good for ventilation. Taking the seat off is smart. Nice job. As for the mice. I place traps around the machine so if anyone gets ambitious and is poking around - wack.
MS

 

[steiner]

Had I known I would have built a 3 car garage when we built the house.

Hind site sucks sometimes.
I will sell you my house with an oversize 3 car garage and a 12x14 shed. Almost enough storage.

 

[Sasquatch]

Garage is for toys park the vehicles outside is what I do but with the design open on the bottom humidity won't built to badly. Problem is no insulation so some condensation will form when sun first hits the tarp after a cold night. Its way better then like some I have seen wrapped in plastic with no ventilation.

Out on the prairie there is always a breeze and humidity is usually low it seems so I think it will work.

Just want to add mice love sleds and many other mechanical devises. Add mothballs, I had one building a nest in my sled over the summer in the garage and it chewed on the wrinkle wrap used around wires. They don't like mothballs but love sunflower seeds so I bait all my traps with them.

 

[ViperTurboPete]

Meticulous job! Too bad you have to put the machine away already. I was up to my waist in snow in the bush on the weekend. I like to take the springs out of my clutches to keep them like new also. Maybe I am wasting my time?

 

[Ding]

You might check into extending your garage. A lot of restrictions are due to number of outbuildings. Adding on is often allowed where adding another building is not. I have considered using a winter pool cover for the tarp for the sleds that have to stay outside. They shed water but breath air. I have a couple lean-to's that store the newer stuff, but watch our for mice and varmints. Dryer sheets tend to dispel mice but other varmints can make a mess too. Fly bait and Pepsi works . . .

You are going to want more straps and taping the "seams" is a good idea. The wind can do strange things when provided enough surface to grab onto.