Self propelled to Trailed

Banana Bar

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
Bury St Edmunds
Who has gone from a self propelled sprayer to a trailed unit? We are currently spraying just over 4000 ac of mainly cereals with beet, beans, peas and some dreadful OSR. Mix would normally be 2/3 winter crops 1/3 spring. Almost all hanslope series clay with undulations rather than hills. We also apply 2 out of 3 N doses as liquid.
OSR looks as though it will have to disappear from the rotation so a very early n dose in wet conditions shouldn’t be so likely going forward.
We are cultivating shallower every year but we are not direct drilling. Tramlines remain year on year.
We currently run a Rogator and would like to continue with one or a Horsch PT6300. Unfortunately what I would “like” doesn’t fall into the least cost option.
So.....who’s swapped, who loves it, who hates it and who’s changed back to a SP?

Thanks

BB
 

Clive

Staff Member
Arable Farmer
Location
Lichfield
Who has gone from a self propelled sprayer to a trailed unit? We are currently spraying just over 4000 ac of mainly cereals with beet, beans, peas and some dreadful OSR. Mix would normally be 2/3 winter crops 1/3 spring. Almost all hanslope series clay with undulations rather than hills. We also apply 2 out of 3 N doses as liquid.
OSR looks as though it will have to disappear from the rotation so a very early n dose in wet conditions shouldn’t be so likely going forward.
We are cultivating shallower every year but we are not direct drilling. Tramlines remain year on year.
We currently run a Rogator and would like to continue with one or a Horsch PT6300. Unfortunately what I would “like” doesn’t fall into the least cost option.
So.....who’s swapped, who loves it, who hates it and who’s changed back to a SP?

Thanks

BB

we swapped, 2nd drain trialed now - was a great decision, the trailed is much better than the Bateman it replaced

we get more done mostly as it’s much better on the road etc and the savings are significant

travels better when wet

no brainer

i can’t see how a combinable crop farm can possibly justify a new self propelled ??
 

Clive

Staff Member
Arable Farmer
Location
Lichfield
You could buy 2 trailed machines for similar money, I am sure to have the tractors to pull them.

1 decent sized trailed should cope with spay and fert on that area of combinable without to much trouble - the modern trailers are every bit as capable as self propelled, they loose a bit in corners and around piles etc but more than make that up on road work
 

Hobbit

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
South West
From a business point of view, it a no brainer. From a operator point of view, it’s not so straight forward. We have both and without spending a hour trying to write an essay, I would still go self propelled. Mainly because the tractors are in constant use because of contacting and most of the fields down here are small and awkward. However when your going forwards in the middle of a nice sized field then there’s bugger all in it.
 
Who has gone from a self propelled sprayer to a trailed unit? We are currently spraying just over 4000 ac of mainly cereals with beet, beans, peas and some dreadful OSR. Mix would normally be 2/3 winter crops 1/3 spring. Almost all hanslope series clay with undulations rather than hills. We also apply 2 out of 3 N doses as liquid.
OSR looks as though it will have to disappear from the rotation so a very early n dose in wet conditions shouldn’t be so likely going forward.
We are cultivating shallower every year but we are not direct drilling. Tramlines remain year on year.
We currently run a Rogator and would like to continue with one or a Horsch PT6300. Unfortunately what I would “like” doesn’t fall into the least cost option.
So.....who’s swapped, who loves it, who hates it and who’s changed back to a SP?

Thanks

BB

The only issue is reversing into corners. Somebody needs to develop a automated system that runs off auto steer so that it steers the sprayer back as well because you can’t see anything doing it by hand.
 

Jackall

Member
I went from a 24m s/p to 30m trailed. The headland damage of the trailed is outweighed by the extra width. The reason for the change was the s/p was a bit of a luxury on an arable farm. Insurance, servicing and other incidentals like tyres and comfort seemed a luxury when a decent tractor sat in the shed. The only regret is I should have gone 36 m.
 

Lincsman

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
Lincolnshire
I went from a 24m s/p to 30m trailed. The headland damage of the trailed is outweighed by the extra width. The reason for the change was the s/p was a bit of a luxury on an arable farm. Insurance, servicing and other incidentals like tyres and comfort seemed a luxury when a decent tractor sat in the shed. The only regret is I should have gone 36 m.
No steering axle then?
 

Lincsman

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
Lincolnshire
The only issue is reversing into corners. Somebody needs to develop a automated system that runs off auto steer so that it steers the sprayer back as well because you can’t see anything doing it by hand.
After using one for 30 odd years I dont have a problem, turn the corner and once straight go straight back (auto steering needs to be off for headlands)
 

T Hectares

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
Berkshire
If money was no object I would still have a Bateman, I'd had 3 RB 35's before moving farms and inheriting a 6GS
It's a bit more of a handful to use than a SP but it's something you get used too and now I couldn't imagine getting a SP to stack up ever again
 

Romeogolf

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
Wiltshire
There will never be a straight answer to this conundrum as everyone will have a different perception of what is justifiable and what they perceive works for their business. Add to that the preference of the operator and you have at least three enormous variables that will alter the responses you receive.

I had a SP, went to a trailed, and am going back to a SP.

Did i greatly dislike the trailed? No, but it didn’t work for my business. It may do for yours.

Did I find the trailed impossible to work with? No, but my personal preference as the one who pays the bills and who also drives the sprayer suggests that if I find a SP easier and less hassle then that’s a major consideration. You may have a different view.

Can I justify a SP? Yes, irregardless of the regularly aired view of @Clive I believe for my business it is justifiable enough and as such that’s the route I’ve taken. Not brand new I might add, but a 2-3 year old machine that someone else has taken the financial hit on works for me. Personally, I cannot justify new Fendt tractors, when I know that a lesser shade of green for considerably less outlay will do the same work. However, that is my opinion, for my business, and for my preference, and in the acknowledgment of this I wouldn’t presume to comment on what would work for @Clive’s business as I’m sure he has made similar inroads into working out what works for him.

My advice, for what’s its worth, is to demo a trailed before you get too far down the road. I imagine the new Horsch is an amazing machine, and if I had one there’s every chance I would be staying with a trailed. But I cannot justify the price tag, and so I haven’t got one. Others can, so they have. For that money I would not expect to have to put a machine of similar value on the front of it to tow it along.

Everyone will have a different view, and whilst I am grateful for the input members put into my thread, it showed me that ultimately you need to do what works for you.
 

Lofty1984

Member
Mixed Farmer
Location
South wales
There will never be a straight answer to this conundrum as everyone will have a different perception of what is justifiable and what they perceive works for their business. Add to that the preference of the operator and you have at least three enormous variables that will alter the responses you receive.

I had a SP, went to a trailed, and am going back to a SP.

Did i greatly dislike the trailed? No, but it didn’t work for my business. It may do for yours.

Did I find the trailed impossible to work with? No, but my personal preference as the one who pays the bills and who also drives the sprayer suggests that if I find a SP easier and less hassle then that’s a major consideration. You may have a different view.

Can I justify a SP? Yes, irregardless of the regularly aired view of @Clive I believe for my business it is justifiable enough and as such that’s the route I’ve taken. Not brand new I might add, but a 2-3 year old machine that someone else has taken the financial hit on works for me. Personally, I cannot justify new Fendt tractors, when I know that a lesser shade of green for considerably less outlay will do the same work. However, that is my opinion, for my business, and for my preference, and in the acknowledgment of this I wouldn’t presume to comment on what would work for @Clive’s business as I’m sure he has made similar inroads into working out what works for him.

My advice, for what’s its worth, is to demo a trailed before you get too far down the road. I imagine the new Horsch is an amazing machine, and if I had one there’s every chance I would be staying with a trailed. But I cannot justify the price tag, and so I haven’t got one. Others can, so they have. For that money I would not expect to have to put a machine of similar value on the front of it to tow it along.

Everyone will have a different view, and whilst I am grateful for the input members put into my thread, it showed me that ultimately you need to do what works for you.
You decided on going back to a sp then ? any machine in mind
 

An Gof

Member
Location
Cornwall
Who has gone from a self propelled sprayer to a trailed unit? We are currently spraying just over 4000 ac of mainly cereals with beet, beans, peas and some dreadful OSR. Mix would normally be 2/3 winter crops 1/3 spring. Almost all hanslope series clay with undulations rather than hills. We also apply 2 out of 3 N doses as liquid.
OSR looks as though it will have to disappear from the rotation so a very early n dose in wet conditions shouldn’t be so likely going forward.
We are cultivating shallower every year but we are not direct drilling. Tramlines remain year on year.
We currently run a Rogator and would like to continue with one or a Horsch PT6300. Unfortunately what I would “like” doesn’t fall into the least cost option.
So.....who’s swapped, who loves it, who hates it and who’s changed back to a SP?

Thanks

BB

You know you want a Horsch trailed to keep up with the rest ??
No need to come on here looking for justification just go and do it ????
 

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