Trailed vs Self Propelled Sprayer

[Feldspar]

Very nice. Though I should imagine Bateman are getting a bit tired of hearing how good their machines and backup are whilst the owners swap them for Horsch's?!

No doubt Horsch is taking market share, but the fact we held onto ours for much longer than we might otherwise have done (it was always easy to keep it another year) was a testament to the strengths of the brand.

 

[Al R]

@Feldspar congratulations!
I take it your moving to 36m? A tip which I wouldn’t have done on 24 but find really good on triangular headlands with 36 is to miss every other then go back and spray them from the opposite direction so minimal reversing or turning sharp etc and because you now have 36m suddenly those 3x24m awkward triangle runs turns into just 2x36m bouts. The main key especially with 36 and even more importantly with a trailled is to keep going forward!

 

[Feldspar]

@Feldspar congratulations!
I take it your moving to 36m? A tip which I wouldn’t have done on 24 but find really good on triangular headlands with 36 is to miss every other then go back and spray them from the opposite direction so minimal reversing or turning sharp etc and because you now have 36m suddenly those 3x24m awkward triangle runs turns into just 2x36m bouts. The main key especially with 36 and even more importantly with a trailled is to keep going forward!

Yes, 36m.

Just trying to follow how you mean and how that helps.

Like this? Doesn't seem to work.

 

[Clive]

Well.......................................... we have finally made a decision. Have now agreed to buy an ex demo JCB 4220 and a Horsch 8 GS. It only took 3 years to decide. One of my quicker decisions. Thanks everyone to all the help and advice.

Had the Fastrac on demo and there's no question that it's a step up in comfort from what we have at the moment. For a sprayer that can cope with fast field speeds allowing it do be done in comfort is very important. 4WS I think will track well and hopefully a new Topcon X35 screen will steer most of the time including turning on regular shaped headlands turns. Finally nailed down the spec on the sprayer too which definitely took a lot of thought.

If anyone is looking for a Bateman RB17, a Spray Ranger, a MF7624 or a mounted Hardi sprayer, they're up for sale in next month's Farmers Guide. Particular thanks to Bateman and Challis Reed who have made operating the above a very positive experience.
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Good decision on the trailed - no regrets here yet !

Bateman will sell fast - I’m still getting calls and emails about ours despite removing the add from farm classifieds weeks ago

 

[Al R]

Yes, 36m.

Just trying to follow how you mean and how that helps.

Like this? Doesn't seem to work.
View attachment 800602

I’ve tried looking at a pile of fields I know I’ve done it in but their all stubble so doesn’t show tramlines on the satellite.
Starting at the big . That’s the order the tramlines would be done in so that there’s no reversing, sometimes jump 1, sometimes 2 if really triangular but it does work very well and with a screen that maps the field as your spraying you don’t have to remember which ones you have/haven’t done...

 

[Al R]

Another field that might show better?

 

[Feldspar]

I’ve tried looking at a pile of fields I know I’ve done it in but their all stubble so doesn’t show tramlines on the satellite.
Starting at the big . That’s the order the tramlines would be done in so that there’s no reversing, sometimes jump 1, sometimes 2 if really triangular but it does work very well and with a screen that maps the field as your spraying you don’t have to remember which ones you have/haven’t done...
View attachment 800614

Ah, that makes sense now, thank you very much! I also really like starting down the longest tramlines and at least working out the short runing into the shortest tramline. The others using non-GPS machines don't find this as easy and often we end up with different ways of doing fields which can conflict. With one machine it should be easier, although with more than one operator it would require everyone still to be on the same hymn page.

I like your thinking thouhg. I flew to Ireland at the weekend and spent a while glued to the window looking at different tramlines patterns (and solid fertiliser striping!). The full loop round does mean you carry on going forward but it does run down a lot of crop. Avoiding that would be great. I suppose the downside of your method is if the conditions are wet and you want to avoid trafficking the same area too many times?

 

[dirty harry]

Could be wrong but in the first field it looks like you could get away with one less tramline?
Seems a lot of travelling about not spraying, going from say 24-36m should = 50% increase in output but in practice it’s probably more like 25%?
-Not trying to pick holes btw!
This was a part of my reasoning for going upto 30m from 24 instead of 36, there’s a few round here going back from 36 to 30 now?
Cheers dh

 

[Feldspar]

Could be wrong but in the first field it looks like you could get away with one less tramline?
Seems a lot of travelling about not spraying, going from say 24-36m should = 50% increase in output but in practice it’s probably more like 25%?
-Not trying to pick holes btw!
This was a part of my reasoning for going upto 30m from 24 instead of 36, there’s a few round here going back from 36 to 30 now?
Cheers dh

I thought that, but then noticed the telegraph pole. Much more important to match up with that nicely.

 

[dirty harry]

Ah yes well spied!!
Cheers dh

 

[Al R]

Could be wrong but in the first field it looks like you could get away with one less tramline?
Seems a lot of travelling about not spraying, going from say 24-36m should = 50% increase in output but in practice it’s probably more like 25%?
-Not trying to pick holes btw!
This was a part of my reasoning for going upto 30m from 24 instead of 36, there’s a few round here going back from 36 to 30 now?
Cheers dh

Drilled off the pole in the middle so no stopping.

 

[Al R]

Ah, that makes sense now, thank you very much! I also really like starting down the longest tramlines and at least working out the short runing into the shortest tramline. The others using non-GPS machines don't find this as easy and often we end up with different ways of doing fields which can conflict. With one machine it should be easier, although with more than one operator it would require everyone still to be on the same hymn page.

I like your thinking thouhg. I flew to Ireland at the weekend and spent a while glued to the window looking at different tramlines patterns (and solid fertiliser striping!). The full loop round does mean you carry on going forward but it does run down a lot of crop. Avoiding that would be great. I suppose the downside of your method is if the conditions are wet and you want to avoid trafficking the same area too many times?

5 operators on these fields with zero problems but all pre em’s were put in by 1 guy, most of the fields I had never been in before but knew exactly which way to go once i’d done the headland.
Sprayers were on floats in winter and row crops from April-October due to potatoes with no soil damage, we are in a stoney area mind so it’s less of an issue. I don’t like big loops but you can sometimes get away with a short crossing to the previous tramline If you really have to.

 

[benny6910]

Well.......................................... we have finally made a decision. Have now agreed to buy an ex demo JCB 4220 and a Horsch 8 GS. It only took 3 years to decide. One of my quicker decisions. Thanks everyone to all the help and advice.

Had the Fastrac on demo and there's no question that it's a step up in comfort from what we have at the moment. For a sprayer that can cope with fast field speeds allowing it do be done in comfort is very important. 4WS I think will track well and hopefully a new Topcon X35 screen will steer most of the time including turning on regular shaped headlands turns. Finally nailed down the spec on the sprayer too which definitely took a lot of thought.

If anyone is looking for a Bateman RB17, a Spray Ranger, a MF7624 or a mounted Hardi sprayer, they're up for sale in next month's Farmers Guide. Particular thanks to Bateman and Challis Reed who have made operating the above a very positive experience.
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Could I have some more info tonight the bateman please hrs/ price pm if you prefer thanks Ben.

 

[Feldspar]

Does anyone else (@Clive?) have any tips for how to manage the swap from 24m to 36m tramlines wrt location? We have nearly all our tramlines fixed with RTK at the moment to best get around trees, poles and minimise the number of tramlines. I think we can keep the orientation, but I think we'll need to move all the tramlines by 6m which is really annoying as it means all the old ones will need to be pulled up.

 

[Feldspar]

I’ve tried looking at a pile of fields I know I’ve done it in but their all stubble so doesn’t show tramlines on the satellite.
Starting at the big . That’s the order the tramlines would be done in so that there’s no reversing, sometimes jump 1, sometimes 2 if really triangular but it does work very well and with a screen that maps the field as your spraying you don’t have to remember which ones you have/haven’t done...
View attachment 800614

Just looked at this again, is that an erosion gully right through that field?!

 

[KB6930]

I know you lads with trailed like to keep going forward to cut out the big loops but surely your headland tramlines are getting some extra running on and crop damage to avoid the turning issues?

 

[snarling bee]

Very nice. Though I should imagine Bateman are getting a bit tired of hearing how good their machines and backup are whilst the owners swap them for Horsch's?!

2 guys round here doing exactly that. Lack of saleman's attention, lack of demo, and 2 year waiting list doesn't help. Some companies are keen to sell you stuff and have next to zero backup, Bateman are the exact opposite.

 

[jh.]

Another field that might show better?View attachment 800670

That is like how I spray osr , so the crop bends on endrig and always go the same way. Just swap your 4 with 5 , looking at your pic down the odds up the evens . Haven't read whole thread so maybe been already said.

In cereals I put one loop in and just run to it each time

 

[warksfarmer]

I’ve tried looking at a pile of fields I know I’ve done it in but their all stubble so doesn’t show tramlines on the satellite.
Starting at the big . That’s the order the tramlines would be done in so that there’s no reversing, sometimes jump 1, sometimes 2 if really triangular but it does work very well and with a screen that maps the field as your spraying you don’t have to remember which ones you have/haven’t done...
View attachment 800614

All that does is create more headland rutting as your travelling all over the shop. In the field above I’d enter it at the right hand side and turn immediately left and start spraying. All the way around then down to the bottom corner and up the next tramline and so on across the field.

The worse thing with a trailed is the reversing but if you override the steering system and steer it back like you would a destoner it’s not to bad as the joystick will allow you to steer manually.

 

[Al R]

Just looked at this again, is that an erosion gully right through that field?!

@warksfarmer that field is ridiculously steep plus the pole, could well have been after spuds? We haven’t all got lovely rolling fields by Sheepy.... I only put the pictures up as an example for @Feldspar