How To Store a Tractor Outside? (8 Important Tips)
Not everyone has the facilities available to store their tractor inside. Many tractor owners choose to store their tractors outside, either willingly or without choice.
Yet, storing a tractor out in the elements year-round can be detrimental if you don’t take steps to ensure it is stored outside correctly.
Fortunately, tractors can be stored outside in most instances, and as long as you follow a few tips, you will ensure your tractor meets its lifespan expectations.
In this tractor article, we will address a few of the tips you should consider following if you will be storing your tractor outside throughout the year.
Hopefully, with our help, your tractor will age and operate as it should for years to come, even though you’re storing it outside.
8 Important Tips You Should Follow When Storing Your Tractor Outside
Below we have discussed the 8 important tips you need to consider when storing your tractor outside. These steps are simple and cost-effective. They will ensure you don’t need to spend copious amounts of money in the future fixing a tractor that has been stored outside in the elements.
1. Clean Your Tractor
It might seem like you don’t need to clean your tractor before storing it outside it, but you do.
When your tractor is not in use and you plan to store it outside, it will likely get dirty, and a dirt buildup can lead to damages to your paint, like scratches and chipping.
That’s why if you clean it before you store it outside, you lessen the damage it sustains.
Before storing it outside, consider completing a deep clean. You can use a garden hose to wash away any mud or dirt that is on your tractor. Yet, remember to start at the top and then work your way down.
If you plan to store your tractor outside and use it daily, you should consider cleaning it once a week to ensure no damage to the paint. Additionally, don’t forget to routinely clean the undercarriage as this is a part of a tractor that tends to rust or corrode first.
2. Choose A Dry Location
When storing your tractor outside, you need to choose a safe and dry location. Condensation can severely damage your tractor, which is why it’s best to try and store your tractor somewhere where there is no grass if possible.
For example, you can store it on a driveway or a porch if you have a large enough porch that offers easy access.
3. Do A Maintainance Check Under The Hood
If you’re planning to store your tractor outside for a lengthy period of time and not use it, you need to do a maintenance check under the hood.
This check will involve adding antifreeze to your coolant system in your tractor if you’re storing it outside during the winter.
You also need to make sure to add a fuel stabilizer as this will contend with any water that has entered into your fuel system and ensure your fuel doesn’t break down.
Additionally, it’s crucial that you remove the battery from your tractor while storing it outside.
You need to store your battery in a cool, dry place off the ground. If you leave the battery inside your tractor, it will eventually drain itself, which could cause it to not hold a charge in the future.
4. Consider Tire Maintainance
In addition to conducting a maintenance check under the hood of your tractor when storing it outside, you also need to consider tire maintenance.
Tractors are incredibly heavy. The average weight of a commercial tractor is estimated to be around 15,628 pounds, while the average weight of a utility tractor with a 52 to 75 horsepower range is 5,264 pounds.
This means that when a heavy tractor sits in one place for an extended period of time while you’re storing it outside, multiple flat spots in the tractor’s tires can occur. Fortunately, there is an easy solution to this dilemma.
All you have to do is put blocks under your tractor’s frame rails. After you have placed the blocks, you need to also release some of the tire’s pressure so that your tractor will lower itself on top of the blocks.
5. Keep Your Tractor Under A Canvas Cover
Arguably, the most important tip you need to consider following if you plan to store your tractor outside is to keep it covered.
When it isn’t possible to store a tractor in a shed, garage, barn, or under a large carport, one of the best ways to keep your tractor covered is by using a canvas cover.
Many farmers opt to tie a canvas up between trees and then park their tractors underneath it. Alternatively, you could cover your tractor with a piece of canvas and weigh it down with bricks after ensuring the entirety of the tractor has been covered.
You need to use canvas instead of a plastic tarp because plastic isn’t breathable, and thus it reduces air circulation.
A reduction in air circulation allows moisture to become trapped, leading to the development of rust. Using a canvas instead circumvents this issue and ensures your tractor remains rust-free when stored.
6. Do Routine Waxes
Should you decide not to cover your tractor while storing it outside, you should complete routine waxes.
Waxing your tractor will protect the paint against UV rays and hot weather conditions.
It will also prevent rust if you are in an area that experiences heavy rainfalls.
When waxing your tractor, try to opt for a natural wax over a synthetic wax when possible as it is more durable, and you will need this when storing your tractor outside.
Related Article: 5 Steps on How To Polish Tractors (Complete Checklist)
7. Consider Pest Control
It isn’t always possible, but you need to consider pest control when storing your tractor outside. Field mice are a common pest on agricultural holdings that tend to chew and destroy tractor wiring while a tractor is being stored outside.
There are two easy ways you can address the issue. Although unconventional, you can opt to get a few cats who will naturally take care of the mice. Or you can put down pest chemicals near your tractor to ensure no mice or other rodents chew your tractor wiring.
8. Cover The Seat And Dash
Providing a covering for your tractor as a whole is an excellent idea, but you also need to ensure you cover your seat and dash on the inside.
This is especially true if you’re opting not to cover your tractor while storing it outside since UV rays can cause sun damage.
To cover the seat and dash, you should opt for a breathable covering like canvas as this will ensure now moisture gets trapped, which could damage your seat and cause rusting on the interior metal.
Final Words
Often storing a tractor outside is a cheaper alternative if you don’t have the money to erect a garage, barn, or shed. Yet, outside storage poses many issues such as rusting, weather damage, theft, and damaged wiring.
That’s why it’s crucial you consider the various important tractor storage tips we have outlined in this article. Hopefully, with our outdoor storage tips, you will be able to easily store your tractor outside without worrying too much about damages occurring.
Sources:
Yesterdays Tractor Co: Outside Tractor Storage