THE VALUE
I build this feeder to withstand punishment, it is not built to be cheap, it is built to do a job, and do it right for a very long time.
Most of the companies building winch feeders are much the same and some of them build some very good feeders. My feeders are designed to last for a very long time; however stuff happens when it comes to hunting. I have designed and built this feeder with that in mind. The unit is made up of components and each component is designed and; built to highest standards. Together they make up the strongest and best designed feeder available.
The "head" is formed from: ¼” X 10” piece of steel plate, 2.5" 14 gauge steel square tubing and ½” round bar. Each piece of tubing which helps form the “head” are welded on all four sides and tied together with the round bar. This adds to the structural integrity of the unit. How many of us set a feeder up on perfectly flat ground I tie the legs of the head together for the overall all integrity. I run the wire rope on the inside of the structure through a single pulley as opposed to running up one leg and then down through a hole. I do this because I don’t want to see a customer have to take a feeder down and re-string the cable when the wire rope comes off a pulley. I use 3/8” forged shouldered eye bolts designed for lifting on both the head and the channel iron bail that the barrel connects to. The legs fit inside the head piece as opposed to the head piece fitting inside the legs catching rain and freezing. I know this sounds simple, but it IS done. I size the wire rope and the pulley’s the same. This prevents from grooving the pulley or flattening the wire rope. I will tell you NEVER STAND/WORK UNDER HANGING FEEDERS;OR EQUIPMENT My products are designed to aid hunters raising and lowering game and feed however STUFF happens. Always keep your safety in mind whenever raising or lowering; FEEDERS OR EQUIPMENT. This is why I use a brake winch on all my winch feeders. I will also modify/customize a unit to fit the needs of my customer.
WHY A WINCH FEEDER
How much are you paying for corn? Now walk up to your standard tripod feeder or even pipe style winch feeder hit or strike one of the legs. Did it flex, did corn fall from the spinner plate? Imagine that a 800 pound cow or 300 pound hog did the same thing. Tubing is much more resistant to external forces that pipe pound for pound.
A winch feeder is and always has been several steps above the normal deer feeder. You can buy a 55 gallon with conduit legs and a timer today for a hundred dollars. It will work just fine for a few years. Have you ever found yourself wondering what you were going to be faced with after driving an hour or two ? Are you tired of having to build pens to keep the cows away from your feeder. This feeder is built for people who have issues with hogs and livestock, and those who want to raise their hunting standard bar.Let’s face it most people will, and do spend the money on the gun and scope but when it comes to a feeder they feel it’s not quite that important, or as one person said "good enough".
How much did your gun, scope, boots, blind and so on cost?
I build each winch feeder out of heavy duty square tubing not to last a few years, but to last. They are an investment in hunting the same as your gun, with proper care it will provide years of trouble free service.
How do you fill your feeder?
I am not invincible any more, it was a hard lesson but I finally learned it, I think.
People over the years have used “A” frame ladders, the back or side of a pickup bed, built ladders to serve as one of the legs, or recently used blowers to fill the feeder, I have. What is it going to cost in the event of an "OH SHUCKS". It WILL happen, maybe not today or tomarrow but IT WILL HAPPEN.
Picture this for a moment, you pull up to your feeder walk up to it lower the barrel down to the ground and remove the lid. Now you open the sacks of corn and pour them into the barrel, replace the lid and winch it back into position, you have just completed filling your feeder. This may sound simple, it is. No more ladders to fall over, no twisting your back trying to lift 40-50 lb. Bags. Why are you doing it this way, and would you feel comfortable asking your wife, son or daughter to do this?
When you are ready to raise the standard bar by which you measure your hunting experience consider a winch feeder, you will never regret it.