Opinions on flatbeds for apps truck

[jajwrigh]

I know some of you guys used to use these for applications...what are the pros and cons of them for a skid sprayer and granular fert. I am toying with the idea of one because they don't cost much. Thanks in advance.

[Dwan]

A flatbed is my second choice with first choice as a dump truck.

[James Cormier]

Flat beds are okay, not my first choice becasue it hard to keep fert dry, and on the truck all together.

Plus beds are high, so there's much more wear & tear on your back loading and unloading materials and spreaders.

Also you spray tank is out in the open for all those left leaning soccer moms, You dont want to get on there bad sides, driving down their street with a tank full of chemicals.

I had a flat bed once with a grain body, that was okay it had 3 doors one on each side, but no roof to keep things dry.

I think you cheapest and best be for a new lawn treatment rig, is a enclosed trailer. I have a 7.5x16, that i put my pg's in the side door, and the back doors are swing out so a fork truck can load pallets of fert. I never move bags around and at the end of the day I disconect and leave the trailer at the shop and I dont bring chemicals home.

You can mount your spray tank in the trailer as well.

JMO

Jim

[LwnmwrMan22]

I agree with James.

I just bought a new trailer for my business, a 24' V-Nose Featherlite enclosed.

It gets lettered on Wednesday / Thursday then I'll post pics.

It's got a ramp off the front corner, so I can just run the Ultra up that ramp and no longer have to take my mowers off out the back to get the Ultra out.

[James Cormier]

Thats one nice trailier you got there 22, 24' is that a Tri?

I wonder with such a long box, how does it handle with wieght to far front of the wheels or too far back. Even with my 16' if the guy with the fork truck dosnt push it in enough and its too much to the rear the truck handles like crap.

During fall lime time, I can get 2 full pallets of lime in the trailer as well as 1 pg.

Jaw, if you got a sweet deal on a flat bed, then go for it, you can get boxes for the side to hold the fert, Im sure you saw the links I posted a few days ago when we where disscussing trucks

Jim

[Dandylyin Slayer]

Here is a flat bed we like to work off of.

[LwnmwrMan22]

James -

Like I said, I'll post pics when it's lettered next week.

However, I have to load the fert in by hand. (I've got a 45 hp tractor to move the pallets of fert right up to the door, but I load them in the side door and set them on the floor.

As you can tell by my earlier post that I don't do too much spreading in one day, usually no more than 20 bags or so, so it isn't that bid of a deal.

Plus, this way, with a 24' trailer, I can move my mowers around in the trailer to keep the weight distributed right.

[TSM]

worked off a flat bed for 20 years.

there are some 'pros',
easy to fill
everything (pumps, aux. motors, reels, etc.) are easy to get at
truck is 'more recognizable' as a lawncare company
liquid apps are more versitile

some 'cons',
truck is 'more recognizable'...the soccer mom and her misconception of liquids being more toxic
liquid apps are more versitile...there goes IPM out the window. Not to mention the added product cost doing the same blanket apps on every lawn.
Speed of application...pullin that hose will slow you down


No offence Dandylyin, but your truck, though it looks to be very user freindly... is kinda ugly? (bottom line is how much $$$does it make for you, i'm just sayin...is all) Fiberglass tanks look so much better than the poly plastics and look good when logoed and lettered.
So that can be another 'con'. Most flatbed spray rigs are kinda ugly

[DUSTYCEDAR]

it aint a beauty contest its a $ cash contest and if that ugly truck makes the bucks who cares what it looks like it is clean and shiny payup

[Dandylyin Slayer]

worked off a flat bed for 20 years.


No offence Dandylyin, but your truck, though it looks to be very user freindly... is kinda ugly? (bottom line is how much $$$does it make for you, i'm just sayin...is all) Fiberglass tanks look so much better than the poly plastics and look good when logoed and lettered.
So that can be another 'con'. Most flatbed spray rigs are kinda ugly


Never really thought of it as ugly, usually get LOTS of compliments, especially from new people calling for service. They will say saw your truck really like it, got the phone number of of it.

I guess we must not have as many crazy soccer moms around here. :cool2:

Tsm why don't you throw up a pic of one of your rigs, we are going to rig another truck this winter, And I would like to rig a sharp one not an ugly one.

Give me something to go by.

[specialtylc]

Never really thought of it as ugly, usually get LOTS of compliments, especially from new people calling for service. They will say saw your truck really like it, got the phone number of of it.

I guess we must not have as many crazy soccer moms around here. :cool2:

Tsm why don't you throw up a pic of one of your rigs, we are going to rig another truck this winter, And I would like to rig a sharp one not an ugly one.

Give me something to go by.
I have seen plenty of MUCH uglier trucks around here. And they seem to keep plenty busy. I see no need to try and look like Tru Green. Its not getting them the work. Its advertizing thats doing it. P.S. I think your truck looks just fine. Its not brand new, but it looks straight and clean. And that is all that really counts.

[TSM]

Never really thought of it as ugly, usually get LOTS of compliments, especially from new people calling for service. They will say saw your truck really like it, got the phone number of of it.

I guess we must not have as many crazy soccer moms around here. :cool2:

Tsm why don't you throw up a pic of one of your rigs, we are going to rig another truck this winter, And I would like to rig a sharp one not an ugly one.

Give me something to go by.

guess the old saying holds true, in this case anyway, "beauty is in the eye if the beholder"

Sorry if I offended, like I had said its how much $$$ the truck makes is what is important.

I dont post pictures, i dont enter these kinds of compititions. I believe there was such a compitition in the 'elements of business' section. Also we no longer use flat beds. But, and maybe this is just me, doesnt a fiberglass tank have a much better look???
We use the same tanks you have only ours are enclosed in a box truck. IF you had fiberglass tanks you could really do some cool graphics/lettering on the tanks and probably get even more compliments than you get now.

And for those crazy soccer moms....I dont pay them any attention (they are not the reason we went to box trucks) there are enough level headed folks out there that give us all the business we want.

Sooo, your truck looks very user freindly, clean, heavy duty, very functionable, I just dont care for its appearance. Just my humble opinion, not a put down, not a 'mine is better than yours', just an opinion.

Take care

[Dandylyin Slayer]

[QUOTE=TSM]
I dont post pictures, i dont enter these kinds of compititions.

undefinedI wasn't entering a competition, the disscusion was about flatbed app trucks, I posted a pic.

I have an enclosed trailer with a rig in it, also have a open trailer with a rig on it. And I have a one ton with a rig in it.

In my opinion of using trailers or trucks, I and all my employees MUCH prefer trucks.

Mainly because of ease of manuvering in neighborhoods.








But, and maybe this is just me, doesnt a fiberglass tank have a much better look???

It depends on the tank, a lot of fibergass tanks look home made and junky.


Hey TSM Go ahead and post us a pic.

Or is there a reason you won't?

Maybe like the guy with the AMC GREMLIN HATCHBACK and TWO backpacks in it. :blob3: HA HA

[TSM]

Maybe like the guy with the AMC GREMLIN HATCHBACK and TWO backpacks in it. :blob3: HA HA[/QUOTE]


ok, ok, you're on to me :waving:

you can have to last word :rolleyes:

[LwnmwrMan22]

There sure are days I LOVE this site... sheesh.

Good thing no one sees me in the shower, I'd never live it down. :o

[jajwrigh]

How did my simple question turn into such a complicated issue for some of you?? Your opinions have been appreciated and valued, but next time leave the egos at home. We participate on this site to help each and to share info....lets remember that we are all on the same team!

:p :p :p

[Pilgrims' Pride]

jajwrigh,

I have a 89 f-450 diesel with a flatbed. It's got a 200 gal sprayer that I use for tree & shrub and a 300 gal that I use on turf.
It was originally 14 ft long but that was a pain in tight places.
I recently had about 5 feet cut off and added a step and 2" reciever to pull a trailer or to put the carry rack on to carry my PG.

A very successful man told me once that your trucks don't need to be brand new and beautiful. They just need to get the job done.
My truck is not beautiful or new. It does get the job done. VERY WELL.
I can pretty much do anything a customer asks from weed & feed, tree sprays, round up, or perimeter insect sprays in one visit.
Works for me.

I would post a picture but I still havent figured out how to do that.

[jajwrigh]

That was a setup that I was envisioning really...sounds good. Whatever vehicle I end of buying will be very used for sure! I don't have a ton to spend just yet. :p