Thinking of Storage

[Bill-N-Donna]

Yep, I’m thinking of storing the monty this winter. However, it will be in our barn.

I have a modification or two that needs to be completed in order for it to work. As you can see in the photo I have plenty of room inside but the doorways will have to be cut larger. Currently they are at a height of 12 feet. I would like your opinion on what the height should be. It would require a minimum of 13 feet to clear and that would be only with 2 inches to spare. Way too close for me. When I measured it some time back it measured at 12’ 10.” My thinking is to increase the height to 14 feet. What is your opinion?

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[NCFischers]

My door is 14' high. I wouldn't go any lower.

 

[dyna_rider98-MOC]

I had a 13 ft door installed and now I am looking at having it replaced with a 14 ft. So I would say go 14 ft it will not be much difference in price.

 

[DQDick]

14' would be my choice.

 

[Bill-N-Donna]

My next question would be concerning the door. What type of door would be best? My first thoughts would be to build a double swinging door on hinges but then the more I think about it I’m not sure what would be the best way to go. I also thought of one big sliding door but then it might conflict with the roof or be in the way of another door opening. If I was to use a sliding door then the other door would have to be different. I have a total of four doors not counting one end that is open. I have future plans of enclosing the barn with siding and eventually I want to pour a concrete floor. With all of that said an electric roll up would be ideal but trying to budget that in would definitely be a high end expense.
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[Bill-N-Donna]

Thought I’d check the forum here while the batteries are re-charging for the drill. Going much slower than I anticipated which doesn’t surprise me in the least. My son and I got one board up but haven’t starting making the cut as of yet. However, I twisted two screws right into trying to place the first board. Wound up having to drill each hole for the screws. This old barn wood is really tough. After about half a dozen screws the batteries play out. This may take a while. Oh well I’m not in a race just want to have a place for the Monty by winter. I think I might make it.
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[bncinwv]

The doors would not have to be electric, they have chain drive doors that can be manually operated. Such as:

Roll-up Doors

Bingo

 

[Bill-N-Donna]

Thanks Bingo for the idea. Right now there isn’t any electric even in the barn. Ripped out what was there looked too dangerous for me. Got to get back to work! Too much to do to sit long at the computer; I can always mow the lawn. With 3-4 acres we take care of it seems that’s about all we’ve been getting done. But I love it!
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[DAR-MOC]

I would not going any less than 14' our 3750fl is 13'4" still nerve racking putting it in a 14' opening

 

[bncinwv]

DAR,
I fully understand the nerve-wracking part. We have a bridge with 13'6" clearance that we go under getting to our local campground. I am at 13'4.5" measured to the front AC on our 3750FL.
Bingo

 

[dieselguy]

Totally off topic, but you'd better put plenty of Bounce sheets in your fiver both inside and in the storage compartments ... just looking at the photos, you'll more than likely have little furry creatures out the wazoo ... been there, done that, have the Tee Shirt.

 

[bethandkevin]

quote:Originally posted by bncinwv

DAR,
I fully understand the nerve-wracking part. We have a bridge with 13'6" clearance that we go under getting to our local campground. I am at 13'4.5" measured to the front AC on our 3750FL.
Bingo

I know that feeling. Ours is also 13'-4-1/2". Last year going through Chicago, encountered a couple of 13'-6". Wife aked if we were going to make it? I told her we'd know in a second! LOL.

 

[D Yoder]

Don't make the mistake I made a few years back: I set the height of my door for my then current RV with a small safety margin. 5 years later I was in the market for a new RV and it was hard to find one that would fit because the height of these babies seems to go up a few inches every few years. The 2014's are 2" taller than my 2012 according to the specs. So I would go with the 14 feet that was suggested as the minimum to be one the safe side.

I love your barn, that looks like a great place to stow your Montana.

 

[Recumbent-MOC]

We have sliding doors and the framing at the door and the ceiling everywhere in the shop is 14' and the Monti is 13'4". I need some of that extra 8" when raising the trailer up to the hitch level.

 

[Parts Ed]

14 feet is my vote.... Not that it really matters....

 

[Bill-N-Donna]

Well I have the door openings cut out and now I’m having second thoughts on storing it there for this winter. It’s been suggested that mice might be a potential problem. After I have also very recently found a nest of mice that had taken residence in the tractor probably for most of the summer it seems that it may be a big potential for further problems right now.

The way it stands now I would only be removing it from the rain & snow which is the whole intent. What I am wondering about though is if I sat plenty of De-con and leave it out in the barn ahead of storage time, do you feel it may eliminate the tiny critters and remove the threat of them through-out the winter? Just some rambling thoughts.

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[NCFischers]

Barn cats might work. We had a couple of cats that lived in our horse barn and did an excellent job with critter control. Without them, we had mice everywhere.

 

[Recumbent-MOC]

Coyotes ate all 3 cats, so we are left with De-con and other brands, it works well. We leave it out all year round, get best results in the fall as temperatures begin to cool down and mice look for a place to winter over. I recommend placing the poison where other animals can not get to it, in our case we place under pieces of closet wire shelves (scraps left over when house was built). If you fix the bait in protected spots then the cat solution could also be employed, and don't worry about the cat eating the mice that has eaten the bait as I think the quantity is not enough to harm the cat, maybe thin blood down and make it's circulation a little better.

 

[hookman]

If you put a manual roll up door on the barn check with the manufacture if a motor can be installed later.

 

[Trailer Trash2]

if you dont want to go 14 feet up with the door you could get the tractor out and dig a two foot deep trench with a sump pump to pump out any water tht collects, then the door to enter the Monty would be at ground level no steps needed.