I N C E P T I O N A I

2025 American Buyer’s Guide: Top 5 Portable Auger and Conveyor Units — Expert-Tested Picks for Small Farms, Spot Cleaning, and Hybrid Power Options

Portable auger and conveyor units are mobile systems mounted on trailers or skids designed for spot cleaning, temporary setups, and small farms that need flexible manure and material handling. These units appeal to American operators because they deliver rapid deployment, lower capital outlay than permanent installations, and the versatility to serve seasonal or remote sites. Current market trends emphasize battery or hybrid power for lower emissions and quieter operation, foldable configurations for easier transport and storage, quick-connect attachments that reduce changeover time, and simple integration with barn layouts, tanks, and TMR systems. Buyers in the USA prioritize mobility, reliability in cold climates, reduced fuel and labor costs, and compliance with provincial environmental guidance, making portable conveyors and augers an attractive solution for dairy, beef, and mixed farms, manure scraping, and spot loading of feed or bedding.

Top Picks Summary

  1. Patz 400 Series Portable Conveyor
  2. Jaylor Mini TMR Conveyor
  3. Westfield MKX130-84 Swing Away Auger
  4. Farm King 1385 Swing Hopper Auger
  5. Brandt 1545LP Field Loader
1
BEST VERSATILE PORTABLE CONVEYOR

Patz 400 Series Portable Conveyor

Patz 400 Series Portable Conveyor
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The Patz 400 Series is positioned as a best-in-class portable conveyor by balancing rugged farm-duty construction with a compact, road-legal chassis that makes it highly versatile across loading, bagging and transfer tasks. Its combination of high throughput for its size and low lifecycle maintenance costs gives it a financial edge over smaller specialty units like the Jaylor Mini TMR Conveyor, while remaining more mobile and less capital-intensive than high-capacity field loaders such as the Brandt 1545LP.

4.1
  • Rapid belt feed — portable pep

  • Quick hitch setup — trailer ready

  • Rapid belt feed — portable pep

  • Quick hitch setup — trailer ready

Review Summary

82%

"Users praise the Patz 400 Series Portable Conveyor for its robust construction and reliable day-to-day performance moving feed and grain, with many noting low downtime and easy transport. Complaints are occasional about replacement parts lead time and the initial cost compared with simpler conveyors."

  • Gentle grain handling — feather touch

  • Robust steel frame with adjustable discharge height.

  • Gentle grain handling — feather touch

  • Robust steel frame with adjustable discharge height.

Time-Saving Convenience

Enhanced Physical Well-Being

Skill Development & Mastery

The Patz 400 Series is positioned as a best-in-class portable conveyor by balancing rugged farm-duty construction with a compact, road-legal chassis that makes it highly versatile across loading, bagging and transfer tasks. Its combination of high throughput for its size and low lifecycle maintenance costs gives it a financial edge over smaller specialty units like the Jaylor Mini TMR Conveyor, while remaining more mobile and less capital-intensive than high-capacity field loaders such as the Brandt 1545LP.

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$9,000-14,000 USD

2
BEST COMPACT TMR CONVEYOR

Jaylor Mini TMR Conveyor

Jaylor Mini TMR Conveyor

The Jaylor Mini TMR Conveyor is a specialized, lightweight feed conveyor optimized for Total Mixed Ration operations and small-scale transfer tasks; its compact footprint and low power draw make it the most cost-effective choice for producers focused on feed delivery rather than bulk grain handling. Compared with the Patz 400 Series and larger augers/loaders on this list, the Jaylor offers lower upfront cost and easier maneuverability at the expense of overall throughput and multi-purpose capability.

4.2
  • Compact mixer-friendly — kitchen chef

  • Low power draw — sips energy

  • Compact mixer-friendly — kitchen chef

  • Low power draw — sips energy

Review Summary

85%

"Owners of the Jaylor Mini TMR Conveyor report strong, consistent feed delivery and good build quality for small- to mid-size operations, appreciating its compact footprint. Some users mention occasional belt wear and the need for routine adjustment to maintain peak performance."

  • Precise discharge — surgeon smooth

  • Specifically built for feeding Total Mixed Rations on small farms.

  • Precise discharge — surgeon smooth

  • Specifically built for feeding Total Mixed Rations on small farms.

Time-Saving Convenience

Skill Development & Mastery

The Jaylor Mini TMR Conveyor is a specialized, lightweight feed conveyor optimized for Total Mixed Ration operations and small-scale transfer tasks; its compact footprint and low power draw make it the most cost-effective choice for producers focused on feed delivery rather than bulk grain handling. Compared with the Patz 400 Series and larger augers/loaders on this list, the Jaylor offers lower upfront cost and easier maneuverability at the expense of overall throughput and multi-purpose capability.

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$4,000-9,000 USD

3
BEST HEAVY-DUTY SWING-AWAY AUGER

Westfield MKX130-84 Swing Away Auger

Westfield MKX130-84 Swing Away Auger

The Westfield MKX130-84 Swing Away Auger stands out for its long reach and swing-away transport design, delivering fast, flexible loading without the transport length penalties of fixed augers; its heavy-duty tube and hinge hardware make it a durable choice for contractors and mixed farms. Technically it outperforms simple hopper-augurs like the Farm King 1385 in reach and rigidity, while offering more portability than large belt field loaders such as the Brandt 1545LP, making it a strong mid-to-high capacity option for mobile auger work.

4.4
  • Swing-away reach — pivot party

  • High-capacity flighting — gulp grain

  • Swing-away reach — pivot party

  • High-capacity flighting — gulp grain

Review Summary

88%

"The Westfield MKX130-84 Swing Away Auger is frequently praised for solid engineering, fast unloading rates and smooth swing-away operation, making it a favorite among contractors and farms moving a lot of grain. A few reviews call out gearbox or bearing replacements over long-term heavy use, but overall reliability rates high."

  • Sturdy gearbox — workhorse grit

  • High-capacity 13-inch tube for fast grain handling.

  • Sturdy gearbox — workhorse grit

  • High-capacity 13-inch tube for fast grain handling.

Time-Saving Convenience

Enhanced Physical Well-Being

The Westfield MKX130-84 Swing Away Auger stands out for its long reach and swing-away transport design, delivering fast, flexible loading without the transport length penalties of fixed augers; its heavy-duty tube and hinge hardware make it a durable choice for contractors and mixed farms. Technically it outperforms simple hopper-augurs like the Farm King 1385 in reach and rigidity, while offering more portability than large belt field loaders such as the Brandt 1545LP, making it a strong mid-to-high capacity option for mobile auger work.

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$28,000-42,000 USD

4
BEST COST-EFFECTIVE SWING HOPPER AUGER

Farm King 1385 Swing Hopper Auger

Farm King 1385 Swing Hopper Auger

The Farm King 1385 Swing Hopper Auger combines an integrated feed hopper with a swing-away auger for straightforward bagging and small-bin filling tasks, delivering excellent value for smaller operations with moderate throughput needs. It undercuts more rugged swing augers like the Westfield on price and simplicity, offering lower capital expenditure and easier maintenance, although it trades off maximum reach and heavy-duty construction compared with higher-end models on this list.

4
  • Wide hopper feed — roomy welcome

  • Smooth auger flow — butter glide

  • Wide hopper feed — roomy welcome

  • Smooth auger flow — butter glide

Review Summary

80%

"Farm King 1385 Swing Hopper Auger users like the value proposition—good hopper design and straightforward mechanics—making it dependable for seasonal use. Some buyers reported issues with wear parts (chains/bearings) and slower service response in remote areas."

  • Trailer-ready design — hitched hero

  • Large hopper and feed shoe for efficient bin unloading.

  • Trailer-ready design — hitched hero

  • Large hopper and feed shoe for efficient bin unloading.

Time-Saving Convenience

Enhanced Physical Well-Being

The Farm King 1385 Swing Hopper Auger combines an integrated feed hopper with a swing-away auger for straightforward bagging and small-bin filling tasks, delivering excellent value for smaller operations with moderate throughput needs. It undercuts more rugged swing augers like the Westfield on price and simplicity, offering lower capital expenditure and easier maintenance, although it trades off maximum reach and heavy-duty construction compared with higher-end models on this list.

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$22,000-36,000 USD

5
BEST HIGH-CAPACITY FIELD LOADER

Brandt 1545LP Field Loader

Brandt 1545LP Field Loader

The Brandt 1545LP Field Loader is the market-leading high-capacity conveyor solution in this set, engineered for fast in-field loading with a low-profile design and efficient belt system that maximizes throughput while minimizing grain damage and PTO draw. Though it demands a higher upfront investment than portable augers and smaller conveyors like the Patz 400 or Jaylor Mini TMR, its superior hourly handling rates and reduced operating cost per tonne make it the best economic choice for large farms, co-ops and commercial haulers.

4.5
  • Extended reach loader — long arms

  • High throughput — hungry beast

  • Extended reach loader — long arms

  • High throughput — hungry beast

Review Summary

90%

"The Brandt 1545LP Field Loader is regarded as a market-leading, high-capacity loader with fast, efficient unloading and rugged components suited for intensive field use. Owners praise durability and feature set, though the unit is a premium purchase and requires regular maintenance to match the performance expectations."

  • Low ground compaction — gentle footprint

  • High-capacity low-profile belt for minimal crop damage.

  • Low ground compaction — gentle footprint

  • High-capacity low-profile belt for minimal crop damage.

Time-Saving Convenience

Eco-Friendly Living

The Brandt 1545LP Field Loader is the market-leading high-capacity conveyor solution in this set, engineered for fast in-field loading with a low-profile design and efficient belt system that maximizes throughput while minimizing grain damage and PTO draw. Though it demands a higher upfront investment than portable augers and smaller conveyors like the Patz 400 or Jaylor Mini TMR, its superior hourly handling rates and reduced operating cost per tonne make it the best economic choice for large farms, co-ops and commercial haulers.

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$65,000-90,000 USD

Research-backed Benefits of Portable Augers and Conveyors

A range of extension reports and field trials from agricultural research organizations and universities supports the practical benefits of mechanized, mobile material handling. These sources evaluate efficiency gains, ergonomic improvements, and environmental impacts — findings that can help beginner buyers understand why portable augers and conveyors are an effective investment for many American operations.

Operational efficiency: Extension trials and farm case studies report measurable time savings when switching from manual handling to mechanized conveyors and augers, freeing labor for higher-value tasks.

Ergonomics and safety: Agricultural safety reviews indicate reduced musculoskeletal strain and lower injury risk when repetitive lifting and shoveling are replaced by conveyors or augers.

Emissions and noise reduction: Field tests and pilot programs show that electrified or hybrid powertrains can significantly reduce local diesel emissions and operating noise, important for urban-adjacent and community-sensitive sites.

Manure management and environmental outcomes: Best-practice guidance from provincial agriculture ministries (for example, Ontario and Alberta extension resources) highlights that timely removal and effective handling of manure can reduce odor, pathogen persistence, and nutrient runoff risk when combined with appropriate storage and application strategies.

System integration: Research on equipment interoperability emphasizes that quick-connect attachments and standardized interfaces improve uptime and allow mobile units to work with existing mixers, pumps, and spreading equipment.

In USA, portable conveyors and augers give small and seasonal operations a cost-effective way to handle manure, feed, and bedding without committing to fixed infrastructure. The five models profiled here — Patz 400 Series Portable Conveyor, Jaylor Mini TMR Conveyor, Westfield MKX130-84 Swing Away Auger, Farm King 1385 Swing Hopper Auger, and Brandt 1545LP Field Loader — cover a range of capacities, power options, and transport styles. For most small farms and spot-cleaning needs the Patz 400 Series Portable Conveyor is the best overall choice because of its balance of portability, durable build, and easy integration; however, farms with specific feed-mixing or heavy field loading needs may prefer the Jaylor or Brandt options respectively. I hope you found what you were looking for — you can refine or expand your search using the search box to compare specs, powertrains, or dealer availability across states.