Overview & Specs

Vertec VT5500 Grain Dryer Review, Specs & Used Buyer’s Guide — Canada

The Vertec VT5500 is the 5-tier mid-size machine in the Vertec range, sitting just below the 6-tier VT5600R in capacity. A screenless continuous multi-flow dryer built in Vermilion, Alberta, it commonly appears on the Canadian used market in the VT5500-1S configuration with a roughly 3.5-million-BTU burner, natural gas, an enclosed top, and transport wheels. For prairie farms wanting a proven, serviceable, value-priced continuous-flow dryer in a slightly smaller package than the VT5600R, the VT5500 is a sensible and frequently-listed option.

This guide is for the Canadian buyer evaluating a used VT5500 and for owners after specs and straight talk. Transparency note: unlike the PAMI-tested VT5600R, the VT5500’s figures here are drawn from Canadian used-market listings. The VT5500 and VT5600R are close siblings — same screenless continuous-flow family, differing mainly in tier count and burner size — so the PAMI VT5600R data is your best proxy for understanding how this machine performs, while the specific VT5500 numbers come from listings and should be confirmed with the seller.

Aglist quick take: The VT5500 is the 5-tier mid-size Vertec — screenless continuous flow, ~3.5M BTU class, a notch below the PAMI-tested VT5600R. It’s a practical, value-priced used dryer for small-to-mid prairie farms that want proven Vertec simplicity. Because it’s so close to the VT5600R, the PAMI data on that model is your best performance reference. Where to be careful: as with all legacy Vertecs, burner and controls condition drive real value, and these specs are listing-derived, not bench-tested.

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Quick Verdict — Who the VT5500 Is For

Buy it if: you run a small-to-mid prairie grain farm, want a proven screenless continuous-flow dryer at used value, and the 5-tier capacity fits your daily intake. A clean VT5500-1S with a sound burner and enclosed top is a practical, serviceable entry onto continuous-flow drying.

Skip it if: you need more throughput (step up to the VT5600R or VT8600), you want factory automation without retrofitting, or you specifically want the independently-tested machine — in which case the closely-related VT5600R with its PAMI data is the better-documented choice.

1. Vertec VT5500 Specifications

The figures below are drawn from Canadian used-market listings (notably the common VT5500-1S configuration). Confirm the exact specification of any specific machine with the seller.

Category	Spec	Value (listing-derived)
Type	Dryer design	Continuous multi-flow, screenless
	Tiers	5
Burner	Rating	~3.5 million BTU/h
	Fuel	Natural gas (propane configs exist)
Configuration	Common variant	VT5500-1S
	Top	Enclosed top
	Transport	Transport wheels; fill and unload augers available
Capacity	Class	Mid-size (below 6-tier VT5600R; see VT5600R PAMI data as proxy)
Manufacturer		Vertec Industries Ltd., Vermilion, Alberta
Design family		Vertec continuous multi-flow
Market		Used only

Source: Canadian used-market listings (MarketBook, Kijiji). The VT5500 is a close sibling of the PAMI-tested VT5600R; for independently measured Vertec performance figures (capacity, fuel, energy by crop), see the VT5600R page, which is the best available proxy for understanding VT5500 performance.

2. Owner Reviews & Ratings on Aglist

The VT5500 has a deep prairie owner base after decades in service. As Canadian owners share their experience on Aglist, the rating system tracks:

Reliability — burner and drive durability, harvest uptime
Capacity — real throughput on your crops vs the VT5600R baseline
Fuel efficiency — natural gas / propane use in your conditions
Ease of operation — controls, metering adjustment, cleanout
Serviceability — parts availability, retrofit experience

If you own or have run a VT5500 in Canada — original or retrofitted — please leave a star rating and a short note below. Owner data on legacy mid-size dryers is scarce online, and your real-world numbers help the next prairie buyer.

3. How the VT5500 Compares

The VT5500 is the 5-tier mid-size option in the Vertec family. Here’s how it frames against its closest siblings and a modern alternative.

Spec	Vertec VT5500	Vertec VT5600R	Vertec VT6600	Super-B SQ12
Type	Continuous multi-flow	Continuous multi-flow	Portable continuous	Portable continuous
Tiers	5	6	6–9 (config)	n/a
Burner	~3.5M BTU	~3.7M BTU	~4–6M BTU	Modern
Capacity	Mid-size (5-tier)	~334 bu/h wheat (5%, PAMI)	~600 bu/h class	Modern portable
Screenless	Yes	Yes	Yes	—
Controls	Mechanical (retrofit avail.)	Mechanical (retrofit avail.)	Mechanical (retrofit avail.)	Modern
Test data	Listing-derived	PAMI 289	Listing-derived	—

Where the VT5500 wins: lowest-capacity-tier entry into a continuous-flow Vertec, screenless low-maintenance design, value pricing, and close kinship with the well-documented VT5600R. A sensible smaller-farm choice.

Where it loses: lower capacity than the 6-tier VT5600R, listing-derived (not PAMI-tested) specs, and original mechanical controls. If you want the independently-tested machine, the VT5600R is the better-documented sibling. Full range and parts support on the Vertec hub.

4. Real-World Performance

Capacity

As the 5-tier machine with a ~3.5M BTU burner, the VT5500 sits just below the 6-tier VT5600R in capacity. Because the two are such close siblings in the same screenless continuous-flow family, the PAMI-measured VT5600R figures (~334 bu/h wheat, ~372 bu/h barley, ~163 bu/h canola at 5% removal) are your best reference for the shape of VT5500 performance — expect somewhat lower throughput owing to the smaller burner and one fewer tier. Confirm any seller’s capacity claim against your crops and moisture removal.

Burner & Configuration

The common VT5500-1S configuration runs ~3.5M BTU on natural gas with an enclosed top and transport wheels — a practical, transportable mid-size setup. Fill and unload augers are commonly available with these machines. Confirm fuel type and whether the burner has been updated.

Screenless Serviceability

Like all Vertecs, the VT5500 is screenless — easy plenum and trough cleanout, nothing to blind with fines or canola. For a smaller prairie operation, that low-maintenance character is a genuine advantage during a hard drying run.

Controls

Original controls are mechanical, as across the Vertec range. A moisture-controller retrofit (Dryer Master) automates metering-roll speed to hold target moisture and meaningfully improves usability — worth looking for, or budgeting for, on any used VT5500.

5. Common Problems & Reliability Notes

Transparency note: these reflect the realities of a decades-old mid-size dryer; condition varies by machine and retrofit history. Inspect before buying.

Burner condition and age. As with all legacy Vertecs, burner condition drives value. An updated burner is a plus; an original tired ~3.5M BTU burner is a future cost. Confirm fuel type and update status.

Original mechanical controls. Metering-roll adjustment is mechanical and sensitive. A moisture-controller retrofit removes this pain point and helps resale.

Sheet-metal and plenum integrity. Check for corrosion, warped tiers, and plenum air leaks on a decades-old frame. Higher garner sides (later improvement) reduce upper-corner air escape; an enclosed top (as on the 1S) helps.

Belt and drive wear. Inspect drive belts and the cross-auger belt (known Vertec wear point per PAMI’s VT5600R testing); keep spares.

Listing-derived specs. Without independent VT5500 testing, lean on the PAMI VT5600R data as a performance proxy and verify the specific machine’s configuration with the seller.

6. Price Range in Canada (Used)

The VT5500 is sold exclusively used. Pricing varies with burner condition, controls, fuel type, and overall state.

Project / original-condition units: typically CAD $10,000–$20,000
Good updated units: typically CAD $20,000–$32,000 — sound burner, enclosed top, good tiers
Well-retrofitted examples: can approach or exceed CAD $32,000

Reference: a VT5500-1S with an updated burner has listed around CAD $29,700. As always with legacy dryers, price on condition and retrofit status rather than model name alone.

7. Best Use Cases in Canadian Conditions

Small-to-mid prairie grain farms (SK / AB / MB). The 5-tier capacity suits operations whose daily intake fits below the VT5600R’s range. Screenless design handles dusty cereals and fine canola cleanly.

Value-first buyers entering continuous-flow drying. For farms stepping up from natural-air bin drying, a clean VT5500-1S is among the lowest-cost routes onto a continuous-flow dryer.

Transportable mid-size need. The 1S configuration’s transport wheels and enclosed top make it a practical movable mid-size dryer.

Existing VT5500 owners. The PAMI VT5600R data here gives you a close performance benchmark, and the maintenance and parts guidance helps keep your machine running.

Not ideal for: higher-volume operations (step up to VT5600R or VT8600), or buyers wanting factory automation or independently-tested specs (the VT5600R is better documented).

8. Maintenance & Service

Standard Vertec continuous-flow service practice applies:

Lubrication: grease fittings and seasonal bearing oiling per the owner’s manual; check drive oil levels seasonally.
Cleaning: clear plenums and swing-down troughs regularly; remove accumulated fines weekly. Screenless design keeps this fast.
Belts and drives: inspect drive belts and the cross-auger belt each season; keep spares.
Burner: service per the burner manual; a Maxon retrofit improves efficiency and reliability over an original ~3.5M BTU burner.
Controls: a moisture-controller retrofit is recommended if the machine still has original mechanical controls.
Safety: keep a ULC-approved 2A-10BC fire extinguisher with the dryer; verify the CGA safety shutdown functions.

For burner upgrades, tier kits, controls retrofits, and drive conversions, see the parts and service section of the Vertec hub.

9. Vertec VT5500 FAQ

How much grain can a Vertec VT5500 dry per hour? As the 5-tier machine with a ~3.5M BTU burner, it sits just below the 6-tier VT5600R, which PAMI measured at ~334 bu/h in wheat (5% removal). Expect somewhat lower throughput. VT5500-specific figures are listing-derived — confirm with the seller and use the VT5600R PAMI data as your best proxy.

What is the VT5500-1S? The 1S is the most common used VT5500 configuration: 5 tiers, ~3.5M BTU natural-gas burner, enclosed top, transport wheels, with fill and unload augers commonly available.

Is the VT5500 still made? No — it’s a legacy Vertec sold exclusively used in Canada. Parts, burner upgrades, and controls retrofits remain available through prairie specialists.

How much does a used VT5500 cost in Canada? Roughly CAD $10,000–$20,000 for project units and $20,000–$32,000 for good updated machines. A VT5500-1S with updated burner has listed around CAD $29,700. Price on condition, not just model.

Is the VT5500 screenless? Yes. Like all Vertecs, it uses a screenless continuous multi-flow design — no screens to plug with fines or canola, and easy cleanout.

VT5500 vs VT5600R — which should I buy? They’re close siblings: the VT5500 is the 5-tier, ~3.5M BTU machine; the VT5600R is the 6-tier, slightly larger machine with independent PAMI test data. Choose the VT5500 for a smaller-capacity value buy, or the VT5600R if you want a bit more capacity and the best-documented Vertec.

10. Related Models on Aglist

Vertec Grain Dryers Compared — full Vertec range, parts, and service hub
Vertec VT5600R — the PAMI-tested 6-tier sibling
Vertec VT6600 — portable continuous Vertec
Super-B SQ12 — modern portable continuous dryer alternative
Best Grain Dryers in Canada — full new-dryer buyer’s guide

Disclaimer

Specifications on this page are drawn from Canadian used-market listings, not independent bench testing; the VT5500 is a close sibling of the PAMI-tested VT5600R, whose data is the best available performance proxy. Pricing reflects used-market listings and varies by condition, configuration, and retrofit status. Reviews on Aglist are written by real users and moderated for spam — opinions are personal. Vertec dryers are decades old and individual machines differ greatly; always confirm specifications and condition with the seller, a qualified dryer service shop, and the owner’s manual before purchase, service, or repair.