You invested in the perfect bin. Now you are excited to see what you will accomplish with it. But Mother Nature had different ideas and your hard earned bin blew over. And you could have prevented it by securing your bin correctly.
Why do you need to tie your bin down? Well, you have already spent a significant amount of time and money lifting it up and putting it in place, why not take a few extra hours to secure it and keep your investment stable?
Knowing how to tie an empty bin down securely and safely is crucial in the Agriculture world. Especially in the harsh Kansas Flinthills or windy Nebraskan prairie, tying your empty bin down correctly is pivotal to keep your operation running smooth and safely. It should be noted that this danger only applies to vacant bins. Once the bin is filled, the weight of several tons of product holds it in place and the threat of blowing over is eliminated.
Here are a few key steps to tying your empty bin down correctly:
- Incorporate a Footing Plate. If you are pouring concrete to set the bin on, place a footing plate that you can weld the bin legs too. (this works if the footing plates can be shipped not on the bin)
See footing diagram on the right. - Bolt Legs into Concrete. Another option if using concrete to set your bin on, is to bolt the footing plate of the bin down to the concrete. There are many places to buy concrete anchor bolts. Here is 1 popular option from Fastenal. (This works if the footing plates ship welded on the bin legs)
- Set Concrete Blocks. Use concrete blocks to tie the legs down with.
- Bury a Hedge Post. Dig a hedge post into the ground with a cable attached to tie to the legs.
- Be thorough. Tying down all legs will help ensure your bin does not blow over.
By following these steps, you will be able to protect your grain bin and your hard-earned investment from the elements. This will safely and securely keep your grain bin ready for operation.
