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Low-Cost Plastic Garage
Now you can get your tractor or large piece of equipment under cover without putting up a building that runs into six figures. The answer: A new vinyl garage that costs about $500.
"This isn't just a plastic tarpaulin to throw over a piece of equipment. It's a real shelter that you can drive in and out of," says its manufacturer, Ronald Shuster, of Vandergrift, Penn.
The garage consists of a frame made of 3 in. steel pipe assembled in 10 ft. sections, and a vinyl cover that fits over it. The cover is 14 oz. polyester fiber with a vinyl coating front and back.
Standard size is a 10-by 20-ft. shelter 7 ft. high, but it comes in other sizes up to 13 by 30 by 13 ft. The frame for a standard garage weighs 220 lbs., and the cover weighs 50 lbs. Two men can easily transport and assemble it.
For complete protection, a front curtain is optional. It is available in a sliding "shower curtain" style, or as a rollup. Both styles fasten or snap to the sides for a tight fit. Besides a cover for a tractor, pickup or other equipment, the vinyl shelter is finding farm use for storing hay and straw. "It's better than a canvas cover," says Shuster, "because it allows the air to circulate around the material, and you can go in and out of the shelter without pulling the tarpaulin off."
Shuster points out some other advantages of the vinyl shelter: "It's not taxable because it's a temporary structure. It's guaranteed for three years, but most of them last for five years. In five years, the cover can be replaced on the old frame and you're set for another five years."
Shuster points out that the plastic cover is durable but, if it should get a small rip or tear, it can be repaired with a kit of cement and patches. "The shelter will stand up under any snow load, and it will survive high winds if it is properly anchored with the ground stakes that come with the kit," says Shuster.
A standard size vinyl garage frame and cover costs $429, plus $61 additional for a door. For larger equipment, the 13 ft. by 30 ft. by 13 ft. size is available for $804.
For more details, contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Awnings by Schuster, P.O. Box 570, Vandergrift, Penn. 15690 (ph 412 567-5689).


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1980 - Volume #4, Issue #4