Tractor cover???

[Tractorboy3]

Hi Guys..and Gals
Been off the forum for a while. Sorry, life got busy. Anyway...got the babies out for a run, and wash. I had one covered inside my Tractor House...see pics. All the ones inside, but not covered, have a black coating on them...mold???...Question...do any of you use a tailored cover for your tractors...any suggestions...Thanks...Thomas

[JimCub48]

I cover mine with old bed sheets , breathable and keeps them fairly clean.

[Tractorboy3]

Thanks for the suggestion....

[Dale Finch]

I cover mine with old bed sheets , breathable and keeps them fairly clean.

[radioguy41]

I cover mine with old bed sheets , breathable and keeps them fairly clean.

Same here, old bedsheets.

[outdoors4evr]

My baby has been sitting outside this winter while we built a garage. I've been hiding her under a heavy canvas tarp.

[Matt Kirsch]

I've seen dust, I've seen bird cr@p, but never mold.

It looks like your barn is a ShelterLogic "tarp shed" with little to no ventilation, so, lots of condensation and warmth to promote mold growth. Covers would probably exacerbate the situation. Getting some airflow through the shed is more likely the answer.

[Lt.Mike]

My tractors get dusty then washed but...
I have an old Dodge I keep covered under a commercially sold car cover. There’s a problem with that though as when the cover gets dirty you can’t fit it in a home washer. So over the car cover I drape canvas painters drop cloths. They have some weight so they stay in place, resist whatever the barn cats do to them and easily fit in the washer. Plus if I do need to paint in the house I borrow them, paint, wash and return them to the car.
I stay with two layers on the car for added padding as it’s a lost fight to keep the cats off.

[Stanton]

I've seen dust, I've seen bird cr@p, but never mold.

It looks like your barn is a ShelterLogic "tarp shed" with little to no ventilation, so, lots of condensation and warmth to promote mold growth. Covers would probably exacerbate the situation. Getting some airflow through the shed is more likely the answer.

Agree with Matt. Suggestion: Cut some small diameter holes in the side walls of your shelter, just below the sloped roof, to get some cross-flow ventilation. If that doesn't work, increase size of holes or slots and use mesh on larger openings to keep birds out.

Hope this helps.

[Tractorboy3]

I've seen dust, I've seen bird cr@p, but never mold.

It looks like your barn is a ShelterLogic "tarp shed" with little to no ventilation, so, lots of condensation and warmth to promote mold growth. Covers would probably exacerbate the situation. Getting some airflow through the shed is more likely the answer.

Actually, I had a cheap car cover on the one cub I recently finished, and it looked just like it did when I covered it......no mold, or maybe mildew is a better word. I do agree, ventilation probably would have saved the uncovered ones....I did notice they do get wet, while inside the shelter...

[Tractorboy3]

Thank you everyone for the advise and suggestions...
Ventilation will be added to the shelter....

[Stanton]

Thank you everyone for the advise and suggestions...
Ventilation will be added to the shelter....

Looking again at your pics in your first post, I think I would start with vents up high in the gables at each end of the cover first. Then, if not sufficient, add vents along the sides (lower).

[Jim Becker]

Or you could make it as tight as possible and put a dehumidifier in there.

[Lt.Mike]

I actually have a smaller version of your shelter logic shed, 12x20 (since 2010). With a dirt floor I found if I closed it all up it became like a sauna inside and everything had a moisture coating on it. Kinda defeats the purpose doesn’t it? I began leaving the front drop open then ended up removing it entirely. Everything stays dry as a bone inside now. It could have rained but stepping inside I can kick dust in the dirt. There’s really no need to cut or add vents.
I’d say that if you left your front flap open say 3-4’ up that’d give you the ventilation you need.

[Lt.Mike]

Or you could make it as tight as possible and put a dehumidifier in there.

Even with tar paper down that dirt floor will wick moisture in. It’d be like sweeping against the tide. Leaving one flap partially open would do the trick. I have one whole end open on mine and you can kick dust inside when it’s raining outside.