I am building some new feeders and have some tripods with a pulley at the top and a boat winch to raise and lower the feeder. The question is what is the best way to make the hanging rig to attach to the barrel. Monarch has one you can buy for $55. Barrel hanger scroll down for hanging bail. Seems like you can do this cheaper. I'm looking to see what has worked for others.

Here is how I do it with a 34" piece of 2" pipe, 5 different 3/8" eye bolts, and 2 quick chain links.

Interesting! Do you have to put big flat washers on both inside and outside of the barrel where the eye hooks attach to the barrel? Is the skin of the barrel that strong to hold 300 Lbs of corn?

Thanks!

PS>That looks like a spincaster timer? Where did you get the varmit cage?

I have that same varmint cage. Got it at mummies. Works pretty well

I built mine with 4- 2x2 angle and sq. tubing cost about 10.00

I thought about using angle iron or angle aluminum across the top and the hook and chain to hooks in the barrel. Any pics of your setup?

send me your email and i can send you some

PM sent.

Yes, I did put washers on the ones thru the barrel. The barrels are plenty strong to hold. I have some done the same way as above and are over 20yrs old. Keep the barrels painted inside and out.

First of all please do not use a boat winch. One of these dat the catch will fail and if the handle slips out of your hand you WILL get hurt. Spend a little more and get a brake winch. as for the bail that conntects to the drum. I use 2" channel with 2"X 1/8" flat bar which is tacked/ welded onto 16 ga. square tubing. Two 5/16" holes on each side. I also use 5/16" X 3" bolts. For the eye bolt it is 3/8" Shouldered eye bolt. Keep in mind you are trying to solve problems not create more. this picture is a customer that wanted to reuse his barrel but convert over to a winch feeder, good luck.

Where would a person buy a brake winch? are they expensive?

Compared to a conventional boat winch yes they are. Northern tool about 48.00. That may be why people gripe about the cost of a winch feeder because the "parts" a costly. While cost is alway a factor as I say I don't build Cheap Stuff. A winch Feeder is built to do a job, do it well and for a long time, depending on whose you get and how they are constructed. I must say that most of the big dogs while designed slightly different, all incrporate a brake winch. Being in Irving it should not be hard to find one. DO it Right the first time and don't let wouda, shoulda, and coulda bite you it hurts.

Good info about brake instead of boat winches. Thanks!

I can do the hanging bails cheaper then anywhere else without losing quality.
We use 1/4" flat on the sides and pully connection, and 1"x2" top.

As far as the brake winch, you can go that route for the extra safety, but I disagree when it was said that most of the bigger companies use them, even Monarch you linked uses two ways. We use two ways on all our winch ups, have for over 10 years and have never had any issues with safety.

As for cost on a brake winch, most true braking winches are around $75+.
http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/s...matchallpartial

A double block and line will make it much easier to raise and lower the drum when full

with the double you can nearly pull the barrell loaded with corn by hand the tag end has very little weight on it. the double has the end of the cable attached to the top of the tri-pod and runs to the barrell threw a pully back to the top and down to the winch. this will cut the working load by 1/3 i think but the tag line will have very little weight on it.

We have used boat winchs on seven of our feeders for around 12 years and have never really had an issue with them. Just make sure the "clicker" is engaged when you are winching them back up. I generaly paid around $16 for them at Academy.

After looking at Monarch web site, you are right, it appears that they don't use a brake winch. I guess that why there are horse races. There are many ways to build a succesful feeder. The reason I use a brake winch is I saw a friend nearly get his arm broke when the claw on a "boat winch" failed. Yes it may never happen again, and a double pulley will slow things down and make lifting easier. However I choose to use them and will recomend that everyone use them because "STUFF HAPPENS". Just trying to help grinder out. He mention trying to build it cheaper and somtimes that comes at a cost. Good Luck Grinder.

I ended up using the 3/8 sholdered eyebolts on the drum, quick links and chain. The chain has a 1800# working load limit and is ~$2/foot at Lowes. I think I have about $23 worth of parts for each feeder to hang the barrels. About 1/2 what Monarch wanted for the rigid hanger. I think this is going to work. Thanks for all of the ideas.

I am building my own too - what is the best length for the legs to use with a 55 gallon drum?

On our standard feeders we use 12' which puts the control unit a little higher then a standard feeder, about 6' and some change.
We do have some extensions we offer to put them at 14' for anyone that may have cattle or a little taller animals.

I do mine very similar to this, but instead of just using eye-bolts on the barrel, I run a piece of all-thread thru the barrel from side to side, with washers and nuts inside and out of the barrel. Threaded collars on each end of the all-thread allow Eye-bolts to be attached. One neat thing about this method is how the pipe across the top of the lid locks it in place. Works great, and not too pricey.

thanks for all the great info!!