Tractor storage - raised platform.

[sscotsman 148]

So I've seen these done in several threads in various forum, its a perfect idea for me to store two tractors, so I built one!

 

 

 

Two snowblowers, two bicycles, and one RER mower fit neatly under it.

The raised platform is intended to store my 1964 Wheel Horse 854:

 

 

Which was my main mower until a few years ago, when the mower deck broke. It's now semi-retired. but I intend to still use it someday.

So the raised platform will hold the 854, and a second tractor; (i'm looking for a Cub Cadet Original or model 100.)

I built the platform over the past several weekends, and today I attempted to get the 854 up there.. but the attempt failed! 

I already have a pully/winch that I use to raise up my small utility trailer on its end, for storage, this type:

 

 

 

 

and I thought that might work, but it doesn't.. the tractor is too heavy and/or i'm not strong enough.

I could not pull it up on the ramp with that system..

 

So! next idea: either a hand-crank winch, like this:

 

Or an electric winch.. I'm wary of the electric ones, because they seem low-quality and cheap, and seem to break easily.

So I'm leaning toward the "hand crank" winch.. they seem to be often used to crank up boats on to a trailer..so should be strong enough??

(I'm not a boat person, I have never used one of these winches before)

Anyone have any suggestions?

Here is a diagram of the platform with the ramp in place:

 

 

The ramp will extend out in to the driveway when raising or lowering tractors, through the open garage door, then it will be removed and the garage door closed.

When I am raising or lowering a tractor, I want to be standing on the far right side of the platform, where the winch is located, away from the moving tractor..

In my mind, it's a similar concept to cranking up something in to a pickup truck bed or a trailer..

 

This raised platform will likely be used for looong term storage.  years probably.

It's possible once I get the 854 up there, it will stay there for ten years.. (because I'm retiring in 10 years)

the two tractors I want to store there will not be in regular operating rotation.

thanks,

Scot

 

 

 

 

[8ntruck 6,998]

Tractor data website says an 854 weighs 400 lb.  If I've done my trig correctly, 400 lb on a 20 degree ramp will produce about 135 pounds downhill force.  Double that to allow for rolling resistance (worst case guess) makes the force required to move it up the ramp in the neighborhood of 270 lb.

 

Your pulley setup would need a pull of about 67 pounds to get that load up the ramp.  A boat trailer winch should pull it up the ramp easily.  The winch has the advantage of a built in ratchet to hold the load - don't know if your pulley set up does or not.

 

Neat storage solution.  Good luck and have fun.

[Pullstart 62,834]

I recently pulled my RJ35 up a 2” square tube for “long term storage” in my shop.  I did it easily with a pair of 1” ratchet straps, one pulling at a time.  A boat winch should be quite easy!

 

 

[kpinnc 12,004]

I would suggest some kind of "hard stop" at the top end of the bench as well as a secure removable wheel chock behind the tractor once in place. 

 

Once you get it up there, don't be surprised at how much tinkering on it you'll want to do. It's so much nicer working on these when they are up off the floor! 

[Handy Don 12,212]

Very doable. This thread where my son and i ran 854 down a steep stairway using a 1,000 lb. boat trailer winch may reassure you! It came out the same way but there were no pictures (it was raining and cold).

[ri702bill 8,316]

Scot - I agree with the force calculations ( said the guy that has had my old Ariens Sno Thro chase me down the ramps of the pickup!!). Because of the  rather steep 21 degree pitch, you will not be able to clear the joint in the middle with the cutting deck installed...... Placement of the winch is critical for SAFE usage. Like a boat trailer, it needs to pull from the middle (center front axle pivot area). Length of the strap is probably less than 20 feet??  Ideally you want to accomplish getting up and completely off the incline with all 4 tires on the horizontal portion before you disconnect the winch. A possible solution is to fix mount the winch centered below the middle horizontal upright and use 2 rigid mounted rollers - one above it and one at the apex of the joint where the ramp attaches. That gets it up there, you need to push it to the far right.

 

Even so this is NOT a one person event - the danger of running the winch and making sure the tractor is steering centered up the rather narrow ramps with you alone 15 feet away is asking for the real possibility that it will fall. The "Kevin" factor is too high!!   This takes 2 people that trust and listen to each other - and no cell phone!! 

 

[ebinmaine 67,420]

11 minutes ago, ri702bill said:

Even so this is NOT a one person event

 

It could be done with a single human... with potential for LOTS of going back n forth correcting the steering wheel. 

 

Possible, but nothing to do with convenient. 

 

[ri702bill 8,316]

It all depends on how much you "like" the tractors!! I see twin sticks on the tractor icons, but only one in the picture...... hmmmm..... more to follow?? I have a C81 8 speed in my 854 - would not go back to the 4 speed.

[sscotsman 148]

Thanks for all the great input everyone! Much appreciated! 

I'm going to go with the "boat winch". Just need to pick a good model. It will be mounted at the far right side of the platform, centered. The tractor will be going up *backwards* up the ramp, rear wheels first. And I have no problem winching it up "one click at a time", I don't care if I have to walk back and forth 20 times to make micro adjustments,  and I don't care if it takes an hour.  No hurry at all.

 

I'd like to get it on the platform with its mower deck in place, but I can see where that might not be possible. With the deck raised there is 5" clearance at the bottom of the deck, not sure if that will be enough or not, I'll probably just try and see.

 

I think I'll make new ramps.. 12' long instead of 10', with a wide support tying both sides together in the middle. That reduces the angle even further to 18 degrees. 

 

 

I'll post an update here when it's done! It will probably be next weekend..

Thanks!

Scot

Edited May 12 by sscotsman

[ri702bill 8,316]

One click at a time MAY allow you to get the rear wheels past the joint onto the horizontal before the deck touches. Tapered shims - a length of 2x6 cut at a diagonal thru its thickness, properly placed, could raise the front wheels enough to do it....

[ri702bill 8,316]

One more - the load is higher up that the stand is wide - top heavy. ( knew a girl like that....)

Additional solid bracing to the garage should be in order.

[sscotsman 148]

2 minutes ago, ri702bill said:

One more - the load is higher up that the stand is wide - top heavy. ( knew a girl like that....)

Additional solid bracing to the garage should be in order.

 

Good point, thanks. I have side braces in place on two of the three vertical supports:

 

 

(The diagional piece of lumber actoss the "square" of the legs.) And I currently have two physical connections to the garage wall, one on each end. A third at the middle couldn't hurt, I will add one.

 

The platform is physically screwed to the workbench,  and the workbench is physically attached to the wall, screwed in to studs. 

 

The whole platform is 10' long by 31" wide by 44" tall. The height was as low as I could go, but still clear the snowblowers. The two "rails" that the wheels will sit on are 2x8's by 10', and they are physically sitting directly on top of the 4x4 legs. The center-line of the two rails is 24" apart, the same as the center line of the 854's wheels.

 

Thanks,

Scot

[ri702bill 8,316]

Good - the Old Girls like an 854 are 30 inches wide.

Bracing to the wall should be near the top to minimize sway.

[kpinnc 12,004]

6 hours ago, ri702bill said:

The "Kevin" factor is too high!! 

 

Now just a dogone minute there sir! As a man named Kevin, I am somewhat... Well.... Dangit OK yeah that is an actual thing.  

[Evguy 556]

I came across this thread recently, I am currently thinking of a raised platform to store some mowers and accessories according to season. I have considered a boat winch and a small 12v winch. To avoid dragging decks I thought about a hinged ramp setup where I lift the loaded ramp to facilitate rolling straight onto my platform, kicking ideas around in my head still. 
 

[CCW 1,293]

I use an electric winch mounted to the front of my tractor to load it on and off the trailer.  Having the winch mounted on the tractor allows me to push the winch button while controlling the steering wheel.  This makes it a one man job as the winch slowly pulls the tractor up the ramp.  Downside to the electric winch is the tractor needs to be running or the winch will kill the battery.  Guess how I discovered this.  

 

If using a hand cranked winch I would explore mounting it to the tractor so it could be cranked as you control the steering.

[ri702bill 8,316]

2 hours ago, kpinnc said:

Dangit OK yeah that is an actual thing.  

Different Kevin - you know who......

[ri702bill 8,316]

1 hour ago, CCW said:

If using a hand cranked winch I would explore mounting it to the tractor so it could be cranked as you control the steering.

 

Well... using a later style front Tach-a-matic mount would make that ALL too easy. Remove when done, move on to the second one......

[squonk 41,067]

I have the exact flat strap winch you pictured from Horror Fright. Use it on my trailer and it works well. 

[adsm08 2,046]

I agree you want that stand braced to the wall. You will be amazed at how much sway will be in there with the tractor up on it.

 

We have very similarly built stand-alone work benches where I work, and when I use them to rebuild little front wheel drive transmissions they get wobbly. Rock solid empty, but put just 150lbs on them and they get like a set of Bamboo Boggie Boots.

 

Also, and I'm sure I'm in the minority here, once properly stabilized I'd probably be willing to drive that tractor up onto that stand. The width relationships aren't too different from pulling a vehicle up on to a drive-on lift, probably have better visibility on the wheels to boot.

[Pullstart 62,834]

10 hours ago, ri702bill said:

The "Kevin" factor is too high!!   This takes 2 people that trust and listen to each other - and no cell phone!! 

 what!?!? 

[CCW 1,293]

2 hours ago, adsm08 said:

Also, and I'm sure I'm in the minority here, once properly stabilized I'd probably be willing to drive that tractor up onto that stand. The width relationships aren't too different from pulling a vehicle up on to a drive-on lift, probably have better visibility on the wheels to boot.

 

The reason I put the winch on the tractor front was it was on $150 total install vs the risk of an accident that would be so much more expensive and life changing.

 

[Handy Don 12,212]

8 hours ago, sscotsman said:

(The diagional piece of lumber actoss the "square" of the legs.) And I currently have two physical connections to the garage wall, one on each end. A third at the middle couldn't hurt, I will add one.

The platform is physically screwed to the workbench,  and the workbench is physically attached to the wall, screwed in to studs. 

The whole platform is 10' long by 31" wide by 44" tall. The height was as low as I could go, but still clear the snowblowers. The two "rails" that the wheels will sit on are 2x8's by 10', and they are physically sitting directly on top of the 4x4 legs. The center-line of the two rails is 24" apart, the same as the center line of the 854's wheels.

i don’t think anyone thinks the platform insufficiently sturdy. Stability was the main concern and solid attachment to the garage wall will go a long way on that.

 

8 hours ago, ri702bill said:

Bracing to the wall should be near the top to minimize sway.

 

9 hours ago, ri702bill said:

Tapered shims - a length of 2x6 cut at a diagonal thru its thickness, properly placed, could raise the front wheels enough to do it....

Is the idea to put the shims under the front wheels just as the rear wheels hit the top of the ramp so the front lift above the ramp as the mower deck is going over the top of the ramp?

[ri702bill 8,316]

shims - ramp - yes...

[sscotsman 148]

Success! Garden tractor platform storage achieved. winched it up a few inches at a time with a boat winch, kept walking back and forth to fine-tune the steering as it went up the ramp. Slow and steady, but finally got it!

 

I quickly learned I could *not* pull it up the ramp backwards, (rear wheels first) by myself, because the front wheels wouldn't stray straight, they wandered off-center too much. But pulling it forward, front wheels first,  was much easier, I just stopped and made small adjustments to the steering as needed. The deck *just* cleared, raised all the way up, with a 12-foot ramp.

 

 

 

Edited July 27 by sscotsman