Sprayer on a trike?

**Frankencelery** · 06-01-2008, 10:31 PM

I've been living with 5-foot tall weeds around my acreage for a few years now, with no knowledge of how to deal with them, besides mowing. We mow trails, but the rest is just out of control. Today my neighbor came by to get water and he suggested I spray it with this stuff he was spraying, 240-something. He says it kills everything but the grass. Really? I was raised a city boy, so i had no idea they had stuff like that. Anyway, he sprayed my east hillside for me today and the weeds are dying already! That rocks.

To make a long story short, I have to get one of these ATV sprayers. I'd love to hear what other people have done. They make an ATV one that goes on the rear rack, but I don't know if my 250SX will handle the weight or size of it. They also make a pull-behind, but I dont know which one is a better choice.

**i58829** · 06-01-2008, 10:41 PM

Haha i was hoping you were talking about a fogger set-up.

I'm sure someone here has done this and would have some input. I think either one would work fine unless you're going up really steep hills the extra weight on the rack shouldn't hurt too much...

**smvorndran** · 06-01-2008, 11:00 PM

Trikes are already light in the front, so a sprayer on the rack may not be a good idea. I think liquids weigh about 8 pounds per gallon, and they're usually around 25 gallons, that puts 200 pounds right above or just behind the rear axle. It'll be very light on the steering, and it may flip back if you get on it too fast. Tapping the brake won't bring it down like a wheelie. Pull behinds are a lot more expensive. Four-wheelers do have an advantage on front end weight in this category.

smvorndran

**hondahaulic** · 06-02-2008, 01:52 AM

I think you would be fine with the rear rack type depending on the shape of the ground your spraying. the further forward on the rack, the better. If you can get it centered above the rear axle it should not affect the steering and front end weight much at all. I don't think you would have any problem with the rack setup, your not going to be doing hillclimbs with it or fast trail riding with the extra weight there, just puttering around.

Also, the 12v electric type pump is going to be the best setup for the sprayer. I am also thinking that the chemical your talking about is 2-4D (same pronunciation, but it might help you find what your looking for in a store or something). It kills basically everything but grasses.

**01ps** · 06-02-2008, 08:31 AM

Originally Posted by Frankencelery

I've been living with 5-foot tall weeds around my acreage for a few years now, with no knowledge of how to deal with them, besides mowing. We mow trails, but the rest is just out of control. Today my neighbor came by to get water and he suggested I spray it with this stuff he was spraying, 240-something. He says it kills everything but the grass. Really? I was raised a city boy, so i had no idea they had stuff like that. Anyway, he sprayed my east hillside for me today and the weeds are dying already! That rocks.

To make a long story short, I have to get one of these ATV sprayers. I'd love to hear what other people have done. They make an ATV one that goes on the rear rack, but I don't know if my 250SX will handle the weight or size of it. They also make a pull-behind, but I dont know which one is a better choice.

The 250ES I bought was set up for a sprayer system. Not sure which one, but it was a 12v, adn he had a modified mount on tSorry, not much help, other than to say it has been done...

**pickleweasel_00** · 06-02-2008, 01:13 PM

yeah, you want 2 4 D (or however it's spelled) it kills broadleaf, weeds, everything but the grass

But buy some good stuff, I've used the el cheapo stuff before and it doesn't work as good. I think it's usually 2 ounces per gallon

**Hair Bear Bunch** · 06-02-2008, 01:46 PM

Have a look at 'Northern Tools'. They are good for that type of kit in the Uk and I'm guessing the stock is similar in the US.
We use a mounted tank with a spot spray wand but that is all flat level ground.
The trailed variety are more expensive, but from spray to play is just 2wires and one pin! Also you're further from the spray boom drift with a trailed and a slowly emptying tank on the rack will constantly change the balance and handling. Don't know what effect spilled concentrate would have on your plastics and frame.
On a different note, I always thought 2-4-D was the same as DDT and 245T? Maybe not...

**longbedGTs** · 06-02-2008, 04:34 PM

Im sure you could add some weight to the front end to keep it down. Ive seen a few 250SX's with a front rack, so you may luck out and find one. I dont think the trike will have any problems with the weight. I had an 86 SX and it had a wicked low first gear. Good luck!

**Hair Bear Bunch** · 06-02-2008, 05:11 PM

The other issue with a mounted tank is when it's half full you'll have 4 gallons (32lbs) running from side to side with the force naturally running to the outside of the corner affecting lateral balance.

**Frankencelery** · 06-02-2008, 07:23 PM

Dunno guys, the more I hear about this, the more I think it's a bad idea. The worst part of the yard is a hill, and it's steep enough that I can't handle it with the lawn tractor. The 250SX will go up and down in a straight line with no problems, but adding that shifting weight might really cause some problems. The ATV mounted sprayer I was looking at does a 32-foot pattern, but in the reviews one guy actually rolled his quad when the thing shifted on the rack. On a trike this would be even more likely.

**i58829** · 06-02-2008, 08:19 PM

Maybe you could mount a smaller one that hold like 5 gallons or so on a front rack and ride slow enough that you dont inhale any more of the poison than you did mixing it up?? Just a thought, but i'd rule out anything on the rear of a 3 wheeler if the tractor has issues with the hill...

**Frankencelery** · 06-02-2008, 10:23 PM

HBB, I missed your post. Northern Tool is where I was looking. I wouldn't mind a tow-behind, but it seems like none of them do a very wide path, and I didn't want to spend as much time spraying as I do mowing.

**Frankencelery** · 06-02-2008, 10:31 PM

BTW- my neighbor had the sprayer mounted on his JD Gator, and the thing did a 40-foot path. He did my hill in 4 passes! Maybe one that big just isn't practical for me, but I'll figure out something....

Sorry, guys, I know this turned out to be not really a trike thread. Oh, and I found out, it's called 2,4-D, not 240!

**pickleweasel_00** · 06-03-2008, 12:34 AM

2,4-D yeah that's the stuff

I use it all the time but never really thought of how to spell it

**LonesomeTriZ** · 06-03-2008, 05:42 AM

Tractor Supply sells them small enough to fit an ATV rack. They are pretty cheap and easy to use.

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Sprayer on a trike?