RED-Z06 2,615 #1 Posted Saturday at 03:03 AM It was a long, hot, wet but busy summer here in Florida, i keep alot of my equipment under a heavy 20x25 tarp between 2 of my outbuildings...keeps them dry, out of the sun, and away from the birds. Its also, pretty much 0 fun to get that tarp off..and after 2 or 3 months in the sun, good chance its going to rip. It's not my ideal setup but short of dropping 5k on a couple Conex Boxes or 25k on a pole barn that would absolutely attract a major hurricane...the tarp system works for now. I keep the 702 in a shed, but the 416-H and C-100 are 2 of the units that live under the tarp, along with a Simplicity Legacy XL, 60" Z mower, Deere 420, and a Deere 445. The Z is my rental for commercial clients, and the 445 i use every 2 weeks to mow about 3 acres for some older customers that cant do it anymore...those are on 1 end and easy to get to. But it has been about 1st week of June since i replaced the tarp and had everything out....had a torrential rain storm a couple weeks ago, instant rainfall amounts were 14" per hour and we got 5" in no time at all...the tarp simply couldn't handle it and tore. I keep a new one..so i pulled the one off, almost everything..surprisingly started right up, didn't have to do anything special to anything but the Simplicity. The 416-H i choked, it cranked about 8 seconds and ran as smooth as ever, C100 fired like it ran that morning...choke, full throttle, cranked a couple revolutions and caught. It was nice riding them around, i mowed with the C and used the 416/Blade on the driveway. Toro Z fired up fine, Deere 420 didnt hesitate at all. Simplicity...wouldn't start, pulled the carb..no fuel, pulled the valve cover fuel pump to find a broken check valve...ordered a new one...fired it up only to have it split a fuel line a minute later...almost had a big fire. I need to do something different for sure, it would be nice to have stuff be accessible, but lord is gotten incredibly expensive to build anything at all. 2 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Easton Rich 678 #2 Posted Saturday at 04:46 AM Don’t feel bad, I’m in the same boat, I finally touched mine after a month so they can go to a show tomorrow. My B-80, 8/4, and 418-A all fired right up. My Lawn Ranger however, did not. No crank. Starter is dead. So if any of you happen to have a working starter for a H-60 let me know. All 4 are going, but getting the LR in is gonna be a long push…. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ebinmaine 73,586 #3 Posted Saturday at 09:36 AM 4 hours ago, Easton Rich said: long push…. Drag it with another Horse. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
T-Mo-(Moderator) 4,621 #4 Posted Saturday at 09:39 AM Maybe one of those metal carports. You should get a 20 foot wide, for about $2500 or so. They put it up in just a few hours. 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ebinmaine 73,586 #5 Posted Saturday at 09:39 AM 6 hours ago, RED-Z06 said: gotten incredibly expensive to build anything Yepp. We know first hand up here. We wanted a large garage workshop barn apartment etc building for several years before we finally just bit the bullet and went to it. The big barn has been here 3 years now. Pricey? Yes. Worth it? DEFINITELY. 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Retired Wrencher 5,951 #6 Posted Saturday at 10:09 AM (edited) So with 15 toolboxes of various sizes and two vehicles also complete stereo system with four large 15 inch speakers and three wheel horses, the 24 x 24 is full. Oh I used to have a small refrigerator in the garage for the good stuff. But the refrigerator didn’t work well in a winter time so that didn’t last. Enjoy what you have every day. Edited Saturday at 10:10 AM by Retired Wrencher 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RED-Z06 2,615 #7 Posted Saturday at 01:48 PM 4 hours ago, T-Mo said: Maybe one of those metal carports. You should get a 20 foot wide, for about $2500 or so. They put it up in just a few hours. Getting an 18x20 with 1 door that meets hurricane code starts at 6000 if you already have a slab. I was quoted $14,9xx for a 20x25 with slab, 1 door, power box, cat 4 rated. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lynnmor 7,936 #8 Posted Saturday at 07:48 PM 5 hours ago, RED-Z06 said: Getting an 18x20 with 1 door that meets hurricane code starts at 6000 if you already have a slab. I was quoted $14,9xx for a 20x25 with slab, 1 door, power box, cat 4 rated. Just to put into perspective, a fair condition used car cost is $14,9xx. The building will be a good investment and the used car will be worth nothing in a few years. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ML3 1,831 #9 Posted Saturday at 11:57 PM Having a 12x16 shed w/10ft wide lean to on 16' side put up. Its costing almost $9k! Can't go over 200sq ft or i need to pour a foundation. Also can't go over 30% of total property square footage w/structures. I live in city limits. We have the house, garage, & she shed. The new shed puts me almost at 30%. Lumber/building materials have gone way up. Luckily, I dont have to meet hurricane code 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wallfish 18,416 #10 Posted Sunday at 01:09 AM 14 hours ago, Retired Wrencher said: So with 15 toolboxes That's all? It seems like you buy another toolbox or 2 at every Zag show since 2015! LOL 1 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Retired Wrencher 5,951 #11 Posted Sunday at 10:04 AM 8 hours ago, wallfish said: That's all? It seems like you buy another toolbox or 2 at every Zag show since 2015! LOL Well John I guess I’ll have to try harder to buy more. Lol. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WHGuy413 2,787 #12 Posted Monday at 01:05 AM I’ve been neglecting mine also. Too many are sitting out. The pretty ones live in the garage tho. Some day I will have a nice pole barn out back. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Retired Wrencher 5,951 #13 Posted Monday at 09:50 AM 8 hours ago, WHGuy413 said: I’ve been neglecting mine also. Too many are sitting out. The pretty ones live in the garage tho. Some day I will have a nice pole barn out back. Matt once you make the move, you will like it. Just think you could have your own shop fully equipped to work on anything mechanical. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WHGuy413 2,787 #14 Posted 19 hours ago On 9/15/2025 at 5:50 AM, Retired Wrencher said: Matt once you make the move, you will like it. Just think you could have your own shop fully equipped to work on anything mechanical. It will happen some day. Other financial priorities first with fixing up the house. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rjg854 12,338 #15 Posted 17 hours ago 1 hour ago, WHGuy413 said: Other financial priorities first with fixing up the house Your priorities should be to your horses! When the Amish start a new farm, they always build the barn first. I more or less did the same thing when I bought this property. Purchased the property in '99, built the barn in '03, it has a kitchenette and 3/4 bath. Built the horse barn @ 2015. Remodeled the bathroom in the house in '21 and redid the kitchen and dining room the following year. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
clueless 3,292 #16 Posted 16 hours ago (edited) Tom, go on line and google billboard trapes, they are used but still in good shape and in different sizes. They are tougher then regular tarp and last for years and they are priced comparable. After Ivan I bought a very large one, the advertisement on it was for a Drag Queen show with a couple of cuties on it. I told the the wife the next hurricane this ones going on front of the roof Queen side up. Edited 5 hours ago by clueless 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WHGuy413 2,787 #17 Posted 6 hours ago 10 hours ago, rjg854 said: Your priorities should be to your horses! When the Amish start a new farm, they always build the barn first. I more or less did the same thing when I bought this property. Purchased the property in '99, built the barn in '03, it has a kitchenette and 3/4 bath. Built the horse barn @ 2015. Remodeled the bathroom in the house in '21 and redid the kitchen and dining room the following year. Try telling the wife that! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites