Alaskan's Journal

[Alaskan]

I have a small hand truck. When I get a 50# bag of feed I have the clerk put it on the floor of my car, behind my seat. If no one is available to assist me once I get home I bring the hand truck to the car, wriggle the bag out the door and onto the hand truck. Then I can roll it up the shed steps (they're low) and wriggle it off the hand truck next to the galvanized can that holds my feed. Most of the time I can do one power lift up and into the can. I have done it in stages, put the bag on top of a stool or something. If I get to the point where I can't lift it I will just open the bag and scoop the feed into 5 gallon buckets with lids.
View attachment 112878
The feed can is the smaller one.

I was thinking of doing something like that!

We have a garden cart... maybe needs new wheels... and in winter I could use a sled....

 

[Mini Horses]

If you have an SUV type vehicle, use back load. I find it takes a LOT more muscles and pull/lift to get out of inside a "car" behind seat. If I am in car & must buy, I put on the seat...higher, less lift. Same with a standard car trunk.

I'm thinking you have an SUV vehicle. Bags can be slid, drop into a cart, wheel barrow, etc. Even lay bag on side, open partially and empty into smaller buckets.

 

[fuzzi]

If you have an SUV type vehicle, use back load. I find it takes a LOT more muscles and pull/lift to get out of inside a "car" behind seat. If I am in car & must buy, I put on the seat...higher, less lift. Same with a standard car trunk.

I'm thinking you have an SUV vehicle. Bags can be slid, drop into a cart, wheel barrow, etc. Even lay bag on side, open partially and empty into smaller buckets.

I have a Highlander, not as big or high as other SUVs. I open my feed bags at the checkout, to inspect for mold (happened once), so bringing home upright on the floor works better, no chance of tipping over, no spilling.

In my experience controlling the bag drop from the higher seat to the ground is harder than from the lower level of the floor.

I do what works best for me, but DO appreciate all the suggestions.

 

[fuzzi]

I was thinking of doing something like that!

We have a garden cart... maybe needs new wheels... and in winter I could use a sled....

Take the mini cart with you to the feed store, have them load the bags into it for you?

But you'd still need a ramp to get them out of the back of the vehicle...

 

[Finnie]

open partially and empty into smaller buckets.

This would work great for both @Alaskan and @fuzzi

If you were going to empty the bags into 5 gallon buckets with lids eventually anyway, just scoop it out into the buckets right there at your vehicle. Easier to carry or place in wagon. If you have enough buckets, fill them less than full to make them lighter.

 

[Baymule]

When I pick up my monthly four 50 pound bags of dog food, I put them in the back seat of my little car. It’s easier to get them out. I park close to back door, have 4 steps up to utility room. Last run to the feed store, I bought feed in a super bag. I backed truck up to the portable building and used feed scoop to fill two 5 gallon buckets and dumped in metal trash cans. We can do this, we just have to be smart about it.