I am looking for opinions on the most reliable motor, spinner, battery, solar panel assemblies to use on my deer feeders.

I've been using the cheap assemblies (Wildgame Innovations) you can get from Wal-Mart or Academy for years and it seems like they constantly have issues; I'm tired of them. I want to have a set-up that I can rely on and won't have to fix every other time I go to the lease. I'm gonna fix my feeders up right during the off-season with a reliable set-up.

Any advise/suggestions is appreciated!

The reason that I chose West TX Feeder Supply to be a dealer for is their reliability and customer service. I have definitely had a problem or two with sold setups over the years, but just a phonecall to them will get whatever part you need in the mail same day.

I use the same as Ramball. West TX is also co-branded Ultramatic. They have the highest reliability of any of the "boxes" out there, and great warranty service.

Life is too short to not use a motor/timer/solar panel you can trust.

I'm with Ramball, I have 9 ground hugger feeders for 8 years, they spin every day of the year and have yet to even change a battery. I've had red stag and aoudad beat the hell out of them and not turn them over or any damage to them other than dent the barrel. 600$ each is a little high but not having to worry about them working is worth it.

I've had the worst luck with Wildgame Innovations TDX timers.
They seem to have a very short life span that is measured in days and suck down batteries like no other.
The same solar cell that I use on other timers to maintain batteries won't keep up with this power hog.

I've had the best luck with American Hunter digital timers.

As for motors, since I started putting one drop of oil from a Zoom-Oiler on the bearing/shaft once a year I've only had to replace one motor out of 9 feeders in the last 4 years but that feeder is 14 years old.
The upper bearing under the spin plate takes weather abuse year around.
Most of the cheap motors have sleeve bearings instead of ball bearings and they will stick eventually in damp conditions without lube.

For me, it's simple economics as I have 9 feeders.
9 feeders at $600 each = $5400
OR
9 feeders at $100 each = $900
The difference buys me 900 bags of corn at retail from Bucces!

I am a fan of all season feeders, their motors work great and it is easy to install the solar panel. The reason I started buying them was because I went to a friends ranch who had not been there in over a year do to working over seas. All of his feeders with all season motors were still spinning. He said he bought them 5 years ago when he got his place and has not had an issue since, he hasn't even had to change a battery which is nice because they are 20 dollars at ASF website or 30 dollars anywhere else. That being said if you have a water tight barrel or drum, the feeder motor, housing, and the timer are around 50$ the solar panel is 30$ or so and the battery online is 20$. I have had mine out for two years now and have not had any issue. So if you have your drum and legs already it should be around a 100 dollars or so, and for that price the and how they function I think thats the best value for your money. Hope that helps.

100$ feeders years back arebetter than the 100$ junk made today, you made that case at the opening of your statement.

I run 2 feeders at my blind and recently bought a couple of the Texas hunter products 12v feeders.

http://www.texashunterproducts.com/texas-hunter-12-volt-wildlife-feeder-kit/#.Wh4c-7pMGhA

Previously, I had two on time elite units. They worked well, but used 10 AA batteries that werent very compatible with solar charging, and the aluminum spinner plate needed to be replaced more frequently than I cared to deal with (at least every year). I replaced the batteries probably twice a year. This may have been more than necessary, but I didn’t want them going dead, and it’s a 2 1/2 hour trip. The batteries were cheap compared to 700# of corn.

The thing I liked about the Texas hunter products ones was that I could use a normal 12v, 7Ah battery. And that the solar panel plugged into the timer controller to regulate the battery charging. But once I opened the box, I saw that the spinner plates were still made of aluminum... hopefully they will at least last longer.

I installed them this summer, and they have been working good so far. My only complaint is that the clock drifts a little faster than I would like. Maybe about 10 minutes over 6-8 months.

I haven’t been running them long enough to know how they work in the long term though...

I use Lamco feeders with solar panels and they have been very reliable. The only thing I have had to replace was "The Timer" that it comes with because the AA batteries corroded and messed it up. I have a couple where the lead acid batteries are still going after 5 years. I keep them running year round and if I take them off for some reason, keep the batteries in so the motor keeps spinning and dont seize up.

Sure wish HCR was still going strong. We have 30 of them and they are great.

I like Spincast units.

I have a West Texas Feeder Supply on one of mine. A little spendy, but have yet to have a single problem with it in the 2 or 3 years its been out. I have yet to have to replace a battery as well. Be warned though, that thing will sling some corn way out there!

The rest of mine are different style boxes, but all I use is "The Timer".

krammers in Fredericksburg Tx. I bought 2 in 1986 87 I changed out the clock to The Timer 3 years ago. The barrel varmint guard motor legs are all still in good condition. The Timer is the best timer on the market. All seasons is another good feeder that uses The Timer.

I may be on borrowed time because the solar panel and motor is still the same since 1986 87. But I leave them running with or without feed year round.

The Cannon Feeder is the most reliable set up bar none. I have used it for over 4 years and haven't had to do a thing to it besides add corn every 163 days.

Have had good luck with texas hunter products, Sweeney, and spincast.