Sprayer: 3pt or UTV?

[gstrom99]

In my opinion I'd stick with the 3pt on the tractor, mainly because you have a 540 PTO there and can run a 6 roller pump, instead of the electric ... The roller pumps are MUCH longer lasting and dependable than the electrics ...

I run a 6 roller pump on my 65 gallon 7 nozzle boom sprayer ... Almost 10 gallons a minute, up to 150 psi ... FIMCO 65 Gallon 3 Point Complete with 6 Roller Pump and 7 Nozzle Boom

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Well, that adds another option, for sure. I'd not considered the PTO pump option. More $, but would work well.

 

[WinterDeere]

Well, that adds another option, for sure. I'd not considered the PTO pump option. More $, but would work well.

The possible down-side, at least on mine, is that starting and stopping the flow isn't as simple as an electric pump switch. If you just stop the PTO pump, it continues to blead down and then dribble awhile.

These models generally come with a bypass valve that you throw to start/stop product flow, and that works great... instantaneous. But it can be hard to reach from the seat of a larger CUT, hence my comment earlier about relocating the valve.

 

[Shawn T. W.]

These models generally come with a bypass valve that you throw to start/stop product flow, and that works great... instantaneous. But it can be hard to reach from the seat of a larger CUT, hence my comment earlier about relocating the valve.

Yes, works well on my SCUT open station, but not on a larger tractor or a cab ... But ... There are options of adding electrical solenoids to operate the valves ...

In this position it is in "bypass" or "wand" mode only ... Moving the circled lever up or down (doesn't matter which way) will power the boom nozzles ...

 

[bigtiller]

I took mine off the trailer. Now I put it in the bed of the Gator with the pallet forks.

I chose the Gator over the tractor 3pt because the gator has a speedometer and it is a much smoother ride so the 10' boom doesn't flop around as much.

 

[kabong57]

I built my own 65 gallon sprayer / 15 ft 3 section boom. Honda motor driving a Poly Pump and a Shurflo 12VDC pump for a hand wand. Using a Micro -Trak Spray controller for automatic rate control. Capable of applying 25 gallons per acre @ 8 mph.

 

[WinterDeere]

Happened to get some pics of my Fimco 3pt 14 foot boom sprayer tonight, as I’m setting up to spray soon.

First, with control extension arm raised for use:



It folds down for storage, since I hoist this into the rafters for storage:



PTO pump:

 

[tjandrews]

I've used a 3pt tractor sprayer for field spraying for some 50 years or so. It was from Tractor Supply, designed to use a 55 gal. drum for a tank, with booms to cover 8 30-inch rows. Drums have been replaced several times, roller pumps about the same. Works great for field crops, but is too big for vegetable plots any less than a half acre.
I use a Fimco sprayer to spray herbicides before planting some vegetable crops. I made my own mount for an old Allis Chalmers garden tractor, built my own 4 nozzle boom. It works OK, and is small enough for small patches, but not really big enough for much over a quarter acre, and it's more difficult to get good coverage than with the tractor sprayer. It doesn't help that it has lawn tires, which don't work well on loose soil. But, I used what I had at the time, and it works well enough that I don't want to spend the money to replace it.
I'd use the tractor for a 65 gallon sprayer if it were me, but then I live where I'm going to spray, and don't have to tow it anywhere.

 

[EPFuller]

I have a FIMCO 3 point 45 gallon (2.4 gpm pump, 4 nozzle) sprayer I use on my compact tractor for ~20 acres of food plots, probably two or three times a year. I'm considering going to a 65 gallon (4.5 gpm, 7 nozzle) sprayer for my Polaris Ranger UTV. The 3pt tractor one works OK, but is bouncy and slow, and only 45 gals. The UTV is easier to tow to the plots with my Jeep (vs using the big trailer and truck for the tractor) would be faster and has a better ride. People poo poo FIMCO, but my experience with them has been very good.

Would it be worth spending $1k, for an upgrade?

I have both a 60 gallon 3 pt hitch FIMCO for my tractor as well as a 45 gallon FIMCO boomless for my SxS. the SxS is actually a quicker spray for my foodplots plus I can control the speed(5mph) much more accurately, cover as much acreage with equally good results making it more economical to use, plus it is more nimble to get in and out of my irregulars shaped food plots. Both require about equal maintenance for me over the years which I have used them.

 

[gstrom99]

I have both a 60 gallon 3 pt hitch FIMCO for my tractor as well as a 45 gallon FIMCO boomless for my SxS. the SxS is actually a quicker spray for my foodplots plus I can control the speed(5mph) much more accurately, cover as much acreage with equally good results making it more economical to use, plus it is more nimble to get in and out of my irregulars shaped food plots. Both require about equal maintenance for me over the years which I have used them.

How do you like the "boomless" sprayer? Does it spray as even as a boom? What is the supposed advantage over a boom?