TWENTY YEARS AGO — Auger Dan’s Trucks and The Adjustable Clear-Sock

by Bill Lavender

TRUMANN, AR — The ag aviation industry often requires special equipment, custom built to serve its needs. Almost every ag operator, at one time or another, and for some on a regular basis, needs a good, reliable dry loader truck. Many have designed and built their own units, sometimes sufficing to do the job, while at other times, coming up short of the ideal unit. Others have bought trucks from individuals or companies who have made a noble effort at building what amounts to a complex piece of equipment. For a dry loader truck to truly meet the needs of an operator, it must be able to load the aircraft rapidly, weigh the material and adjust the height of the delivery sock, while at the same time be a unit that is easy to drive and operate; a tall order. Dan Whited’s Auger Dan’s Trucks meets this order.

After building trucks for over ten years with his brother, Roy, Dan formed his own company and now has sold about 20 trucks for loading ag aircraft. From his personal experience as a loader, ag operator and load truck builder, Dan’s Auger Dan’s Trucks have evolved into about as close to a perfect loader truck as can be possible.

During a recent visit by AgAir Update, Dan took the time to explain his innovations and why he believes Auger Dan’s Trucks are the best on the market. They surely look as good, if not better, than any we’ve seen!

It quickly becomes real obvious the amount of thought that has been placed in the design of an Auger Dan’s Truck. The basic loader truck is comprised of a stainless steel hopper mounted to the customer’s choice of cab and chassis with a 12-inch stainless steel folding auger and mild steel fuel tank. The base charge for an Auger Dan’s Truck is $25,000. Although for an additional $5,000, every major component can be manufactured from stainless steel. The basic truck uses a mechanical chain drive to turn the flighting inside the auger. For another $5,000, the auger can be hydraulically driven. It is the customer’s choice.

The Adjustable Clear-Sock extended and retracted. Linkage is actuated by an aircraft flap-type switch that controls a DC motorconnected tolinkage attached to delivery sock.

Some customers provide Dan with a new cab and chassis, while others have asked him to locate a used one. Dan’s preference for a used truck is a Ryder lease truck that has been taken out of service. These trucks sell for about 1/2 the cost of a new one and have about 200,000 miles on them, 1/2 the miles the trucks are rated for. Buying a truck from Ryder, the operator is given a 30-day unconditional warranty, even down to the light bulbs! With more than 200,000 usable miles remaining on the truck, how many operators are likely to drive a loader truck that far?

The capacity of the stainless steel hopper is approximately 10,000 pounds of urea. If the customer prefers that the auger not extend through the top of the truck, the capacity will have to be reduced approximately 2,000-2,500 pounds (for urea) in order to maintain the 18° angle that Dan figures is the ideal angle for the auger.

The hopper is mounted on four 7,500-pound rated weigh bars, that do an excellent job of weighing the product and transmits the data to a display in the cab. All of Dan’s trucks, as of February of this year, are outfitted with electric controls that are mounted in the cab that operate the hydraulic valves mounted outside on the loader rigging for safety and convenience.

The components on Auger Dan’s Trucks are built to last. Based on Dan’s experience, he’s determined that “the cheapest way is the best way”. Read that statement closely and you’ll understand that it is cheaper in the long run to build the best truck you can! For example, the weigh bars could have been smaller, but what if a driver has to go down the road with a load of fertilizer, shouldn’t those weigh bars be able to take a little jolting? And, the mounting of the hydraulic controls outside of the cab, easier and safer. The angles of the sides of the hopper are 47°, not 50° or 40°, but 47° and for a good reason. Dan has found this angle is the best to minimize having to beat the sides to get the fertilizer to the bottom of the hopper.

It doesn’t stop here! The planning and design, that is. Every piece of mild steel is coated with “Over Rust”, a product that protects the metal from rusting for several years; much better than paint alone.

Do you know how heavy and cumbersome the grating is in the top of the hopper of a typical loader truck? Auger Dan’s Trucks has subdivided the grating into easier-to-handle four sections. And, the expanded metal easily carries Dan’s 300 pounds; several helpers can stand on the grating with no problems.

A close look at the baffled fuel tank demonstrates the thought that has gone into its design. The front and rear sides, along with the bottom, are formed from one piece of metal, reducing the amount of welding needed and minimizing the risk of leaks. The welding is on both the inside and outside of the end walls, then pressure tested. The end walls are inset about 1/2-inch to reduce flexing and extend the life of the fuel tank. Depending on the need of the operator, the basic fuel tank holds from 400 up to 700 gallons. The fuel pump is hydraulically driven and can deliver as much as 100 gallons of fuel per minute.

One of four 7,500 pound-rated weigh bars, each mounted on a corner of the hopper framework.

Inside view of cab with controls. From his days as a loader, Dan knows that towards the end of a long, hard day, a bench seat is nice totake a brief rest on between loads, thus the controls are not mountedover the seat.

Rear view of an Auger Dan’s Truck, auger extended with clear delivery sock.

Roll over tarp cover; bungee cord prevents tarp from falling into hopper.

Up and over, Dennis Webb’s (County Line Flying Service, Coy, Arkansas) Auger Dan Truck extends its auger. Note the clear deliverysock. The Adjustable Clear-Sock was not invented at the time of thesepictures. Mounting for the auger’s mechanical chain drive.

Note inset of 3/16-inch thick end wall of fuel tank. Welding is on the outside and inside of tank that is pressure/soap tested for leaksand mounted to 6-inch channel iron. Note oversize 50-gallon hydraulicreservoir with dual cooling fans

Attention to detail: electric actuated hydraulic valves.

The Auger Dan’s Truck is offered with two hydraulic systems. The primary system consists of a 15-gallon per minute pump that operates the fuel pump, hopper flow gate (mounted where the operator/driver can see it) and folding auger. The second, optional hydraulic system, consists of a 40-gallon per minute pump with a 50-gallon reservoir tank that drives a 40-horsepower motor, replacing the standard mechanical chain drive for the auger.

Relying on his knowledge of building loader trucks, Dan knows that the life of a hydraulic unit depends on not overloading it and keeping the fluid cool. The large 50-gallon reservoir tank helps with this, but the double cooling fans are the key to cool hydraulic operation.

Maybe one of the best examples of ingenuity for a loader truck is Dan’s invention, The Adjustable Clear-Sock. All ag operators know who use a loader truck, the delivery sock is always needing to be at a different height. Maybe because two different type aircraft are being loaded by one loader truck. Or, the ground is wet and the loader truck auger height is changing as the truck makes ruts, or the weight is shifting on the truck changing the height of the delivery sock. With Auger Dan’s Truck’s Adjustable Clear-Sock, not only can the operator and pilot see the material as it is augered into the aircraft hopper (the tube is made of clear material), also the driver can adjust the height of the sock with a simple aircraft flap-style electrical switch that controls a DC motor that in turn moves connecting links attached to the sock, up or down. A terrific idea! The clear delivery sock can be adjusted in seconds from within the cab of the truck for each load by simply toggling a switch! This unit fits any size auger and bolts on within minutes; depending on the time the operator devotes to running the wiring. Cost; $995. The commercial grade DC motor is a larger portion of the cost of the all stainless steel kit.

Randy Mink’s (Poor Boy’s Flying Service in Bay, Arkansas) Auger Dan’s Truck is starting its fourth season, with only routine maintenance!

It is always good to visit a first class operator, whether it be a flying service or a supplier to the business, who takes the time to do something right the first time. There’s no question in our mind, an Auger Dan’s Truck equipped with the Adjustable Clear-Sock is the premium loader truck in the marketplace. Dan Whited takes orders for each truck and can deliver about one a month with the company’s present production schedule. Meaning, if you are needing one you best get your name on the list, there’s already three ahead of you!