Z Spray Junior production

[Turf Tech]

I am on the verge of buying a Z Spray Junior. I have been spraying with 300' hose for a few years now. I am reaching my limit on production so I am ready to step up to a rider. I only spray 3-4 days a week. I am a full time firefighter and spray on my days off. I am spraying about 120k sqft in a day with a hose. That is usually a full 9 hr day with on a few min to rest in between accounts. I currently spraying close to 1 million sq ft a month.

My main question is how many sq ft do most of you spray in a day with a small ride on unit? It would seem that about 160-200k a day is reasonable. This would allow me to add more accounts and increase my revenue stream. It seems like it is a winning combo to me.

I have read hundreds of threads and searched for days, but havent really seen any solid numbers on sq/ft per day. If I can get a ballpark idea it will help me run cost analysis on the unit.

[rcreech]

Turf Tech,

How much you can do really depends on several things such as route density, size of lawns, obstacles in lawns and several other things.

You can easily do anwhere from 40-100+k/hour with a ride on.

I can do 450K before lunch when I am on a tight route.

You are thinking the right way though!

Ride on's save time, make you effecient and keeps you from being worn out at the end of the day.

RC

[gregory]

i can spray my yard which is 42k in about 30mins..

[Grandview]

20-30 10-15K yards is an easy day for me. Leave at 8:30 home by 4:00. I have an Intermediate and a Max. I would look at the Intermediate with two extra tanks unless I had lot of gates. I like my Intermediate for smaller yards. The junior I do not thinks is any more mobile. The larger hopper is nice.

[Grandview]

Turf Tech,

How much you can do really depends on several things such as route density, size of lawns, obstacles in lawns and several other things.

You can easily do anwhere from 40-100+k/hour with a ride on.

I can do 450K before lunch when I am on a tight route.

You are thinking the right way though!

Ride on's save time, make you effecient and keeps you from being worn out at the end of the day.

RC


My slowest Tech does these numbers.

[Turf Tech]

I have alot of gates most are 42" gates so a junior should work best for me. I might have to pull hose a few times. I have several contracts that run 100k feet and it takes me 2.5-3.5 hours by the time I pull hose roll it up and reposition truck and do it all over again. I do alot of retirement communities with 200 patio homes they are very time consuming with a hose. I still make good money on them. But I could really bank if I knocked a few hours off each on of those jobs.

All I need to do is scrape up some more cash to make the purchase.

[Mow Right]

How much you can do really depends on several things such as route density, size of lawns, obstacles in lawns and several other things.


I think this is very important to remember. For instance at a condo set if you are doing a spread + spray instead of hose dragging you have to blow all those sidewalks and such off.

[Grandview]

I think this is very important to remember. For instance at a condo set if you are doing a spread + spray instead of hose dragging you have to blow all those sidewalks and such off.

Hire a home schooled kid to do the blowing. Flexible schedule.

[Tscape]

The real kicker about going to a Z-Spray is cost savings. I used to mix a 600 gallon tank with, I don't know, 2.5 gallons of 3-way I think it was. And that was gone at the end of the day. Now a 2.5 gallon jug can last me a week or two depending on the time of year. Then when you are using grub control in a 24-0-11 product, I am rolling over the lawn once and charging for an application of fert and grub control, essentially 3x the price of a single app.

[Rayholio]

No doubt the Z is a great machine.. If you're even a little interested in the T3k, wait a couple weeks.. I've almost got my review for the T3k done, and after that I'm doing a Z jt Vs t3k write up with pics, and video.. only thing better will be a 3 day test drive :)

[Grandview]

No doubt the Z is a great machine.. If you're even a little interested in the T3k, wait a couple weeks.. I've almost got my review for the T3k done, and after that I'm doing a Z jt Vs t3k write up with pics, and video.. only thing better will be a 3 day test drive :)

The adjustable speed and zero turn of the Z make it vastly superior machine to the T3000. Add multiple tanks and it is even more so. I think you can get a junior with the large hopper. If I remember right the only thing that made the Junior wider than the Intermediate were the back tires. The Intermediate has wider tires.

[TurfRyder]

No doubt the Z is a great machine.. If you're even a little interested in the T3k, wait a couple weeks.. I've almost got my review for the T3k done, and after that I'm doing a Z jt Vs t3k write up with pics, and video.. only thing better will be a 3 day test drive :)

I know someone locally who bought the T3k instead of a Z and he now regrets it. His main complaint was the 4 MPH top ground speed compared to the Z's 8 MPH. The Z's higher ground speed helps cut down on travel time during refills. Smaller hopper capacity was another issue. Since you have smaller properties this will probably not be an issue for you. If you are looking to expand with your investment then I would go with a Z. If you don't go with a Z a smaller PG unit might suit you well.

[EVM]

The real kicker about going to a Z-Spray is cost savings. I used to mix a 600 gallon tank with, I don't know, 2.5 gallons of 3-way I think it was. And that was gone at the end of the day. Now a 2.5 gallon jug can last me a week or two depending on the time of year. .


I never sprayed low volume so I am clueless to how it works. You should still be spraying the same amount of concentrate chemical just using less water right? I am trying to figure out why a jud can last you longer if you are spraying the same sq ft.

When you spray low volume you have to be very careful of over lap because of the low dilution rate of your spray?

[Grandview]

I never sprayed low volume so I am clueless to how it works. You should still be spraying the same amount of concentrate chemical just using less water right? I am trying to figure out why a jud can last you longer if you are spraying the same sq ft.

When you spray low volume you have to be very careful of over lap because of the low dilution rate of your spray?

Not sure I understand that either. High volume or low volume your herbicide rate should be the same. Although Monsanto found you could reduce rate of Roundup when reducing volume. I still spray 3 pints/acre Three Way. Overlap concerns would be the same.

[Volman]

as others have said, it depends on how tight ur route is , size of property, obstickles, etc. I'm somewhat like you. I have anyther job other than my fert. & squirt & time is valuable. I work 2 towns in my area. One town has small lots (avg. 10k - 12k) & i can only get 6-8 acres a day. In the other town the lots avg close to a acre each & i can get 12-14 acres a day with a intermediate. The Z will be a great investment!

[Rayholio]

The adjustable speed and zero turn of the Z make it vastly superior machine to the T3000. Add multiple tanks and it is even more so. I think you can get a junior with the large hopper. If I remember right the only thing that made the Junior wider than the Intermediate were the back tires. The Intermediate has wider tires.

This is EXACTLY what I thought.. even after 50 hours on a Z.. but I'm finding out that ZTR makes very little difference.. and the fact that it's a skid steer machine also gives you speed inconsistantcys in all conditions, but ESPECIALLY in turns.

I will say that it depends on the type, and sizes of your lawns... but if you're in the market for a Jr, or maybe even an intermediate Z.. Wait for my comparison thread.. The videos don't lie, and they're not biased.

[Turf Tech]

Thanks for all the replies. I have looked at the T3k and read many reviews on the unit. I still think the Z is for me. Mainly because where I live we have alot of Bermuda and StAugustine mixed yards. Lt Rich is very willing to work me up a custom unit with an extra tank that has its own pump going to the hose reel so that I can spot spray MSMA where it is needed. I will use a 3 way in the main tank put MSMA in the 7 gallon unit and spot as I go. They are also going to put the larger hopper on there for me. I know it will be a little unstable when fully loaded. Since I live in West Texas hills are not an issue. I only have 1 property out of 100 that has a hill on it. I will just limit how much I put in the spreader when I do that property.

I am planning on using liquid preM instead of granualar. I know most use the granular but the expense is more than double than the liquid. I will be changing to the 1/2 gallon per 1k tips which will knock my sq/ft to 36k per tank. But I have a 21gpm transfer pump on my water tank so refilling quickly shouldnt be an issue.

Just today I wished I had the unit. I did one of my retirement communities about 118 houses with little front yards and long common area rear yards. It was 120k and it took me 5 hrs to get it all done dragging hose. Not to mention it was 99 degrees and 60 percent humidity. I also used over 600 gallons of water.

I also dont understand the statement it uses less chemicals. Chemical application per 1k is what matters the rest is just water as a carrier. So I dont expect to save on chemical, but I expect to save on time. This will allow me to add more customers and increase profits.

I just need to sell some unused equipment so that I can come up with the money for the unit.

If anyone is in need of a Grasshopper with 61" deck and Kabota gas engine it will be up for sale soon. I also will be selling a Spyker Thunderbird powered spreader that is only 6 months old too.

[Rayholio]

Sounds like the PERFECT set-up for a Z :) go forward with confidence..

[Rayholio]

and get the 10ft boom if you can.... it will save you time over the 8ft spray pattern.

most chemicals have a range .9-1.3 oz per 1k for example.. some machines are able to use lower rates based on tips, etc.. also You SHOULD save chemical over a hose end sprayer because you're not 'air brushing' a lawn.. you're doing a 'perfectly' calibrated even application.. that means less waste... Is it a lot of savings? I doubt it..

What year, and hours on the grasshopper? Horse power?

[Turf Tech]

95 with 1700 hrs. 28hp Kabota gas.

[EVM]

Are you getting a JR? You can get a bigger granule hopper on a JR? How much bigger?

[Turf Tech]

Are you getting a JR? You can get a bigger granule hopper on a JR? How much bigger?

Yes it is the same one they put on the Intermediate.

[EVM]

Can you get a foot plate to control the hopper opening?

[GreenAcresFertCo.]

[QUOTE=EVM;3049420]I never sprayed low volume so I am clueless to how it works. You should still be spraying the same amount of concentrate chemical just using less water right? I am trying to figure out why a jud can last you longer if you are spraying the same sq ft.



He is saying that when you hand spray, everything gets weed control. With a rider you can spot spray therefore saving weed control.

[Runner]

Plus,....you don't don't have nearly the overlap as with pulling hose.