From Self propelled, to trailed, back to Self propelled sprayer

Romeogolf

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
Wiltshire
Curious to know if anyone has gone from self propelled sprayer, to trailed, and then back to self propelled and been pleased they did.

This does not need to be a comparison thread discussing the merits of each.

I went from a self propelled, to a 28m trailed with larger tank on a 200hp tractor, and am regretting it

Reading the vast pages of discussion on this subject it seems I am in the minority, however I am interested to know if anyone else has made the change, regretted it and reverted back to SP.
 

willy

Member
Mixed Farmer
Location
Rutland
I have always been self propelled, but a couple of years ago I managed to roll it and write it off,I had a trailed for a month, god I hated the flipping thing, why anyone would want to go that way is beyond me, and a 200hp tractor on its own would pay for a half decent self propelled.
 

Romeogolf

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
Wiltshire
No opinion but interested in what it is you regret?

I initially made the change to utilise a nearly new tractor with full suspension and guidance which, due to being a one man band, was parked up whilst I was spraying with the SP. it also removed an engine and transmission from the maintenance schedule.

I spray about 1000 acres of grass every year with some 25 acre flat fields, but a lot of 5 acre fields with trees, telegraph poles and obviously no headland tramlines. Reasonably big trailed sprayer and medium size tractor has proven enormously cumbersome in these situations.

Similar acreage of cereals each year, and again, find poles, trees and corners so much more awkward than SP, completely achievable but undeniably more time consuming. Furthermore, I only have the one tractor capable of towing it safely, and that same tractor is used for cultivating, drilling, rolling etc so I spend what seems like hours changing implements and adjusting tyre pressures.

Also taking on more cereals for other people, and whilst I can cope with the slightly increased mess on turns, corners and running 650’s all year round, customers are less convinced.

I am considering changing back to SP, but part of me questions the sanity even in light of all the above.
 

Sandy

Member
Location
Aberdeenshire
I initially made the change to utilise a nearly new tractor with full suspension and guidance which, due to being a one man band, was parked up whilst I was spraying with the SP. it also removed an engine and transmission from the maintenance schedule.

I spray about 1000 acres of grass every year with some 25 acre flat fields, but a lot of 5 acre fields with trees, telegraph poles and obviously no headland tramlines. Reasonably big trailed sprayer and medium size tractor has proven enormously cumbersome in these situations.

Similar acreage of cereals each year, and again, find poles, trees and corners so much more awkward than SP, completely achievable but undeniably more time consuming. Furthermore, I only have the one tractor capable of towing it safely, and that same tractor is used for cultivating, drilling, rolling etc so I spend what seems like hours changing implements and adjusting tyre pressures.

Also taking on more cereals for other people, and whilst I can cope with the slightly increased mess on turns, corners and running 650’s all year round, customers are less convinced.

I am considering changing back to SP, but part of me questions the sanity even in light of all the above.
I’m going back to self propelled moved to a trailed last year and hate the thing to heavy, clumsy and tramps way too much for me
 

4440

Member
Location
South Suffolk
Run a self propelled and a trailed 36m sprayers, both 5000litres. Farming about 4000 acres. Half is veg and root crops. The sp spray the veg and root and some cereals, the trailed did the rest, its mainly a stand by unit.
New sp is about 280 to 300k, a trailed and 200 hp tractor is about 200 to 220k.
For what we do, we would not go to two trailed sprayers.
The work rate is far greater with the sp and drivers prefer to drive it .
 

Michael S

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
Matching Green
I never understand why more people aren't keener on front and back tank mounted sprayers. Other than 28m being the limit on boom width you could turn your 200hp tractor into a self propelled? Although we have a self propelled as part of a joint venture now for 10 years prior to the that I had an Amazone 24m 1200l+800l front tank. On a Fendt 818 it would be better than any SP or trailed on the road between farms. In the spring it could be dropped off pretty quickly leaving the pipe work in place, so much so we used the same tractor for fertiliser as well meaning good use of the rowcrops as well. Some modern variations on the theme mean you could carry 3000l plus these days.
 

KB6930

Member
Location
Borders
We're SP and would never consider trailed the amount of stuff trampled while turning is way too much for us .
If we didn't need clearance for rape I'd definitely go front and back tank I'd be very interested in a fastrac and dismount with front tank as well but a good SP takes some beating in my opinion
 

Hard Graft

Member
BASE UK Member
Location
British Isles
well wrote off our self propelled last week yes she is not a young machine but for my acres it it was over kill but was right at The time (i did not own a tractor when I brought the SP) And in this dilemma at the minute , would go mounted, trailed Or SP but can not find a good mounted One, as but also wanting to go liquid fert and mount a techneat slug Pelletier on the sprayer
 

Romeogolf

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
Wiltshire
Thankyou for your replies, it seems I am not alone. I have to admit, road transport has been much more pleasant, and noise reduction appreciated and I admit to being reluctant to forgo these advantages. However I can’t seem to ignore the things I miss about the SP


I never understand why more people aren't keener on front and back tank mounted sprayers. Other than 28m being the limit on boom width you could turn your 200hp tractor into a self propelled? Although we have a self propelled as part of a joint venture now for 10 years prior to the that I had an Amazone 24m 1200l+800l front tank. On a Fendt 818 it would be better than any SP or trailed on the road between farms. In the spring it could be dropped off pretty quickly leaving the pipe work in place, so much so we used the same tractor for fertiliser as well meaning good use of the rowcrops as well. Some modern variations on the theme mean you could carry 3000l plus these days.

I am not completely adverse to mounted. I am cautious however, having known friends with well maintained units who have entrusted huge weights to their linkages only to be let down at terrible moments. I go through towns regularly, and the fear of my top link letting go would not make me a pleasant person to be around. I certainly wouldn’t want to loose capacity, and 3000l would be a step backwards, and the issue of swapping implements and tyre pressures would be even more of a pain potentially.

I know it could seem petty talking about time spent changing implements and tyre pressures, but I am sure we can all relate to those times when we are pressed and every extra procedure seems to delay us for what seems like an age.
 

Phil P

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
North West
Can’t comment on trailed as I’ve never run one, have run mounted but now sp. Personally I find the fact I can do a couple of hours spraying in the morning or evening without having to free up a tractor priceless! Only downsides I can see to running a sp is road speed and running cost, however I’m sure on your acreage running cost would be negligible.
 

Sharpy

Member
Livestock Farmer
Surely you could buy another tractor the same as you have and run it on "spraying" tyres, it would be spare for other jobs and your existing tractor spare for the sprayer role. Less swapping around, less money spent, more redundancy built in?
 

Romeogolf

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
Wiltshire
I agree with you Phil, the convenience of being able to do a few tanks without tying up a tractor is hard to put a price on and I deeply miss the convenience.


Surely you could buy another tractor the same as you have and run it on "spraying" tyres, it would be spare for other jobs and your existing tractor spare for the sprayer role. Less swapping around, less money spent, more redundancy built in?

I am not dismissing your suggestion, and there is certainly merit in buying another tractor unit. However the thought of putting significant capital into another tractor that will primarily sit on a sprayer yet did not dismiss the cumbersome element of my predicament seems false economy to me.

I can almost justify a sp sat in the shed whilst I’m drilling as I know it solves other practical issues and makes the job easier - another high spec tractor sat on a trailed that, save from noise and road speed is in my opinion a lesser unit, doesn’t sit as well to me.

Probably a prime example of how different people place value and justification on different mindsets and equipment.
 

Romeogolf

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
Wiltshire
Sounds like you’ve already decided get a sp again ?

Fair observation, but I did say ‘almost justify a sp sat in the shed’!

If anything, this conversation has made me realise the strength of my opinion, and as I like to play devils advocate with my thoughts to get some perspective, I was just curious to know if anyone else had gone back and wished they hadn’t afterwards!


I’m not looking for a brand new machine, there simply isn’t the margin. However looking around the classifieds, I was amazed to see some medium capacity machines for sale with 12-13000 hours. Do these machines have tangible value any more? I
 

Lofty1984

Member
Mixed Farmer
Location
South wales
I’m going to speak up for a Fastrac and demount system. 2500l on the deck and another 1500l on the front if you want.
Plus the ability to tow a huge bowser on the back if needed.
Speed on the road and just about every convenience of a SP with so many more advantages and a tractor to boot.
What more do you want?
How stable are they on slopes with all the weight high up?
 
Location
lincs
I’m going to speak up for a Fastrac and demount system. 2500l on the deck and another 1500l on the front if you want.
Plus the ability to tow a huge bowser on the back if needed.
Speed on the road and just about every convenience of a SP with so many more advantages and a tractor to boot.
What more do you want?
and unless your growing a lot of rape do you need really high clearance.they're fairly good on the right row crops anyway.towing ability to get water to site if lone working is a massive advantage.
 

Two Tone

Member
Mixed Farmer
How stable are they on slopes with all the weight high up?
I’ve got some pretty steep ground here and never had any problems.
I use a Landquip with Aluminium booms, which obviously saves a lot of weight as well as lowering the centre a gravity when the booms are folded.
Nonetheless you are only talking 2,5 tonnes of liquid when it is full. So the centre of gravity is not that high.
The front tank also helps with stability and further lowers the centre of gravity of the whole rig.

It’s all pretty bomb proof and reliable.
How reliable? My sprayer was made in 1996 and still as good as new.
 
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