i am useing a 1996 ford f-250 ex-cab diesel (68,000 mil) to fertilize lawns. that's all i do no more cutting thank god. went through 1 tranny and it is in the shop now for tranny work...
i am getting tired of it ...i was thinking about a ups or fed-x truck or a van as my fertilization vehikle. what do you guys use?
ant
2000 f350 1 ton dually diesel reg cab 4wd with a good air conditioner.
500 gallon tank in the bed (it gets heavy) i weighed in at 13,000 pounds on the scale at the elevator.
i'd do it different if i did it again. i'd use a flatbed rather than the truck box.
Just a 16' enclosed trailer with a 200 gallon unit in it now. I am going to add a 100 gallon tree and shrub unit in the near future. I pull it with a 2500 Dodge / Cummins.
I don't cut grass anymore either!!!!!
I used a trailer last year, it really was hard getting around. Streets tend to be crowded wherever I needed to pull up to a lawn. Uturns ruined a set of tires in no time flat and a 500 gal tank and hoses and pump overburdened the tandem axle trailer. I broke a leaf spring, replaced all the shackles, bought new tires, the brakes were failing due to the weight. It almost caused a few accidents.
I think a panel van would be nice if it had reasonable access to hoses, etc. It's nice for advertising on the side and would hide all the crap.
I dont do much fertilizing,but how can you apply liquid fertilzer and be competetive with someone selling the equal in granual form.I use liquid iron,and calicum, tank mixed with fungicides or insecticides,but just as a supplimnet to the granual,and because its easy to tank mix when going out.For pesticides,liquid is the way to go.
granular vs liquid?
pricewise i honestly find liquid less expensive. this is vs bagged fertilizer that i order via the farmer's elevator. i can specify what i want as far as npk and they make it and bag it accordingly. last year when it was super hot and dry, i used dry fert. it cost me more per 1000sqft than my liquid. maybe it's a regional thing or what, but it's entirely possible. i had more trouble with dry also. overlap and small chunks caused burning. if the yard is not nice and smooth, it's hard to maintain a constant speed, thus creating irregular spreading. liquid is much more controlable i find. not only that, but have you ever priced dry fert with and insecticide on it? holy moly, you better double your prices.
Ant- we use isuzu npr diesel box van. get the heavy duty version or frr, as a pallet of fert and a full 3-500 gallons adds 7000lbs quick. we use a 14 ft box, and w/ perma green, cabinet and buggy, space gets tight .I'd be looking at 16-18 ft boxes, and put a couple of office supply cabinets for chemical and tool storage, and a BIG 7ft x7ft tommy lift for your ride on spreader to pull inside. The tommy we have is too small. A 4 ft side door is a must for hose reel. Ours was around 30 grand new, and another 5g's or so wouldve got the tommy, graphics and weight rating I need. payment is around 700 per on 48 months, not cheap, but really less than a days profit spraying. Dave
thanks for all your replys ,i got my truck back friday and still confused a bit on how i should switch vehicles i think its something i need to pray about,i got 13 mo. left on payments and hate to make payments again.
i use a perm-a-green ride on and its nice transporting itv on the rack.
ant
Put a tap on that tranny pan and drain that fluid monthly and refill and it and will last a lot longer than normal. Refilling the fluid only adds 1/3 new fluid because you can never drain all of the fluid out so changing it often is good for tranny life.
Ant- what are you doing pulling a hose when you got a PG machine? Talk to me son.
I'm using a 2500 Chevy with 8' utility body. It does some irrigation service too. Compartments are good for stuff like a scale, gloves, rain bonnets for the spreaders, chemiclas etc.
A pallet of fert slides in the back and center over the axle.
Pulls a 12' tandem trailer with PG machine, Lesco gas machine w/PG 3 gal sprayer, 25 gal nurse tank with weed control for either rig and room to spare.
Ant - Your PG rig tied up with other product so you can't do Merit at the same trip or you afraid of low volume application?
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