Buying a hopper

Feb 27, 2024 at 08:08 AM CST + 1
Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.	Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member. Hey community! I have been renting a grain hopper since June 2023 and I’m at a point where I want to buy one. My ideal trailer would be 78’’ or 84’’ high. Inquiries to dealers have been sent through the weekend and I’ve been getting responses back. Two questions I have: Assuming it’s a Wilson or Timpte, does age of trailer matter (2005 vs 2015) if structure/frame is good? Is it better to stick with 96 width vs 102?

Replied on Tue, Feb 27, 2024 at 04:31 PM CST + 1
Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.	Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member. It depends what you are hauling and where you plan to go. Some of these places have strict height restrictions due to their age. They were still loading horse and buggies (Maybe an exaggeration) when they were built. They are very old structures and height is a consideration. As far as width, I've been places that I had to pull in my mirrors to fit. Also give consideration to hopper clearance to the ground. You need to be able to fit an auger under it if you plan on farm unloads. Apparently this has been an issue for some, though I have never experienced it and never had to block the trailer to get an auger under it. As far as buying a trailer, now, in this market...

Replied on Tue, Feb 27, 2024 at 04:31 PM CST

+ 1

Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.

It depends what you are hauling and where you plan to go. Some of these places have strict height restrictions due to their age. They were still loading horse and buggies (Maybe an exaggeration) when they were built. They are very old structures and height is a consideration. As far as width, I've been places that I had to pull in my mirrors to fit.

Also give consideration to hopper clearance to the ground. You need to be able to fit an auger under it if you plan on farm unloads. Apparently this has been an issue for some, though I have never experienced it and never had to block the trailer to get an auger under it.

As far as buying a trailer, now, in this market...

Replied on Thu, Feb 29, 2024 at 07:25 AM CST
Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.	Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member. Juat get a cornhusker. There way lighter and pretty good quality. And priced better than Wilson or Timpte. Don't listen to the doubters... if you have steady work a cornhusker will give you 19 inches of ground clearance (enough to dump into most swing augers or conveyers) and big enough doors to haul aggregates and actually get them out. I'm amazed how well 2-5 year old hoppers are holding their value. You just as well get a brand new all aluminum everything hopper for like 10-15 K more and be set. I've got Timptes, Neville Built (specialty seed hopper) and prefer the trip axle cornhusker. Their tandem stock trailers brand new are just a tad over $50K if you don't load em up with every option. I'd put some factory vibrators on it. They pretty cheap considering. I'd you can find a good used hopper chances are it's 10 yrs old, has alot of steel (or steel bolted to aluminum) which is worse, it's prob got a cracked frame and your gonna have to put 10 grand into it in tires, brakes, fixing the frame/tarp. Redoing the traps. Just my 2 cents.

Replied on Thu, Feb 29, 2024 at 07:25 AM CST

Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.

Juat get a cornhusker. There way lighter and pretty good quality. And priced better than Wilson or Timpte. Don't listen to the doubters... if you have steady work a cornhusker will give you 19 inches of ground clearance (enough to dump into most swing augers or conveyers) and big enough doors to haul aggregates and actually get them out. I'm amazed how well 2-5 year old hoppers are holding their value. You just as well get a brand new all aluminum everything hopper for like 10-15 K more and be set. I've got Timptes, Neville Built (specialty seed hopper) and prefer the trip axle cornhusker. Their tandem stock trailers brand new are just a tad over $50K if you don't load em up with every option. I'd put some factory vibrators on it. They pretty cheap considering. I'd you can find a good used hopper chances are it's 10 yrs old, has alot of steel (or steel bolted to aluminum) which is worse, it's prob got a cracked frame and your gonna have to put 10 grand into it in tires, brakes, fixing the frame/tarp. Redoing the traps. Just my 2 cents.