3pt Dual Tank Custom Spray Rig

Bob_Skurka · Apr 20, 2004

Ok guys, this is ALMOST done, but I figured I would share the pictures with you.

I designed this for my home and business so that I could do several things, and I wanted 2 tanks because I refuse to use chemicals where my dogs and my kid spend their time <because "Weed & Feed" almost killed 2 of my dogs a few years ago>. So now I have my ultimate design for a spray rig. The top tank is designated for ORGANICS ONLY, the bottom tank will be used for herbicides and pesticides.

The rig has dual 16 gallon tanks, each tank has a spray gun that is capable of throwing multiple spray patterns from a stream that will shoot 30' to 35' to the tops of trees down to a "fan" pattern for spraying closer areas. I looked at the spray wands and didn't think they were what I wanted, these guns can move some volume long distance in multiple patterns without me having to get up close and personal to every bush or tree I need to spray.

Each of the spray guns is attached to 30' of hose, and the hose is attached to a hose reel. There is a small hook to attach each spray gun during transport, and to prevent the spray gun from unwinding the hose by itself (although the hose reels have tension springs on them so I doubt they would unwind based on the weight of the guns anyway). <Thank you LAGEORGE for the inspiration for that>

Both tanks are plumbed into a set of spray arms. I consider this a huge compramise as both the organics and the chemicals would flow through the final few feet of tubing, but I figure a good flushing will eliminate most residual chemicals, at least enough to make it safe to run the organics through them.

The entire unit is built on a simple carry-all that was modified with a second level to hold the upper tank, as well as a top section that was added to support the hose reels. I used a set of casters on the bottom that were reclaimed from an old industrial cart.

The wiring is still not done, but I'm using a simple cigarette lighter plug as the power connector to the tractor.

Bob_Skurka · Apr 20, 2004

Here is a side view of the spray rig.

Bob_Skurka · Apr 20, 2004

Here is the rear view of the spray rig.

MarkV · Apr 21, 2004

Nice job Bob! I'll look forward to a report after you give the unit a try. I would think one of your biggest problems would be what color tractor should it match. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

MarkV

Bob_Skurka · Apr 21, 2004

MarkV . . . the color doesn't actually match any of the tractors I have. It was built in our shop and is painted the color of our truck fleet, which is PEPSI blue, so it won't be a good match to NH blue and it obviously isn't going to match the Kubota orange. I hope to have it up and running next week (I need to finish the electrical wiring on both the sprayer and an adapter on the tractor) with favorable weather due next week we should be able to give it quite a test.

Bob_Skurka · Apr 26, 2004

I used the spray rig today. Nice and sunny here, with just a little more wind than I would have liked. But still a nice day.

Here is what I learned.

#1. I could have used a 25 gallon tank instead of a 15 gallon unit and been a little bit happier. I used about 45 gallons of herbicide around my industrail property and while I am glad I didn't go to a really big single tank, it would not have been a bad idea to go up one more tank size, at least for 1 of the 2 tanks.

#2. The SPRAY GUNS are great!!! I could easily shoot a stream 25 to 30 feet.

#3. 31 FEET OF HOSE is NOT enough hose. That is what came with the kits I bought so that is what I will use for now. But if I ever break a hose, I will replace it with at least double the lenght or more.

#4. The HOSE REELS are a huge time & hassle saver. It takes only a few seconds to wind the hose and they do not unwind even over bumps. (by the way, I used "air hose" reels purchased from Lowes for $19.95 each)

#5. Having HOOKS to hang the spray guns was a simple add on that is really practical.

#6. I thougth I would need a holster to hold the gun on the tractor while transporting the rig to a spray area, but I found out that I could simply reach around and unhook the guns from their hooks without getting off the tractor so no holster was needed.

#7. I added a DASH MOUNTED waterproof POWER SWITCH to turn on & off the pump motors, this was a pain in the rear, but the effort was worth it because it made life much easier when actually using the sprayer. << The switch actually powers a "cigarette lighter" receptical, and each of the sprayers have a cigarette lighter plug on them.>>

DocHeb · Apr 27, 2004

( That is what came with the kits I bought )

You may have answered this question in another thread, but what type of "kits" did you buy?

( Nice and sunny here )

It was snowing this morning Northeast of Detroit. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

Bob_Skurka · Apr 27, 2004

The "kits" term is probably a technical mis-statement on my part, what I bought were 2 ATV sprayers, configured the way I needed them, I also purchased an ATV spray boom and 2 ATV spray boom attachement kits.

The frame is a "carry all" that has been highly modified. In addition to welding the second shelf for the upper tank, the entire top was fabricated to hold the spray reels. Also, becuase the wheels raise the unit up about 4", we redrilled the lower link pin holes 4" lower than the original holes and reset the lower link pins.

The hose reels are air hose reels from Lowe's.

The electrical connectors are "cigarette lighter" plugs that were spliced onto each set of wires (one for each sprayer) with waterproof heat shrink connectors.

The casters were re-claimed from an old industrial cart.

I would say there are a few more things I might do to this thing. I might add a small carry box so that I could carry a few gallons of chemicals with me as well as a garden hose reel with one of those flat wind up garden hoses so I could re-fill the tanks at any water spigot without having to go back to the garage where I keep the chemicals, etc.

The sprayers came from Northern Tool. They were $269 each.