About those grain bins....

...I was going to put up this summer. That simply did not happen and I am sure I will have cause to regret it in the next few weeks when I am hauling corn to the elevator every day. There were two bins, 3500 and 3000 bushel. Just about right for my small operation as a place to park some corn while I cleaned up the fields. My main issue is that every time I fill the truck I have to stop combining. The bins would allow me to run a couple days before needing to haul any off and would actually allow me to contract out the hauling in an emergency. The two bins only had floors and fans. They were Butler bins and in good shape, but old. The seller was extremely firm...$5000 and I take them down. I walked away because I felt it was just too much money and he would not negotiate. Wasn't long after that I found two bins the same size from a different source. These two have floors, fans, one has a nice little dryer, stirator, sweeps. Both have power unloaders...one at ground level and one at truck level. Not as old, you can still get parts. These were asking price of $3500 which I liked a lot better. Close enough I can drive over and get them, but too far for me to take them down. Can't get anyone to take them down for me. So that is where I am. I don't want junk on the place so I am not jumping at just any rusty old bin that comes along. Small bins are not popular around here. Thinking if I keep looking and be patient...the right set will come along.

Can't you hire an Amish crew in your area? Just thinking.

dave, i would grab the second set of bins. we have a couple guys in our area that service them, and another guy moves them on the side. he has a truck crane with a prolly a 90 ft stick on it. the smaller bins he moves in one piece on a low boy. you could add extra rings to the bins when you put em back up to increase your capacity. we bought three used bins years ago and farm service moved em for us.

Around here you could buy a used 15,000 bin for the same money as the smaller ones. Costs much less to put one slab in then two, Only need to set fill auger once, only need one floor auger, don't need to move truck auger, you can clean one large bin with sweep easier then two small bins and have to move sweep to other bin, only need one aireation fan. I don't know how many bushels of corn you raise but you do not have to fill a large bin full and it sure is nice in a dry fall to start picking and not have to stop and move auger or haul some corn to town.

I thought you purchased the bins you were looking at a while ago. I was expecting to see them last night when you were posting your summer project rather than the barn project you posted.

I'm going to see a couple guys that farm around the Owosso area this afternoon. They both have on the farm big time grain storage. I'll ask if they know of anyone who could move bins.

The bins I am looking at now are far south of Owosso. I don't think anyone from that area is going to be able to affordably take down the bins. I need to find people who can take down bins in Indiana or Ohio. There is more to choose from and they are better priced.

I agree on all points, but the two smaller bins give me more flexibility. I can store in one for my own use while using the other one for temporary holding of a current year crop that is different. I know all the arguments. I just don't want or need a big bin. Unlike most people, I have no aspirations to grow. But I need some smaller stuff to tide me over while I see where I am headed.

I dunno. How does one go about hiring an Amish crew? Not like I know any.

I am very certain they would be good for me. Just them being 200 miles away in the middle of nowhere is a problem. I found a guy who (said he) would take them down, but dozens of phone calls later he is still not getting over to bid it out. It's just too hard getting white boys to work anymore. Lots of technology, none of it is working. We gave up on these bins two months back. No one answers their friggin phones. Wish for the world I COULD get them.

that is a bummer. my bins are all full, and especially with low grain prices now, the elevators around here are all full up and its hard to get bin space.

Try Holden's in Fayetteville ohio

You have to be careful of them too ! Moms neighbor sold his old barn and an Amish crew came and tore it down.
Somehow they goofed up and the whole darn thing fell down in a mess. Many beams broken. They took what they could and left the rest in a mess. They were to of cleaned it ALL up but didn't ! And to top it all off many tools he had in a smaller near by shed walked off. He knew where they lived and luckily I think he got his tools back ,but the mess is still there.

Try these guys they say they service michigan..
poke here

here is another
or poke here

Those folks are even more south than the bins but I wrote them down in case I find something down that away. Last time I bought something down east of Cinci I was a little shocked at just how remote some places are. I lost signal on my cell about 10 miles from my destination and played the devil finding the place without a map. Finally rolled into the fellas yard and wasn't sure I shouldn't turn around and take my wife the heck out of there. Stayed and tried to be helpful while they removed the parts I needed from an old Cyclo 800. They loaded my truck up and I paid them. Got in the truck and it would not turn over. I thought my wife was gonna die of fright. It was coming on dark and all these guys standing around. They popped open my hood, listened a minute, told me it was my battery. Tried to jump it...no good. So they gave me (yes gave, would not take a nickel) a good used battery and I was on my way into the sunset. Stopped for dinner along I-75 but left the truck running in the parking lot. I'm just gonna say...don't be too quick to judge people and places by appearances. I was thinking I was in Deliverance, but I was surrounded by angels...


...not going back though!

I would be fairly sure I have talked to every bin company in Michigan twice. The cost of paying to have a small bin taken down is prohibitive. Then when they find out you don't want them to pour the slab and put it back up they start to lose interest. Finally they tell you they are too busy...bins that size are only good for scrap...etc etc etc. I remember a day....I had money. You had time. You give me your time and I give you my money. Now you have to hear a lot of opinions. This is not going anywhere positive.

There have been several moved by helicopter around here. Make a call to the "fixed base operator" at a local airport, they will know somebody.

OK...so yes, I even looked into that. The guy was very interested. Said he would set it down right next to the shed.

Just wanted to know who was going to put the shingles back on the roof when he was done.

Except that you're across the continent in another country... you could have been in my neighbourhood

😉
Good Luck

Blue tarps and some 2x4s would take care of that.

do not know where you are but in my area that size bins is 300.00 or free if take down. i have moved all mine on place last set was 36 ft and 3oft with full floors and augers, one had circuflow system. i bought whole site for 500.00. moved 12 units that year. not real to much to it, you can have them down in day. i just broke mine in have and hauled home.