Thoughts on a mobile shelter

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M

mfhmfh

Member
Oct 19, 2007
10
VA
OK - I have probably about 15 cords of wood stacked for the coming year. We burn about 10 a year. I have two rows, each on pallets that go for saw 60 feet each, with four feet in between rows, about 5 feet high. I found this makes it easy to stack and easy to get to since I can go from the outside of each stack, or right down the middle.

I don't want to put something too expensive or intrusive over the stack since we look at it from the south side of the hose (most of the living areas). I keep about a cord in the garage, and in the past two years I am able to filthe garage in between weather and for the most part have dry wood. But, there are a few times each year the weather does not cooperate and I run into some damp pieces.

So I was thinking of constructing a "mobile" cover that cover say 20 feet of the stack so I can move it down the line as I take stuff into the garage.

Essentially I was thinking of a simple rectangle frame with a light weight metal roof on some wheels...any thoughts? I think a wood frame will be too heavy even if I made it in a few sections. I was thinking about PVC pipe, which I would paint brown to blend in, but am wondering if it will have the structural integrity I need.

Being in VA, heavy snow is not the norm, but we can (like this year) get enough that I want to plan for some snow load. I would hate to build something and then have a storm wreck it in a year.

Any thoughts?
 
Yes - I have thought about that and used them on occasion...but they tear pretty easy, and they sit right on the wood. I did that the last part of this season, and I found the top layer of wood was damp and the wood was dry when I covered it. It worked for about 75% of the top area covered...I was just trying to think of something I could put in place that would allow airflow over the top.
 
Anything portable could go airborne. Drive in some T-bar posts and slip some poly pipe "hoops" over them. Pull the tarp over the hoops and tie them off at the base of the T-bar posts. You could also make hoops out of rebar. The hoops will hold the tarp up away from the wood.
 
i have had the thought before to build a wood shed on skids. so you can fill it when empty out in the yard where it will get the most wind and sun, then in the winter when the ground is frozen and covered in snow pull it with the tractor up to the house. trying to eliminate one handling step. i don't know if this makes any sense to try or not just a thought. sorry a little of topic but the title had my mind going elsewhere.
 
I think these kind of portable shelters would make good wood sheds.
The fully enclosed type tend to draw moisture up from the ground, but these kind with just a roof would work well for storing and seasoning wood, and they are generaly a little cheaper than the fully enclosed kind.
Looks like it would be easy to move, just make sure you keep it tied them down well.

On a related note, we had a strong front blow through today and the kid's trampoline blew over, good thing I was home or it would have ended up in the neighbors yard


Hercules-10x20-HC1020PC6-Large.jpg
 
Ilke the idea, of having a real roof rather than a tarp draped where in holds in moisture and water pools in the low spots.

You can by cheap galvanized fittings made to work with galvanized steel conduit (which is by far the cheapest form of steel pipe in existance) at many bargain import tool vendors. These making garages and shed frames with the stuff. Much cheaper than PVC and probably stronger. It's usually used with those cheap import scrim tarps, but they seem to last better stretched on a frame that lying directly on the firewood.
 
Carbon_Liberator said:
I think these kind of portable shelters would make good wood sheds.
The fully enclosed type tend to draw moisture up from the ground, but these kind with just a roof would work well for storing and seasoning wood, and they are generaly a little cheaper than the fully enclosed kind.
Looks like it would be easy to move, just make sure you keep it tied them down well.

On a related note, we had a strong front blow through today and the kid's trampoline blew over, good thing I was home or it would have ended up in the neighbors yard


Hercules-10x20-HC1020PC6-Large.jpg
Click to expand...

Menard's has this style for $80 for a 10x20 with six legs, or 8 legs for $116.
 
Lucky Phil said:
Carbon_Liberator said:
I think these kind of portable shelters would make good wood sheds.
The fully enclosed type tend to draw moisture up from the ground, but these kind with just a roof would work well for storing and seasoning wood, and they are generaly a little cheaper than the fully enclosed kind.
Looks like it would be easy to move, just make sure you keep it tied them down well.

On a related note, we had a strong front blow through today and the kid's trampoline blew over, good thing I was home or it would have ended up in the neighbors yard


Hercules-10x20-HC1020PC6-Large.jpg
Click to expand...

Menard's has this style for $80 for a 10x20 with six legs, or 8 legs for $116.
Click to expand...

If you get ANY wind where you are I'd stay away from this set up, even if "tied down". we put up a 12 x 14 x 24 full portable garage that was anchored into asphalt and the wind picked it up. It moved about 15 feet, furtunately there was no vehicle inside. Anyway, just my opinion but this is not a good option for a portable application.

Here's an off the wall idea...

Sorry for the crude art!
 

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Those carport shelters last OK if they are protected from direct wind. We used them for 3 years in the forest with minimal problem. Once we cleared for the house and barn (2 acres) they took a beating and did not hold up. Neither did the 2x expensive green ones from Tractor Supply. The remaining pipe frame does make a good base for metal farm roof panels. You could use the white carport (get the 8 legs) for a year or two and then plan on replacing the top with lightweight metal later.
 
I thought about the portable shelters, but the roof is too tall for aesthetics where it is in the yard. Plus the airborne aspect is a consideration. Werm - your drawing was what I was thinking....just not sure what materials and if it will be worth the time and effort. I do like the idea of it on skids - though not good for my applcation, that would sure speed up the hauling to the house!
 
mfh said:
I thought about the portable shelters, but the roof is too tall for aesthetics where it is in the yard. Plus the airborne aspect is a consideration. Werm - your drawing was what I was thinking....just not sure what materials and if it will be worth the time and effort. I do like the idea of it on skids - though not good for my applcation, that would sure speed up the hauling to the house!
Click to expand...

Use something like this and put hoops on it if you want it portable. I've got between 4 and 5 cords on this. I just take it out back in the sun and when I need it I pull it up to my shed and unload it. It's made out of a mobil home frame and is 25ft long. It has slats welded in for the floor so it gets air flow. You could make it any size. I have a smaller one that holds about 1to 1 1/2cords also
leaddog
 

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How about a rigid roof that sits right on the top of the wood? It could be a flat roof (the simplest to build) or get fancy and make it a little higher in the middle. Extend it a short distance wider than the paired stacks to keep rain off. To move it, you'd need help, but it should be light enough that two people, one on each end, could just pick it up and move it. make each section 8 ft long. I imagine with three 8 ft 2x3 inch boards, a single sheet of thin plywood, and a few extra pieces for braces you could build a peaked roof. One 2x3 goes along each edge, one goes down the peak of the roof. Rip the plywood into two 2x8 sheets, one for each side of the roof. Use plenty of braces across the bottom, since that is the part that will rest on the wood stacks. Paint the top with something to make it weather resistant.

I use some old doors to cover a few stacks, and it works fine except for occasionally the lightweight doors blow off.
 
The trailer idea is nice, just build what ever size you want, then in the winter you could make it more weather tight (doors, tarp, ect) and pull it up by the house.
 
FWIW: A few years ago, I bought a $199 shelter from Walmart (I didn't use the side or end covers) for my sawmill. It came with snowload cable braces which worked pretty good although you could play a middle C on those cables when there was a foot of snow on it. Lasted for 3 years before UV finally weakened the cover to the point holes started to appear. Left open, it didn't move much in the wind (I doubled up the cinder blocks in the corners). I still have the frame and intend to use it again with either metal or fiberglass roof panels.
 

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mfh said:
I thought about the portable shelters, but the roof is too tall for aesthetics where it is in the yard. Plus the airborne aspect is a consideration. Werm - your drawing was what I was thinking....just not sure what materials and if it will be worth the time and effort. I do like the idea of it on skids - though not good for my applcation, that would sure speed up the hauling to the house!
Click to expand...

Mfh I can understand the aesthetics issue, however anything you build that is movable (no foundation) will have the possibility of becoming airborne (as already stated by LLigetfa) . Don't think for a minute that just because something is made of wood or metal the wind won't be able to lift it. Whatever you put there you'll want to make sure it is securely anchored while it's left stationary. I have seen these portable fabric shelters blow away and I have seen similar rigid metal and wood structures blow away, and believe me these fabric structures have a lot less potential for causing collateral damage.
Likely anything you build out of wood or metal will cost you just as much as one of these fabric shelters, or possibly more, and unless you put a lot of thought and work into the design will likely be harder to move and much harder to dismantle.
Whatever you put there, make darn sure it's anchored down securely (tie-downs and HEAVY blocks), and that applies doubly to something made of wood or metal.

If it moves on you then you'll know you didn't anchor it well enough. ;-)
 
Carbon_Liberator said:
I think these kind of portable shelters would make good wood sheds.
The fully enclosed type tend to draw moisture up from the ground, but these kind with just a roof would work well for storing and seasoning wood, and they are generaly a little cheaper than the fully enclosed kind.
Looks like it would be easy to move, just make sure you keep it tied them down well.

Hercules-10x20-HC1020PC6-Large.jpg
Click to expand...
Too bad I don't have a pic of what mine looked like after a storm tore it to shreds. I had it firmly tied down with helical screw anchors. A guy down the road had one for his woodpile and it collapsed under snow load. So far the only shelter that has survived wind and snow load is my roundtop.
 
I may try to get down to a neighbor's place and take a picture of his. I'll try to do that this afternoon and post it.
 
My neighbor and I have been batting the idea around for a couple of years. Last summer he put this one up.

Jimsshed-2.gif


Jimsshed-1.gif


Jimsshed-3.gif


The only thing he changed was the direction the wood was stacked. He did it the opposite way last fall but fixed that this year. It should make it easier for him and his smoke dragon. Notice that now he does not have to stand in rain or snow to put wood in the beast.
 
Thanks for the thoughts....I will have to mull it over a bit to decide what will work best - I am certainly concerned about the wind, and the misses is as concerned about the looks. I may end up bitting the bullet with something more permanent then I wanted, but safety is a concern and I have other stuff in the area I do not want damaged if it ever went airborne...
 
Backwoods Savage said:
My neighbor and I have been batting the idea around for a couple of years. Last summer he put this one up.

.
Click to expand...

i priced out those car ports and they run about 1200+ - i figure i could build a nice wood shed for the same $$
 
Stevebass4 said:
Backwoods Savage said:
My neighbor and I have been batting the idea around for a couple of years. Last summer he put this one up.

.
Click to expand...

i priced out those car ports and they run about 1200+ - i figure i could build a nice wood shed for the same $$
Click to expand...
An 8' x 16' is just $666.
http://www.menards.com/featuredProj...satube&dispatch=showOnePostFrame&code=1901632



A 12' x 20' is $790.
http://www.menards.com/featuredProj...satube&dispatch=showOnePostFrame&code=1901390

A 20' x 20' is $1298.
http://www.menards.com/featuredProj...satube&dispatch=showOnePostFrame&code=1901454
 
much cheaper than carports.com - regertfully there are no manerds around these parts though
 
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