I'm pretty sure some of you guys have built them before. Can you post some pics of them and is there any advice, tips or tricks that you guys could share on building them? We're planning on building some soon using some 55 gallon barrels.

I’ve built a few. This one is up for sale.

How tall are the legs?

Don’t just go with the stand and fill bases. Just not worth the dangers

Seventeen feet long.

We converted a couple of feeders to crank up. We purchased the mast heads and barrel gambrels from Boss Buck and added 1 7/8" legs 15' long from pipe we bought locally. Use a good breaking crank, not a boat crank, and create a double pulley system, cable anchored to mast head, down to pulley on barrel gambrel, up to pulley on mast head then down to crank. Much easier to crank up than a direct pull from barrel to mast pulley to crank. I would also recommend getting an 18v+ cordless drill to use to crank the barrel up.

Would you happen to have any pics of it?

https://dallas.craigslist.org/dal/spo/d/rockwall-tripod-deer-feeder-winch-up/6875899493.html

This guy is a forum member, I don’t have any pics but, I bought enough parts to build two from him.

I regret not buying a better winch (like the one used on a “hang-em high).

My legs are 17’ also.

Things I’ve learned.

Face the solar panel South.

Put a T-post or some type of tie down on every leg.

Buy heavy gauge pipe for the legs.

If Cast owns it, it ain’t cheap stuff.

Thanks. Are 17' legs tall enough for cattle? I was thinking of using 15' legs but don't want the feeder low enough for the cattle to mess with.

Yes. Look at my pic. Those are 6’ tee posts driven in just past the blade. Way too tall for cows. But, they will knock it down if you don’t wire it securely to three tee posts.

Opps forgot a comma

The stand ‘n fill feeders look too heavy for one man to load or unload. Are they?

No. They are really nice.

With 17’ legs the bottom of the feeder motor is about 8’.

I used a double pulley system. I truly don’t see the danger in them.... don’t stand directly under them when full....

I put the boss buck barrel leg kit on both my barrels if it does fall the motor is protected.

I would prefer a good stand and fill.... there is a price difference.


https://www.cabelas.com/product/Bos...jlaew4gIVxcDACh3wKg4tEAQYASABEgIhg_D_BwE

Can you guys explain the double pulley system?

One on the barrel and one on the header. Makes a difference.

We have some of the hang em high feeders the clutch winches or whatever you call them are nice, but not without their issues. We have had problems with some of them not wanting to disengage and crank down or cranking it a bit to let down and not going anywhere then all of a sudden a lurch of several inches or so will come down, only when empty though.

Our home made ones have 16-foot heavy wall pipe legs and are plenty tall to keep away from cattle as are the hang em highs. Ive had it beat into my head from an early age not to stand under a deer feeder. Ive seen 2 fall, nobody was hurt.

No, not at all.

A $25 comealong works a lot better than winches, even the high dollar brake type. It's easy for even a 73 yo to raise & lower a full 55 gal barrel. It might be slower but I doubt it especially if the winch is double pulley.

This is a picture from our old lease I took right after we converted them.