[TeenageFarmer]

We are looking at upgrading our grain hauling equipment, we currently have a Ford L8000 sa truck with a 17ft box and an old beat up Chevy C60 sa. All our land is within 5 miles of the yard and even in the biggest bumper crops we've been able to keep up, till the auger has to be moved, but the old C60 is getting quite old and tired. We have been going back and forth debating whether we should buy a tandem truck or a 500-700bu graincart.

The tandem would allow us to retire the old C60 and as we grow more feed wheat it would allow us to start hauling a portion of our grain in winter. But for a decent old tandem we are paying 1.5x more than a nice used 600bu graincart. The graincart would give us a big boost in harvesting efficiency... especially in wet years. Manpower would sometimes be an issue but unless we are in high yielding crop the trucker should make it to the yard and back before the combine is full (therefore running both). In good crop we should be able to find some extra hands to help if we really need. The 2 issues with the grain cart is we can't use it in spring for fert/seed and we can't haul to market. With some tlc we think the C60 could last quite a while making a handful of trips to town a year, but it would be nice to be able to haul our own grain when the feed mills are only 5-15miles away.

If money was no issue we would have both (or a graincart and semi), but that is not the case. So if you had to choose between the two which would you choose?

 

[miniskfarm]

Go with a cart. They increase both combine and trucking capacity since the combine never stops and the truck can pull into the field, load and get back out again. It also helps in wet years.

Although you need to decide if more trucking capacity out in the winter is more important.

 

[uthinkyourwet?]

I pick tandem. In "normal" years, even in the wet zone, (the last while has been a right bugger in this regard), a tandem can rip out into the field, and take on the go no problem. Plus the versatility of a tandem would allow you to go and haul as you say, as well as just running for seed etc.

IMO much more versatile and handy. I am in the same boat. Money is always tight. And I can not afford a piece of equipment that is a one use wonder. But with two guys at the most, NEVER three, and sometimes only one guy, a grain cart is pretty useless for me.

A few things to consider, include average crop yields, combine capacity and size of hopper, auger size, grain bin size etc. Upping the auger size in itself, can offer big time savings and eliminate the need for a second hauler or hauling machine. Are you using a 13 inch or a ten? Do you grow lots of 100 bushel barley and 140 oats?

 

[case]

If you are thinking of retiring the C60 go with a tandem. This will still allow you to have a truck for each seed and fert in the spring for seeding.

If you buy a grain cart and the C60 dies, then how you will supply your seeder with seed and fert at the same time??

If you don't buy a tandem and choose a grain cart, then you'll have to put some tlc into the C60 to still use it in the spring.

 

[Baudy]

Skip the tandem, buy a semi!

If you are handy, buy a cheap graincart you can rebuild. Before the grain cart we'd have three tons sitting around the field and they were more a pain than anything because we mostly just run the semi and sometimes the tandem. The graincart is just great in the field. Even a crappy old JD 650 can make a big difference. (note: we run a JD9760STS and Case 1688.) Only when the combine production per hour exceeds the semi's trucking capacity does the tandem swing into action. The cart is a buffer that keeps everything going.

I think a tandem is a waste. I suggest a semi with a tandem trailer.

Our first tandem was bought in 1988 and as great as it was for its time the maintenance of the gas engine sucked and it just wasn't that great for what it did. In 2005, we bought a semi and dad kicked himself for ever buying a tandem. You can haul much more legally even with a tandem trailer. If you can pass the physical, get a 1A and buy a semi. I don't think you'll go wrong that way.

 

[SWMan]

I agree with Baudy. A decent used semi is probably cheaper to buy than a tandem of equivalent quality and that would give you way more versatility! Could even use the semi to nurse in spring and sell the tandem you already have. Way better to wait in line at the elevator with 2X the grain behind you too. Older grain carts are dirt cheap if you don't mind changing a bearing or two.

Not quite what you were asking but that would be my suggestion. A truck should only go on the field far enough to turn around IMO.:wink:

 

[farmshop]

as others have said a semi is cheaper than a good tandem truck although a tandem will handle softer fields and can be easier to get around. Semi tractors you can drop your grain trailer hook to a flat bed for tending. A grain cart is nice also we added a 500 bu cart for the first time this year and it does speed up harvest but we were already using 3 semi tractors so the cart keeps the combine moving.

 

[bent]

Forget the tandem, get a semi tractor and trailer. For the same quality truck, the semi will be less than 1/2 the cost of a tandem with box and hoist. Add a tandem hopper, and you have about the same investment. But now you have a truck with real brakes and suspension, originally built to a much higher standard than an ordinary tandem box and hoist truck.

The grain cart is a separate issue. It will make your harvest between 30% and 60% more efficient. The added cost is somewhat paid for by less wear and tear on the combine. But being more efficient with the combine means you have more bushels per hour to haul. Again, you need a semi.

 

[uthinkyourwet?]

Sent you a pm or two, teenage farmer...

 

[Combine Pilot]

What would farm plates be approx on a older semi in Sask, and like my grain truck can i only get 6 months a year since it hibernates in winter

 

[sdfarmer81]

Another thought to consider. With a grain cart, you could also use it in the winter to load trucks when you are hauling out from bins. Have one person loading the cart while the truck makes a run and when the truck gets back it'll only take a few minutes to get it rolling down the road again. Just a way to get more use out of a cart.

 

[Combine Pilot]

Another thought to consider. With a grain cart, you could also use it in the winter to load trucks when you are hauling out from bins. Have one person loading the cart while the truck makes a run and when the truck gets back it'll only take a few minutes to get it rolling down the road again. Just a way to get more use out of a cart.

that is a cool idea, kind of like a moving hopper bin.

 

[caroncrest]

Another thought to consider. With a grain cart, you could also use it in the winter to load trucks when you are hauling out from bins. Have one person loading the cart while the truck makes a run and when the truck gets back it'll only take a few minutes to get it rolling down the road again. Just a way to get more use out of a cart.

I see this happening a lot with grain bags as well: may have put the bag on a high spot in the fall, but now it's spring and there is a low spot in the way, so the trucks stay on the road and the cart and extractor head in to get the work done and minimize compaction and mess...

 

[sdfarmer81]

Had a neighbor telling us about how he like his grain cart with a scale just as much for loading out trucks in the winter as he liked it at harvest. Not the best road into his place, so he could load the cart to what the trucks could haul and meet them on the good road. Said he could always have a load waiting for the truck when it got back.