GT Manufacturing occupies the fourth corner of the grain drying market that prairie farmers actually shop: the recirculating batch dryer. Where GSI builds cross-flow towers, NECO builds mixed-flow machines, and Vertec built continuous multi-flow dryers, GT has specialized in batch drying since 1953 โ and calls itself a worldwide leader in the field. For small and mid-size Canadian farms, hobby operations, and anyone wanting a simple, affordable, often PTO-driven way to dry grain on-farm, a GT batch dryer is frequently the most sensible entry into mechanical drying.
This guide explains how recirculating batch drying works and why it suits a particular kind of operation, walks through GT’s full current lineup from the 200-bushel 245XL to the automatic RAB models, and covers the large used market of GT and Tox-O-Wik machines across the prairies. The full model table below is built directly from GT Manufacturing’s official specifications, so whether you’re sizing a small-farm dryer or comparing batch against continuous-flow, you’ll find verified capacity, burner, and fan data here. No sales pitch โ just how batch drying works, what each model holds, and where GT earns its place.
What Recirculating Batch Drying Actually Is
The drying method defines GT, so it’s worth understanding. In a recirculating batch dryer, grain is loaded as a single batch into a bin. A circulating auger continuously moves the grain โ lifting it up a central vertical auger and redistributing it โ while a fan forces heated air through the column. Because the grain is constantly recirculated, every kernel passes through the drying zone repeatedly, drying evenly rather than letting some kernels over-dry while others stay wet. When the batch reaches target moisture, it unloads, and the next batch loads.
This differs fundamentally from the continuous-flow machines covered elsewhere on Aglist. A continuous dryer โ whether a GSI tower (cross-flow), a NECO (mixed-flow), or a Vertec (multi-flow) โ takes wet grain in at the top and discharges dry grain at the bottom in a continuous stream, sized for high daily throughput. A batch dryer instead processes discrete batches, one after another.
The batch approach has clear strengths: it’s mechanically simple, often runs off a tractor PTO (no three-phase power needed), costs far less than a continuous system, and dries evenly thanks to the recirculation. GT notes its dryers often pay for themselves in one to three years and hold high resale value. The trade-off is total daily throughput โ you dry one batch at a time, so a batch dryer is sized for small-to-mid daily volumes rather than the largest harvest flows. For the operation it fits, that trade is exactly right.
The Full GT Lineup & Specifications
GT’s current lineup splits into three groups: the XL series (axial-fan batch dryers), the RB series (centrifugal-fan batch dryers), and the RAB series (all-automatic batch dryers). Models are named by their bushel capacity. The table below lists all current models with verified figures from GT Manufacturing’s official specifications. Click any model for full specs, the batch process, pricing context, and reviews.
| Model | Series | Batch (bu) | Drying (5 pt) | Fan | Burner | Recirc |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GT 245XL | XL (axial) | 200 | 140 bu/h | 26″ axial | 2.2M BTU | 5โ7 min |
| GT 300 | Batch (centrifugal) | 350 | 235 bu/h | 33″ centrifugal | 2.2M BTU | 5โ7 min |
| GT 345XL | XL (axial) | 350 | 235 bu/h | 26″ axial | 2.2M BTU | 10โ12 min |
| GT 545XL | XL (axial) | 500 | 335 bu/h | 32″ axial | 3.0M BTU | 12โ15 min |
| GT RB500 | RB (centrifugal) | 500 | 335 bu/h | 38″ centrifugal | 3.0M BTU | 12โ15 min |
| GT 645XL | XL (axial) | 640 | 385 bu/h | 32″ axial | 3.0M BTU | 17โ21 min |
| GT RB600 | RB (centrifugal) | 640 | 385 bu/h | 38″ centrifugal | 3.0M BTU | 12โ15 min |
| GT RB800 | RB (centrifugal) | 820 | 500 bu/h | 38″ centrifugal | 3.0M BTU | 16โ20 min |
| GT RAB5000 | RAB (automatic) | automatic | โ | centrifugal (3-ph) | 3.5M BTU | 12โ15 min |
GT also offers the larger automatic RAB8000 and a newly introduced 21T-820 bu model at the top of the range for the highest-volume batch operations; confirm current specs with GT. Drying capacities are quoted at 5 points of moisture removal (20.5โ15.5%) and vary with crop, starting moisture, and conditions.
The pattern is clear: the XL series uses axial fans, the RB series uses centrifugal fans (quieter, stronger against static pressure), and several capacities are offered in both โ the 545XL/RB500 share a 500-bushel batch, and the 645XL/RB600 share a 640-bushel batch, differing mainly in fan type. The RAB series automates the whole cycle on three-phase power.
GT Tox-O-Wik: The Used Market
Beyond the current lineup, GT’s legacy Tox-O-Wik portable batch dryers (models such as the 360, 370, and 570) are a common sight on the prairie used market โ turning up regularly on AgDealer, Ritchie Bros, and BigIron, especially across Saskatchewan and Alberta. These PTO-driven propane batch dryers were workhorses for decades and remain a low-cost entry into on-farm drying for small operations.
Typical used Tox-O-Wik listings show propane burners around 2 million BTU, 540 PTO drive, and portable wheel-mounted designs. As with any decades-old machine, condition is everything: check the burner, the circulating auger and drive, the fan and PTO driveline, and the overall structure before buying. GT continues to support its dryers with manuals, technical tips, and parts ordering, so keeping an older GT or Tox-O-Wik running is realistic. For buyers who want batch drying at the lowest possible cost, a sound used Tox-O-Wik is worth watching for.
Choosing Between GT Models: Fan, Batch & Power
Three decisions narrow the GT lineup to the right machine.
Batch capacity. Match the batch size to your daily volume. The 200โ350 bushel models (245XL, 300, 345XL) suit small farms and hobby operations; the 500โ640 bushel models (545XL, RB500, 645XL, RB600) suit mid-size farms; the 820-bushel RB800 and automatic RAB models suit larger operations. Remember that batch dryers cycle one batch at a time, so size for your realistic daily intake.
Fan type โ axial vs centrifugal. Several capacities come both ways. Axial fans (XL series) are lighter and lower-cost; centrifugal fans (RB series) run quieter and handle static pressure better, which can matter for drying performance. The 545XL vs RB500 and 645XL vs RB600 decisions come down largely to this.
Power โ PTO vs automatic electric. The XL and RB models run off a tractor PTO (with an electric motor option), making them usable in any yard. The automatic RAB models use three-phase electric power and the GT Grain Guard control system for hands-off cycling โ better for larger operations with the power supply and a need to save labour during harvest.
GT Batch vs Continuous-Flow: Which Dryer Type Fits
Aglist covers all four major dryer types. Here’s the honest framing of where GT batch fits against the others.
| Factor | GT (batch) | NECO (mixed-flow) | GSI (tower cross-flow) | Vertec (continuous multi-flow) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Process | Batch, one at a time | Continuous | Continuous | Continuous |
| Power | Often PTO | Electric | Electric | Electric / PTO |
| Strength | Low cost, simplicity, small-farm fit | Grade, canola, efficiency | High capacity | Used value |
| Daily volume | Small-to-mid | Mid-to-high | High | Mid |
| Market | New + used | New | New + used | Used only |
| Best for | Small/mid farms, value, simplicity | Quality-sensitive | High-throughput | Value buyers |
Choose GT batch if you run a small-to-mid farm, want the lowest-cost, simplest entry into mechanical drying, and value PTO operation without three-phase power. Choose NECO for grade preservation and canola at higher continuous volumes. Choose a GSI tower for maximum throughput. Choose a used Vertec for continuous-flow value on the used market. There’s no single best dryer โ only the best fit for your volume, budget, and power supply. See the full grain dryer category and the Best Grain Dryers in Canada guide.
Which GT Fits Your Operation
Small farm or hobby operation, lowest cost โ the 245XL (200 bu) or 300 (350 bu, faster centrifugal fan). Simple PTO batch drying at the most accessible entry point.
Small-to-mid farm, 350-bushel class โ the 300 (centrifugal, fast cycle) or 345XL (axial, taller plenum). Choose by fan preference.
Mid-size farm, 500-bushel class โ the 545XL (axial, lighter) or RB500 (centrifugal, quieter). Choose by fan and weight.
Mid-to-larger farm, 640-bushel class โ the 645XL (axial) or RB600 (centrifugal, shorter cycle).
Larger farm, biggest manual batch โ the RB800 (820 bu, 500 bu/h, fast augers).
Larger farm wanting automation, three-phase power available โ the RAB5000 (GT Grain Guard, hands-off cycling) or larger RAB8000.
Lowest-cost used entry โ watch for a sound used Tox-O-Wik on the prairie auction market.
For sizing any dryer against your real daily wet-bushel intake, the Grain Dryer Sizing Calculator helps match capacity to throughput.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a recirculating batch grain dryer?
A recirculating batch dryer loads grain as a single batch into a bin, where a circulating auger continuously moves the grain while a fan forces heated air through it. The constant recirculation dries every kernel evenly. When the batch reaches target moisture it unloads, and the next batch loads. It’s mechanically simple, often PTO-driven, and well-suited to small-to-mid farm volumes.
Are GT grain dryers still made?
Yes. GT Manufacturing has built batch dryers since 1953 and offers a full current lineup from the 200-bushel 245XL through the manual RB series to the automatic RAB models. The company also supports its legacy machines, including older Tox-O-Wik dryers, with manuals, technical tips, and parts.
How much grain can a GT dryer handle?
It ranges by model. The smallest, the 245XL, dries 140 bu/h with a 200-bushel batch; the largest manual model, the RB800, dries 500 bu/h with an 820-bushel batch. Capacities are quoted at 5 points of moisture removal and vary with crop and conditions. See the full lineup table above.
What’s the difference between GT’s XL and RB series?
Both are recirculating batch dryers, but the XL series uses axial fans (lighter, lower-cost) while the RB series uses 38-inch centrifugal fans (quieter, stronger against static pressure). Several capacities are offered in both โ for example the 545XL and RB500 share a 500-bushel batch, differing mainly in fan type.
What is a GT Tox-O-Wik dryer?
Tox-O-Wik is GT’s legacy line of portable PTO-driven batch dryers (models such as the 360, 370, and 570), common on the prairie used market. They’re a low-cost entry into on-farm batch drying. As with any older machine, buy on condition โ check the burner, auger, fan, and PTO driveline.
GT batch dryer vs a continuous-flow dryer โ which should I choose?
Choose a GT batch dryer for low cost, simplicity, PTO operation, and small-to-mid daily volumes. Choose a continuous-flow dryer (NECO mixed-flow, GSI tower, or used Vertec) for higher daily throughput. Batch dries one batch at a time; continuous dries in a constant stream. Match the type to your daily volume and budget.
Do GT dryers need three-phase power?
The XL and RB series run off a tractor PTO (with an optional electric motor), so they work in any yard. The automatic RAB series uses three-phase electric power for hands-off operation. Confirm your power supply when choosing between a manual PTO model and an automatic RAB.
Note: We try our best to keep specs and information accurate, but some details can be missing or different depending on the source, model year, or configuration. Specifications come from GT Manufacturing’s official model pages and are subject to change without notice; drying capacities vary with crop, moisture, and conditions. Before you buy, service, or repair equipment, double-check key specs with GT documentation, the owner’s manual, or your Canadian dealer.
About reviews: Reviews on Aglist are written by real users. We moderate them for spam and abuse, but opinions and claims are still personal โ so use them as guidance, not as a guarantee.
