I think I want a raised tripod style feeder. Don't think I'll get a winch and I'm kind of price sensitive but don't want to get junk.

I've seen some 55 gal tripod feeders that have the funnel but nothing else for $120
I guess that would need to add:
- Motor/Spinner plate
- Varmint cage
- timer
- Battery
- maybe a charger

Or I could buy a complete ready to roll unit like All Seasons. They have an affordable one for about $230 and an upgraded one for ~$450

Help me figure out how to move forward without wasting money.

Thanks

Sweeney

http://www.sweeneyfeeders.com/product/scatter-feeder-300-lb/

Worth every penny. Add a varmint cage adequately mounted and you're set. I have had mine for 16 years. Works every time.

Based on-hard won experience, you want:

-At least 300lb capacity
-Metal body and lid (avoid plastic)
-Metal funnel or galvanized body with funnel built-in
-12V setup
-Reliable timer (the heart of any feeder)
-Solar panel to keep the battery topped off for reliability. The fewer exposed wires, the better
-If coons or cows are a problem where you hunt you either need a cage, or an Eliminator spin plate.

This can all be had for ~$350.

Just remember, if it can climbed on, the coons will climb on it and hang from it. If it is prone to rust, it will. If there is a weak point in the legs or leg brackets, they will break. Buy good stuff the first time and you don't have to worry about it later.

Cry once purchase decision.

Anything you get in your desired price range will not last and let you down after your 4.5 hour drive. Not worth the savings.

I would follow TxAg's advice and he has quality for the price your paying.

I recommend the stand and fill models with a good pen around them. They last a long time and you will never hurt yourself filling them up. They are also very easy to move and set up.

So are those all seasons any good?

If you had the bare feeder what would you outfit it with?

Can't go wrong with an All Seasons. The Timer control box and solar panel, along with a coon cage is what you would want to outfit a bare feeder it with.

TxAg above will have any of these options available to you at a very fair price.

How can I get one near Austin or Paris?

PM sent your way TexasED

All of my All Seasons Feeders work great. Zero Complaints so far. Good luck!

I got set up with a feeder from a buddy but without the control unit.

Anyone used this one?

http://www.thecybershack.com/mm5/merchan...egory_Code=CTRL

Looks like it has the features that would be important.
What's the difference between 6V and 12 V, how far it throws?

How long should the battery last? What conditions make the solar panel essential?

That is a good box, though I prefer a galvanized body for longevity. I use the same timer in my builds.

12V will both throw farther, and last longer due to more-robust components.

Battery run time will vary depending on how much you feed and how often. But, a solar panel is really a no-brainer. A good 12V solar-charged system, oriented S or SW, should provide years of operation with very little maintenance. Without a solar panel, you are rolling the dice that your feeder will go off every time unless you are diligent about checking battery levels. Not worth the gamble for ~$30 cost?

You can buy the control unit with the panel already mounted to the box with no exposed wires, which will reduce coon destruction. This means all you need to do is attach the box to your feeder and you're good to go. I sell them, as do others.

www.usafeeders.com

Good people and grade A products. Been dealing with these guys for the past 15 years.

I'm sure most on here will disagree with me about this, but if you are looking for an affordable feeder I'd look at Moultree. We've had some that are over 15 years old and they're still working just fine. If you go this route, don't get the photocell (solar) timer that is supposed to throw corn at sunup and an hour before sundown. They don't throw at the right times in my experience. The programmable timer doesn't cost much more, though. The feeders usually come with legs that you piece together (several pieces that fit together to form one tripod leg), these work fine but I like to get 9 or 10' metal pipes to get the feeder further off the ground and to be more sturdy. You could definitely get a fancier feeder, but for the price I think Moultree makes some pretty good feeders.

If I can help feel free to call just right around the corner.

Get a Monarch.

For a controls and spinner plate we love moultrie. Or from a feeder all of it together combo we also have American Hunter.

Got it set up last weekend

Bought the barrel and legs from a guy in my daughter's neighborhood and the control unit from TexAg (Weaverbuilt)

Had my 2 nephews and another friend who are expert fence builders help me get it setup. They told me they were PHDs in fence building, I laughted and then they said that stands for Post Hole Diggers



Wired up the panel closest to the camera to be a gate so I can back a truck in to fill.
12V unit with solar and eliminator plate on it throws the corn a little outside the pen which I think is good.

Creek is about 40 yards behind the pen and the blind will be 95 yards the other way.

Bought one of those motor/timers from Kevin as well, deer will get knocked off their feet if they are standing to close when it's throwing corn

Pen looks good

Don't know if you have hogs in your area but if you do you may want to add another T post in middle of panels. great looking pen.

If you are looking for a high capacity, 650 lbs, feeder that is unlike anything you have ever seen.... look at the Cannon Feeder.. The Cannon Feeder uses air pressure and shoots the feed away from the feeder.... It is more expensive, but, when you consider the fact that you can fill this feeder on the first of Sept and shoot 2 lbs of corn 2X per day and not have to check your feeder again until around the first of February.
The money saved from having to go to your property every few weeks to fill your feeders will make the higher price of the Cannon Feeder more appealing... I have one set up and I am throwing 1.5 lbs of corn 2X per day... When the season starts, I will kick it up to 2 lbs 2X per day... Check out www.cannonfeeder.com Thanks [url=www.cannonfeeder.com]Cannon Feeder[/url]

If I was you I put T post every 4 ft. On the panels deer, pigs, cattle whatever can knock down the fence.

Thanks for the tips on adding extra posts. I'll get on it.