ride on spreader sprayer

[trophytkr]

I just started in the green lawn business last spring. I think I did
everything right. Bought all new equipment, got licienced for pesticides, advertized, and so on. This year one of my purchases I want to do is buy a ride on spreader sprayer. Can you guys give me the pros and cons of owning one of these? Is this a good peice of equipment? Thanks ahead of time guys!

Rick, A - Z Lawn Care

[PaulJ]

Rick
I asked a question about these a few weeks ago and alot of people responded with some good info. I think the thread is still active in the pesticides forum. just look back a bit.

Sounds like a realy good machine.

[TOMMY1115]

Trophy,

The ride on spreaders are a good investment. The major one out there is the Perma-Green. Lesco sells them. Make sure you have enough big areas to warrant purchasing one.
They can increase production upto 20-25%.
Less fatigue to you.
Can spread and spray at the same time.

Only downfall is they aren't well suited for lawns smaller than 7,000 sq.ft. You can do it as long as the lawn is fairly open, but it may be just as quick to use a push spreader.

[greenngrow]

In one word, YES....

Let me give you some real life figures..

Today my guy went out and applied 1000.00 worth of fertilizer.

I pay him on a commission basis. The way I figure his pay for the day is I take the total amount of that days application. Then I divide that by $75.00. That's what I feel that can be done in one hours time. Then I take that figure to come up with the hours and pay $14.00 per hour for my applicators.(13.33 hours x $14.00 = $186.66)

So today in just over 7 hours the guy made $186.66.(right at half the time) My cost of goods were $215.00. I figure $10.00 per day for gas. I am able to put just at $575.00 towards other expenses and profit.

I will payoff the PG this next week. I bought it in late summer and only used it on the Fall broadleaf control and Fall fertilizer. The fertilizer applications is where you can really make up for lost time as well as the fatigue factor!!!!!



:blush: :blush: :blush: :D

[MacLawnCo]

are there ANY negative aspects to the Perma Green spreader? It looks to be among my next investments.

[LAWNGODFATHER]

It is fussy on hills.

And watch going down hills it is front heavy when full and will fall fwd if you hit something wrong.

The breaks are horrable.

They are on the velke you ride on and will not stop the machine if you had to going down hill.

Going straight up hill the tires slip and make the machine bounce.

It is a straight fwd machine and does a great job, but you have to learn it well before you try to push it's limits.

I will be trying the Z-Spray next or will have my own stand up ride on build by them

[trophytkr]

They have a new spreader out this year a ride on altra. It's supposed to address a lot of the problems with the old model. they got rid of the hydrolic brakes and put on manual ones changed the hopper on the spreader to a wesco and the linkage is different for metering the granulars making it easier to calibrate amoung other changes.

[MacLawnCo]

thanks Mike,

I was researching last night and saw you had a lot of praise for the Z-spray. How come you went with the PG?

Has anyone used/owned the PG Ultra? Thats what Im interested in

[LAWNGODFATHER]

Perma Green had free financing, and set me up a sweet deal on the price to make the kicker.

And on top of that I have 100 hours to decide how well I like the machine to get 110% of my money back.

[ANDY-W]

Our company has 2 Perma green units. They are a good fertilizer spreader but have a very limited spray system. They also lack reliability. I think we could build 2 more with all the parts we have purchased. This year we bought a small Z-Spray machine. The two units are not even comparable. The Z-Spray is far more reliable, user friendly, and actually has a spray system. For the money, it is well worth it.
Good luck.

[LAWNGODFATHER]

What do you mean by spray system?

The small Z-Spary is pretty close in concentration to the PG unit.

1/3 of a gallon, 42oz per 1000

[trophytkr]

Who makes the z spray unit? Do you have a link to thier web site?

[ANDY-W]

z-spray.com

[Kent Lawns]

Originally posted by MacLawnCo


Has anyone used/owned the PG Ultra?

They're not out yet, 2003 will be the 1st year for them.

[trophytkr]

I looked at the z spray unit, it steers like a ztr. Am I right in thinking that the other one you just muscle around to turn it?

[LAWNGODFATHER]

Not that hard once you get used to it.

[LAWNGODFATHER]

Originally posted by LAWNGODFATHER
What do you mean by spray system?

You missed my question ANDY-W.

[Lawn Tek]

I have never liked the idea of spray boom being in front , Getting sprayed with pesticides aint cool . Our boom always goes on the back .

[ant]

i do applications part time. 3 years ago i got my first p/g unit..and loved it..the next season i bought a spare unit ..yes they break down .yes i replaced parts but i still use the mechine.
the replacement parts that was shipped to me were upgraded and had the kincks worked out..

i have 153 lawns which = over 2 million sf per round.the mechine gets used hard.if and when it breaks i go to the shop and grab the spare mechine in 15 min. i am back applicating.
in a few days i repair the mechine that went down.

alot of bad things were said about the p/g unit in the past..so far for me they have worked out..but i use it few hrs. per day..
I AM NOT PUTTING 8-10 HRS. PER DAY ON THEM LIKE SOME FULLTIME APPLICATORS.

THEY OFFER 100 HRS OR YOUR MONEY BACK...USE IT FOR 100 HRS...MAKE YOURSELF $10,000 USEING IT AND I AM SURE WHEN 100 HRS. ARE UP YOU WILL KEEP IT.

just my 2 cents

what i like to do sometime is to get all the E-MAIL ADDRESSES of members on this forum that are owners of this p/g unit and when we have a problem we can help each other..the problems that you had with the mechine may help me with my mechine and vice-versa.

anthony

[Weedburner]

After a variety of sprayers I bought a Spray Shields sprayer that mounts on the front of my Grasshopper. The sprayer is fully inclosed so drift isn't a problem. Can run right up to flowers and gardens. We often get a lot of wind in the spring, with was an issue with my old unit. This one has breakaway booms and is well made. Sticker shock is about the only negative I can think of.
I think they make units to fit on several brands of mowers.

[Tony Harrell]

What about the Lesco rider? It looks like their Z mower but has a hopper in front and a stainless steel belly mount tank. I think it's new this year but, is in their brochures. It looks like it would have a lower center of gravity and with hydros would be easier to control.

[Etlawn]

The company I am at uses 4 PG's full time. We do have breakdowns occasionally but well worth the money if the have large areas. Our guys are doin anywhere from 425 to 550.0 sq ft a day.

[ant]

et: do you run the mechines?
is that total sf per man per day?
ant

[KenH]

Ill assume that is 425,000 to 550,000 sq ft per day??

[Etlawn]

Yeah that is the SQ FT per day.
I dont run the machines on a regular basis but I have drove them...

[Etlawn]

425,000 to 500,000 that is...:D
sorry bout that