I'm thinking about using a couple of cattle panels and a tarp/stakes to make a shelter for our riding mower. Has anyone done such a thing? I know ideally it should be parked in a building, but we don't really have that option right now, filled the shed up with projects. I was thinking of using a couple of 4x6 rubber horse stall mats as a 'floor' to keep the mower from being on wet ground. I'd love to see any projects or ideas for temp shelter options that are really inexpensive.

I think it should work fine for you. Just make sure to use really strong stakes that can hold the tarps down when we get those 50-70 mph winds. The mats would work great too since they are easy to hose off if they get too dirty.

Frillylily
Great idea. Beats keeping it in the kitchen like a friend did with his motorcycle - that is until his wife got mashed potatoes on it. Or, the livingroom, like another friend, who kept his radial engine on an engine stand, did-that is until he got married.
See a trend here?
I like your idea.

Radial engine, as in aircraft engine?

I knew a guy once that fixed motorcycles in his house, boxes of parts everywhere, needless to say he wasn't married.

mowers are not cheap and they are expensive and time consuming to fix. Even though we may not have a place at the moment to put it, I want to protect it as much as I can. I'm wondering how long a tarp would hold up?

Get the thickest one in the biggest size you can (or the size you need) and you should get at least a year assuming the winds or hail don't rip it. You might even get more years out of it but I'm thinking a little on the conservative side knowing how our weather is here in this state. The thicker it is the better it will hold up.

Rj - yes. A rare find. I can understand, since that engine would be more valuable than my whole living room full of furniture. His name was Cole Palen. A very, very cool guy.

FINALLY!

That should work out well to help protect it.

My husband smoothed off the edges of the fence posts so they woudln't be sharp and make a hole in the tarp. We used hose clamps to fasten some of it.