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Central Illinois | I just went through decisions on a similar situation and just because you can afford something does not make it the smart business decision.
A few things to consider on you decision:
1. Bins and dryers are typically money makers while grain handling equipment is the necessary evil and for convenience.
2. You appear to be undersized on wet holding for modern combines unless you have an oversized (very large) dryer.
3. On any expensive upgrade, factor in the increased cost of insurance (It is no longer as insignificant as it once was).
4. Having the convenience of dumping dry directly into the bins is not worth it for less than 10% usage.
5. The load out with an overhead bin is an expensive upgrade to save around 40 hours of labor per year (assuming 8" bin unloads)
6. Your cheapest fast option is obviously a large auger with remote hopper, but that is not much of an upgrade and does not eliminate the need for a tractor.
7. For some of these upgrades it is tough to justify for the scale.
A few suggestions:
1. You did not state you electric availability (single/3 phase), but eliminating the tractor and have everything "push button" is a great convenience for the older crowd.
2. If you are not moving your dumping location, set up some type of pit (even a very shallow one) that reduces cranking, tripping hazards, etc.
3, Consider an electric grain pump. Even a 10" version will have more capacity (even with wet corn) than the leg you are pricing. It should only run (ballpark) 25k for materials, 35k on wheels, or 40+ custom installed. 12" would not be a lot more.
4. With your existing air system, adding another bin should not be a big problem but it may require filling it first (reduced capacity due to farther from airlock).
5. Low profile unload augers or belt conveyers will help with low bin foundations. You can also do angled bin unloads, but I am not a fan of those.
Good luck with your decision!
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Justify a Grain Leg
