We produce Raufomat feeding systems for wooden hay racks that are between 120 x 120 cm and 220 x 220 cm in external dimensions.

The wooden hay rack should meet the following requirements:

  • Please make sure it's not bigger than 220 x 220 cm on the outside, with a maximum dimension tolerance of 5 mm.
  • The wooden hay rack needs to be square or rectangular .
  • All four corner posts need to be perfectly straight and aligned with each other, and reach all the way to the ground. The posts shouldn't be slanted, crooked, or bent.
  • Ideally, your corner posts should be square and 12 x 12 cm or at least 10 x 10 cm thick. You totally use thicker posts too.
    But if your posts are uneven or rectangular, we'll unfortunately have to charge a bit extra for the custom Raufomat build – you can find more details in our price calculator.
  • Please note that the corner posts are ALWAYS the outermost side boundary.
  • The hay rack side walls should be set back 1 to 2 cm or more from the outer edges of the corner posts. Hay rack walls that stick out or are attached to the outside of the posts aren't suitable for a Raufomat, as they would get in the way of the hay cover moving up and down.
  • All side walls should be designed in such a way that it is not possible for horses' hooves to get caught in them.
  • Nothing should stick out sideways, not even a millimeter past the four corner posts – like no screws, nails, wooden parts, or fittings, etc.
  • You need to be able to attach the motor unit perfectly level between two beams under the roof – please keep this in mind for lean-to roofs too.
  • The hay rack opening should be removable. Doors and flaps aren't suitable because of the fittings attached on the outside.
  • We recommend corner braces on the corner posts for stability. They should ideally be installed inside so the hay cover can move up high enough.
  • Protection against chewing isn't needed. It might get in the way of the hay cover and is just unnecessary. When the hay rack is open, horses usually just focus on the hay, not the wood. 😉
  • The hay rack doesn't need to be painted. We've published some info here about the durability of wooden hay racks.
  • All four hay rack sides above the hay rack side walls need to be totally open – please, NO feeding grates, no gaps, or any other barriers. We're talking no metal, wood, or any other materials, just to make sure there's zero chance of horses getting hurt.
  • The hay rack side walls need to be high enough to prevent horses from stepping into the hay rack .
  • The hay rack is designed for a maximum of 4 horses, giving them a stress-free, 'feel-good' distance.
  • Also, make sure to check out the checklist for your wooden hay rack.

Neither the size nor the shape of the roof affects the operation of the Raufomat. The roof can be designed freely.

Metal Roof: You can definitely use wooden hay racks with metal roofs, but there's a chance that condensation might drip onto the hay and the hay rack. This can speed up mold growth.

If you've already got a wooden hay rack and are thinking of using the Raufomat system with it, we'd love for you to send us some good photos of each side of your hay rack first. We only build Raufomats for hay racks that are suitable, or if you can make them 'Raufomat-ready' with a little bit of DIY skill. We're always happy to give you tips on what changes might be needed.

If you're looking to build a new wooden hay rack, we'd be happy to help you out with our hay rack building instructions AFTER you've firmly ordered a Raufomat. You can find sketches, pictures, and what materials you'll need here.

Operating a Raufomat on an unsuitable hay rack that does not meet the above requirements poses incalculable risks to people, animals, and technology and will result in the immediate loss of all warranty claims.

We can only process complaints and technical issues if we receive clear images and an accurate, truthful description of the fault.