My woods are very flat, i purchased equipment to shoot grade to make sure I got at least 2% on all my lines, that enabled me to do just one ladder up and over the road. I am using a Surge Alamo 100 from a dairy operation. IF everything is good and tight I see about 25-27" of vacuum, and the sap ladder works as it should. The pump was cheap, but did spend some cash adding new oil drippers(also adding a 3rd dripper on the intake side). I also plan on upgrading the oil cooler so i don't lose so much pump oil through the exhaust. It's old, it takes some work, but it's simple and does the job. In a few years maybe i'll buy something that wasn't built before I was born, lol. I would love to have better newer, but what works is also sufficient.
2023 - 38 Gallons - RO broke, Buckets didn't run, rebuilt vacuum pump mid-season, still made good syrup!
2022 - 52 Gallons - DIY RO, 50% less fuel, no late nights in the shack!
2021 - 48 Gallons - new pans, new arch, lots of new taps and tubing
2020 - 32 Gallons
2019 - 27 Gallons