I am thinking about getting one of these to try out on my place and was wondering if any of you guys have had real world and or long term use experience with these?

http://www.academy.com/shop/pdp/game-winner-650lb-big-a-vp-feeder#repChildCatid=3637757

In all honesty I bought one of these last year and hauled it all the way out to my place and I made the mistake of thinking......

"I'll just put it together with the tools I have in my truck" WRONG! there is ALOT of parts to put together and I simply didn't have the proper tools I needed to assemble it on my tailgate, ran short of time to complete the project and ended up returning it. You will definitely want a drill with a socket and preferable a second set of hands to help assemble.

I will say apart from the massive amount of bolts it takes to assemble, I was really impressed at the quality of parts for a $300 650lbs feeder.

I am going to try this again and pre-assemble the hopper and feeder legs before I head out to my place and I'm just curious if any of you guys had long term experience with these feeders as far as function and reliability.

Bottom line - For a 650lbs feeder and then purchasing the solar panel and battery separate your looking at $400 out the door. Which I think is REALLY reasonable for a 650lbs feeder...... If it works well in the long term

Any thoughts?

If I didn't already have all the feeders I needed, I would buy one of these. Sure would be nice to have a feeder with that kind of capacity, less trips to the lease to fill it up.

I too would be interested in anyone's experience with this feeder.

My brother had one down in South Texas for several years. Solid feeder for $300-$400 from what I recall. If not mistaken it's a 12v feeder motor? Either way it held up fine and threw the corn out good.

It is ok for the money. A buddy has one, and he has continuing problems with the hardware vibrating loose. I suggest adding loc-tite or better lock washers to the fasteners. As the OP said, there is LOTS of hardware. Timer and motor are mid-grade.

Me personally, I would rather go try to make the best deal I can on an All Seasons 600lb Stand n' Fill. They can be had for not a ton more, and come with the solar panel and battery from the get-go. That skid design with heavy cage is much stouter if you have cows and pigs, and the galvanized hopper will last longer too. And, you don't have to put it together!

I have 2 of the 350# feeders and was happy once I removed the alligator clips for the timer and solar panel battery connections. I had a hog rip the controller off of one in may so I would keep that in mind. Happy other than that.

I hear yah on the stand and fill ....the ability to fill from the ground is worth something, but when you figure in the cost and tax its almost double the cost and Hogs/Cows are not an issue on my place.

4 yrs ago I bought 4 regular All Seasons 600# spin feeders with solar panels and eliminator spinner plates. I had them give me the 300# protein feeder shorter legs instead of the 8' regular ones. I can fill my feeders from the back of a pickup or Ranger standing on the tailgate/bed. I paid under $500 each for them.

The jointed legs were a weak spot and the motor was dookie. I would shop hard as others said

We have two on our place, had em three years now. No troubles yet.

Mine is 4 years old, timer crapped out this year. I'm not a lil guy, legs have held up. I climb it every trip down to check the corn level. I did add washers to all the bolts. Picked mine up for 30% at the end of the season. I can pull between my protein and corn feeder and fill from the truck. I will put 2 bags of corn on the platform, then go up the steps.... 300lb plus. No complaints

I had 6 of them on the place we guided on. They worked great once you got rid of the crappy 6 volt motor and replaced it with a 12 volt. For the price they are hard to beat and I WILL be buying more in the future.

I just saw they were $300, upgrade the motor and that's a deal

I've had one and they work well. As others have said, replace with a 12volt motor.

We've had two running for 3 years and they are our favorite feeders. They do come with 6-volt and no trouble yet. When the motor goes out eventually we may upgrade to 12V and The Timer.

Would have already bought more but have not been able to find them for the last two years. The link you had didn't work for me, I hope Academy really is selling them again.

All the Academy locations near me have had them the last 2 years and again this year

Looks like a good deal.

This is the feeder that I use... Holds right at 700 lbs of corn. NO Spinner... Same amount of corn each shot... Up to 6 feedings per day. 2 lbs of corn per feeding. Fill from the ground.. NO mud hole. NO coons... Solar power... Solar charger control... Fill feeder Sept 1... throw 2 lbs in the morning and 2 lbs in the evening ... go back to your feeder mid February... Fill it and forget it... questions call Luke 214-789-9900

Have 3 of the early model ones. Paid 159 for them at the end of the season. I welded and plated the legs together because it was a little unstable. Made a latch for the top, installed coon cage and converted to 12V. I get 700lbs in mine. The new ones are 12v and have a small varmit cage.

Got a new one Friday( have one, nothing wrong with it ) but like the updates they did. The spinner, timer in the cage, sight glass and solar ready.

This one is on sale at Academy now for $199.99. Good price.

I've got two of these. I've converted both to 12V systems just because I believe they are more robust and dependable.

That pic of deer around feeder is funny. They're all looking a different direction

Isn't a feeder a feeder?