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Brazilton KS | Sprayer or spreader?
We have a Ford semi tractor we converted to full float in 1989. It on the second used bed we have rebuilt now and still going strong....kinda crude but it gets the fertilizer spread. Seven speed manual...Just stick it in second and floor it. Top two or three gears just as well not be there. NT855 Steers easily. Dempster spinner bed. Will run down the road faster then advisable.
We have a Silverwheels sprayer we bought about six or seven years ago. It has an allison transmission..just stick it in second and floor it, but the torque converter is sure nice. Lots lower gear in the rear end then the Ford. DT466 Steering is heavy...wears an old guy out in the course of a day. Will run down the road faster then advisable.
We have a 2505 Terragator we spread litter with. It's the most professional rig of all of them all. Rides the best. 3176 and 18 speed. Stick it in 12th and floor it. It's the only one of the bunch that shifting is any trouble in...mostly just getting going...it also grosses about same weight as the other two put together. The cabover style shifter setup is kind of wishywashy, never know where the gears are. Torque boost would be a nice feature...basically it's an 18 speed with a torque converter in front instead of a clutch. Most of the advantage of the allison with the simplicity of a manual gearbox.....but then it's probably cheaper to rebuild an Allison then an 18 speed. Steering is easy, but it turns as fast as it turns...pushing it just wears you out. New Leader spinner. Minor road lope through a fairly narrow speed range.
We once had a Big A 2000 which we bought without an engine and repowered....used it to spread a lot of lime. Very crude old machine but it got the job done. Cab was very ineffective, shifter was terrible, steering was slow, but easy. Brakes were ineffective and got air constantly. New leader spinner. Road lope was considerable.
We have three 2500 Big A chassis which we built into NH3 trailers. They lope a little going through a certain speed (different loaded vs empty) but overall work great...virtually no tracks in the field and lots less trips hauling ammonia from the plant.
We have not seen the problems with 66" tires that someone is claiming above. We have changed or repaired a few over the years, but we currently have 17 of them on the ground rolling, and only four of those are anywhere near new....we mostly run ones that other people have taken off.
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looking to buy a used floater. What do you suggest?
