Grain vac vs auger?

[Tucker]

I have an 8" auger with a mover and an E-Kay sweep and a little Rem vac. I let the E-kay go around the bin twice and then clean up the bottoms with the vac later. I'm not sure where my shovels are anymore. I know I used to have at least half a dozen kicking around... All the new bins bought have been hoppers but I still need to use a bunch of the flat bottom ones every year.

[farmaholic]

Another positive of grain vacs is they can be pretty effective in dealing with grain bug infestations. Don't run them at capacity, it's a pretty rough ride and they can actually be separated and blown out the exhaust. But "good" farmers never get bugs, right?

[TOM4CWB]

DaleK,

Belt Conveyors can't be beat if you do not grow CANOLA. Seed and peas/beans requires a belt conveyor.

Batco makes great short belt loaders for load out... with hopper bins and fertilizer handling... Peas and Beans on our seed farm... these belts for loading bins and trucks from hopper bins CAN't BE BEAT. NO grain Damage. FAST. easy clean up.
An underfloor auger/Full floor air/unload system for flat bottoms can be installed to feed the Belt conveyor into truck.
WE do have a vac. Big power tractor needed for decent capacity Vac. Vac very good for killing rusty grain Beatles!!

Cheers

[tweety]

That's a good method tucker! Especially for those 10 to 20k bu bins.

[MBgrower]

Doesnt take a lot of effort to clean out flat bottoms with central cleanouts.and sweeps. Id never use a vac in a 20k bin. Only use mine on small bins without undermount pits.

[blackpowder]

Remember, a vac is a high wear, clumsy, depreciating asset.