Is this logical?

[SabineRR]

I have about four 55 gallon barrels that the hogs have nocked over and keep destroying the legs (yes I've had them staked down). I also like having a ladder on the feeders. Is making something like this out of wood possible?
And no I can't weld so I thought this would be a very simple project if this could support a 55 gallon drum of corn.
The part that the barrel would sit on would consist of a 2x4 base like so
reinforced with perpendicular braces and then a sheet of ply wood on top. Is it worth a try or should I just have one welded together for me?

[tx07]

If you use 4x4's it should support the weight of the barrel with corn.

[flywise]

2x4's are real cheap. With Plenty of bracing it should work fine.

[SabineRR]

2x4's are real cheap. With Plenty of bracing it should work fine.

Sweet. This should be only about a $20 project per feeder. I'm going to make one next weekend and see how it turns out. Just wanted to make sure it would support all the corn.

[Javelin]

If you make it a simple winch up tripod then the barrel is free to swing a bit and it is near impossible to knock over. I have several of these set ups and have never had one tip over, also no ladder needed just lower the barrel to ground level. Back when I taught ag I made several and never had over 50 bucks or so in each of them.

[flywise]

I work at a local lumber yard when I'm not at the fire station.
We sell cull lumber bundles ( return lumber 2x4 and 2x6 or better ) at half price.
Most bundles we sell are about 175 retail for 60 - 80 bucks.
Ask around and you might get some useful wood cheap.