How long should a sand spreader and mixer wagon last?

[Jdunn55]

I'm looking to maybe hop on to the hamster wheel and purchase my first couple of pieces of machinery this year

I'm toying with a mixer wagon for various reasons - but mainly ease of feeding the farm is set up for a wagon and putting blocks/bales in is difficult but not impossible as well as being able to put my protein blend and cereals in rather than having to bag it up. I am not a massive fan of wagons and have never wanted one but I am looking at it. How long would you expect a wagon to last if looked after? Dealer is saying most run theirs into the ground (which is why good second hand ones are rare) and if you do 1-2 mixes/day they should last 20 years with the odd repair? Is this true or dealer rep speak? I don't want to buy one for it to only last 5 years it needs to do 10+ for me to even consider it. Would do 2 mixes a day I suspect

Sand spreader wise I believe we are talking £7,000 now, which for a machine that works once a week for 20 weeks a year seems a lot. If it was washed after every use, greased, oiled and maintained regularly would you expect 10+ years from one? Then its £700/year for a machine that would save me 200 hours of work a year at £10/hour = £2,000 saved so suddenly becomes a decent investment

Thanks

 

[Tim G]

You can have a job here at £10/Hr.

 

[Jdunn55]

You can have a job here at £10/Hr.

£10/hour is average - £19.50/hour for staff and 50p for the twit in charge (me)

 

[David1985]

Use woodchuck one here. Prob replace the auger after 18m or so. Same with the spinners spreading approx 100t every week. If your half handy with spanners all can be repaired in house. Your use should last a good few years. If you went through at end of season and oiled chains and checked bearings should be trouble free.

 

[Jdunn55]

Use woodchuck one here. Prob replace the auger after 18m or so. Same with the spinners spreading approx 100t every week. If your half handy with spanners all can be repaired in house. Your use should last a good few years. If you went through at end of season and oiled chains and checked bearings should be trouble free.

Can I ask how much the auger and spinners are to replace please?

I would be spreading more like 30t/week than 100t so would they last me longer or is it less the amount of sand that knackers them than the timeframe (if that makes sense)?

 

[David1985]

Can I ask how much the auger and spinners are to replace please?

I would be spreading more like 30t/week than 100t so would they last me longer or is it less the amount of sand that knackers them than the timeframe (if that makes sense)?

Im not sure tbh I just work there. The sand would be what wears them out. The auger will get thin enough to shave yourself. 10 mins with the volume washer after use helps the spinners massively. Otherwise sand builds up underneath them and the can get jammed etc.

 

[More to life]

Can you get a contactor to feed them ? I've found wagons doing 2-3 mixes a day last 15 years. I hope my lastest tub might last longer.

 

[Boysground]

my woodchuck is a few years old now, must have had a couple of augers and some discs. Would definitely recommend one. I use about 50t a week.

Diet feeder life definitely depends on what you put in it. Lots of dry feed like straw hay based dry cow mixes seem to wear more. Mixing caustic wheat not great for them. We do tend to kill them here.

In my experience lager machines don’t tend to trade very well, people who use them tend to buy new so there is not a great trade for them. Could find a bargain if a larger one would fit.

Bg

 

[Holsteinfriesian90]

We bought a shelborne sand dispenser and been very pleased with it.

Feeder wagons seem a money pit bought ours secondhand and it’s old but it does the job. Just needs a new conveyor belt which is a let down and a big expence.

 

[Holsteinfriesian90]

One in lodge and Thomas online auction.

 

[Jdunn55]

We bought a shelborne sand dispenser and been very pleased with it.

Feeder wagons seem a money pit bought ours secondhand and it’s old but it does the job. Just needs a new conveyor belt which is a let down and a big expence.

You don't fancy feeding mine for me and I'll pay you for the privilege? Same with the sand dispenser if you like...

Sort of joking but genuinely would if you had time as well...

 

[Jdunn55]

Can you get a contactor to feed them ? I've found wagons doing 2-3 mixes a day last 15 years. I hope my lastest tub might last longer.

Have wondered but don't even know where to begin with that sort of thing and thanks that's helpful, I'd be happy with 15 years

 

[Jdunn55]

my woodchuck is a few years old now, must have had a couple of augers and some discs. Would definitely recommend one. I use about 50t a week.

Diet feeder life definitely depends on what you put in it. Lots of dry feed like straw hay based dry cow mixes seem to wear more. Mixing caustic wheat not great for them. We do tend to kill them here.

In my experience lager machines don’t tend to trade very well, people who use them tend to buy new so there is not a great trade for them. Could find a bargain if a larger one would fit.

Bg

Unfortunately shed height and width are an issue here, would have to be small.

it would have to do a mix for the dry cows (just hay and maybe haylege) with some minerals
Then a mix for the milkers and a mix for the youngstock

 

[Wesley]

Unfortunately shed height and width are an issue here, would have to be small.

Our twin auger 20m3 is lower & no wider than our old 14 single auger. Its length & turning space that will be limiting factor

 

[DairyNerd]

I'm looking to maybe hop on to the hamster wheel and purchase my first couple of pieces of machinery this year

I'm toying with a mixer wagon for various reasons - but mainly ease of feeding the farm is set up for a wagon and putting blocks/bales in is difficult but not impossible as well as being able to put my protein blend and cereals in rather than having to bag it up. I am not a massive fan of wagons and have never wanted one but I am looking at it. How long would you expect a wagon to last if looked after? Dealer is saying most run theirs into the ground (which is why good second hand ones are rare) and if you do 1-2 mixes/day they should last 20 years with the odd repair? Is this true or dealer rep speak? I don't want to buy one for it to only last 5 years it needs to do 10+ for me to even consider it. Would do 2 mixes a day I suspect

Sand spreader wise I believe we are talking £7,000 now, which for a machine that works once a week for 20 weeks a year seems a lot. If it was washed after every use, greased, oiled and maintained regularly would you expect 10+ years from one? Then its £700/year for a machine that would save me 200 hours of work a year at £10/hour = £2,000 saved so suddenly becomes a decent investment

Thanks

Can easily see the point of a wagon on your system.

Never really worked with sand but 200 hours over 20 weeks is an hour and half a day to bed up, that can't be right is it? The one place I have seen it used they just scraped the muck off each morning the topped up twice a week with telehandler, bucket and shovel and it seemed to take about half an hour each time.

 

[Wesley]

The one place I have seen it used they just scraped the muck off each morning the topped up twice a week with telehandler, bucket and shovel and it seemed to take about half an hour each time

One person or two? Must save quite a time if you’re on your own

 

[Mc115reed]

Feeder wagon will last as long as you look after it really…. The metal will thin out on them but if your not mixing massive tonnage it won’t be in a hurry… farm I used too work on had a Keenan for 10 years before they traded it in for a new one and never spent a penny on it …

for the sand dispenser I wouldn’t worry about washing it ect after every use it’s not like salt or fert where it rots them out it’s the gritty texture to sand that rubs everything up when it’s working.. anything involved in bedding sand just wears out and fast… I’d think you’d be looking at 5 Years really on a sand dispenser and Definatly do not buy second hand!

 

[rustyspring]

We bought our Keenan in 2006 and have done 2 loads/day for 6 months of the year with it since. It's been relined and had 3 new weigh cells but otherwise still going strong.

 

[Wesley]

We bought our Keenan in 2006 and have done 2 loads/day for 6 months of the year with it since. It's been relined and had 3 new weigh cells but otherwise still going strong.

Pretty sure trigger had a broom a bit like that

 

[Conrod96]

2002 redrock paddle 20cube feeder here doing 2 mix’s a day in the summer 5 in the winter, relined twice and still going strong, it’s greased every week and oiler for the chain topped up then too have no trouble with it at all