How to Run a Grain Cart
How to Run a Grain Cart
Harvesting with a grain cart is, first and foremost, a team effort. The grain cart driver, combine operator, and truck driver are all needed to harvest and transport harvested crops efficiently. If you’ve been searching for the best way to keep a combine running over the a field to harvest as much as possible as quickly as possible, a grain cart is the perfect investment.
The harvest time of year is always an exciting time with so much to do! Having the best equipment on hand will not only help you avoid wasted time and money having to constantly fix or replace parts of your wagons, it will also give you better harvests with less crop damage. With so much coordination to keep things on the field running smoothly, the last thing you need is an unreliable or clunky wagon slowing things down.
We know how important it is to get the maximum efficiency out of your combine and tractor, which is why we’re dedicated to providing tips and equipment that will help you get the job done right every time. To help you understand how grain carts operate and the best way to use them, this blog covers all the details about what grain carts are and how you can get the best deal on one.
What is a Grain Cart?
At its most basic level, a grain cart is simply a wagon used to hold grain and harvested produce. They derive most of their use from working alongside a combine operator, which requires no small amount of coordination to pull off. Rather than simply moving grain from a combine to a truck, the grain cart has to drive alongside a combine at the same speed to keep the combine running. Otherwise, the combine has to stop and wait for the grain cart to move grain, which can turn a few minutes of waiting into hours over the course of a single day of harvesting.
Grain carts come in a variety of designs suited for different types of harvests and circumstances to allow farmers some flexibility in choosing the optimal equipment for their field. One of the most important aspects of a grain cart, however, is its ability to handle rough terrain like deep mud. Where trucks and regular wagons might get stuck, a grain cart driver can get anywhere they need to across the field. This makes the process of gathering harvested grain from a combine and getting it to a truck far easier for the whole harvesting team involved.
The Process of How to Run a Grain Cart
Running a grain cart, as we’ve mentioned before, requires a lot of communication and knowing what others need before even they do. Rather than simply aiming to go between a combine and a truck, the grain cart driver needs to know where the combine will be when they return to the field to collect more grain. This also requires a strong working knowledge of grain cart equipment so grain can quickly be picked up, emptied and transferred without any hiccups in the process. We’ve outlined some helpful tips below to help you accomplish just this:
Know Your Equipment: Driving grain carts is naturally must-have knowledge to be effective, but no one tractor is the same. Knowing all the features available to you, including temperature control and GPS, can make a huge difference in the field.
Communication is Key: Grain cart drivers are expected to be exactly where they need to be at all hours of operation. In order to accomplish this, grain cart drivers must communicate effectively, which is usually achieved through two-way radios so both the combine operator and the truck driver can be accommodated for each load of grain and produce.
Know the field: While quality, stable grain carts can make avoiding tips and spills easy, it’s still important to know the field and how to handle it under all sorts of weather conditions to make each trip between a combine and truck as smooth as possible.
The Demco Difference
Demco grain wagons have been helping farmers gather their crop since the late 70’s. With our unique and sturdy designs, you can always expect the most convenient and reliable equipment to help you get your work on the field done. In the case of our gravity grain carts, each design is built to maximize the effect of gravity for a smooth, easy unload once the wagon is full.
With standard features such as our posi-drive coupler which reduces stress on the driveline and gear box, Demco grain carts are built to last and to be easy to operate. Our forward reaching auger to provide excellent visibility and operator comfort while unloading is just another feature you can expect from one of the oldest producers of agricultural equipment.
Our horizontal drag auger carts offer an even more modern take on harvesting equipment, allowing for some of the easiest unloads for maximum harvesting efficiency. Each cart is designed with a forward reach auger for the best operator visibility and can fold within the width of the box for compact storage and transport. Demco equipment is always built with safety in mind, which is why each wagon features reflective decals and LED lights for high visibility under any sort of weather on the field.
Selecting the Right Model for Your Needs
The right grain cart for you largely depends on the needs of your field. Demco offers a wide variety of both gravity flow grain carts and horizontal drag auger carts. With our gravity flow carts, you can choose between capacities as small as 650 Bu. to 1272+ Bu. Our larger models come with a Camso trailed track system, which reduces the ground pressure of the cart by 30-80% when compared with traditional cart tires. No matter how soft the soil, our carts are designed to handle the terrain with the best mobility and performance in the industry.
When it comes to our horizontal drag auger carts, you can expect the same quality design for optimal performance. You can find capacities between 1100+ Bu. and 1400+ Bu. to handle large harvest loads for your fields. Each wagon is designed with a narrow transport width and low profile to make handling the auger simple, whether you’re working with level or hilly terrain.
If you’re interested in learning more about our equipment, you can find no shortage of blogs about agricultural machinery. You can also find more information about each type of grain cart on our product pages.
