As a corn farmer, your dryers are one of your biggest assets. For various reasons, you might need to relocate your dryers to a different part of your property or a different property altogether. While moving a grain dryer is no small feat, when you choose an experienced and professional relocator, it can be a pleasant experience. Below are five tips that will make your move or relocation safe and successful.
Ensure the Stability of the Corn Dryer
Making sure your corn dryer is stable before the move is key. You will need to go over the dryer to make sure there aren’t loose screws or unstable arms, hoses, or pieces that are hanging off. Because your dryer has so many moving parts, it’s crucial that you inspect your machine and make sure it’s steady before it is lifted and carried away to its new location.
Mark Location of Electrical Lines or Other Obstructions
A common mistake that people make when relocating farm equipment is failing to consider unsafe or inconvenient obstructions. Safety is top priority, which is why the first thing you need to think about when moving large farm equipment is electrical lines. When consulting with a relocator, let them know if you will be traveling under or alongside electrical lines and poles so they can prepare beforehand how to navigate those dangers. Are there ditches or streams on your land that need to be worked around? Do you have animals that need to be put up during the moving process? Think about these things when planning out your moving route with the relocator.
Disconnect Dryer from Grain Bins
On the day you relocate your corn dryer, there are a lot of moving parts—literally and figuratively. Try to prepare for the move by going out the day before to make sure the dryer is disconnected from the storage bins or silos. When you move your corn dryer, the last thing you want to do is spend money on repairs or new parts. Imagine the tragedy of moving your dryer and hearing metal twist and pull! You can prevent accidents and damage to your dryer by taking time to meticulously go over your dryer’s parts to ensure they’re disconnected from the bins.
Remove Electrical or Gas Lines
It is completely safe to move your corn dryer if precautions are taken and safety measures are put in place. Corn dryers, especially on large-scale farms, have many electric and gas connections that extend far beyond the mechanical structure of the dryer itself. For everyone’s safety, it’s imperative that all gas and electric is disconnected and turned off. It is wise to have a partner assist you with this so that nothing is missed in the midst of a busy and potentially stressful sweep of your system. Before the relocators arrive, do a final check to make sure all lines are off and your gas and electric are disconnected.
Plan for Growth
In farming, there is hope in what new seasons might bring for your corn crop. In the same way, relocating your corn dryer to a new location opens up new possibilities for the future of your operation. Consider how your dryer and bins were set up at the old location. Are there ways you can more efficiently arrange your set up? Did you need more bins? Allow space for more corn bins at your new location, even if you don’t foresee yourself needing them in the next harvesting season. You will see that moving a corn dryer is no small feat. Plan for growth so that when the time comes, your corn dryer is strategically placed, and you can add more grain bins to store your crop. Additionally, create a traffic pattern for separate dumping and loading stations. When harvest time comes, you will be able to load and unload corn at the same time, saving you time and money
Being a farmer is an important job that never ends. When you are farming corn, not having a corn dryer simply isn’t an option. If and when the time comes for you to move your dryer, remember these five tips to help that process go over smoothly and safely. Careful preparation and a quality dryer relocator make all the difference in moving your equipment.
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