New to Site

[GRIZZ88]

New here.....not to hydroseeding....been seeding since 1993 with a home made unit...bought a Vic 800 in 1995 and still use it today....tough as can be... we mainly due under ground pipe work but the hydro seeding for some reason has taken off the last couple of years.... I think we are on our 6th semi load of mulch already this year...looking for a bigger machine any suggestions


Thanks

[Turboguy]

Welcome to the forum.  It sounds like you are doing well and I will agree the hydroseeding business seems to be growing fast and there is a lot of business out there this year.

I think all the big machines are good so I am sure whichever you pick will be a good choice.  If you are thinking used you might want to check out our free classifieds here.

[landscaper1009]

Some things to think about.
Are you considering a larger trailer mounted unit or skid to mount to a truck?  What type of mulch/s are you using?  What is your typical mulch application rate / acre?  Or does it vary from job to job?   Do you apply via hose or tower?  The Vic 800 you are using, do you like it's performance?  Do you like its mixing time?  Do you have a need for a flush system or shredder?   Are there any changes you might want to consider like pump type (centrifugal or gear) or tower location?  Do you ever have the need to shoot from either side of the tank (when using the tower)?  Do you encounter the need to pump heavy slurrys long distances?  Do you use a hose reel?  Do you think you will be running your unit off road in rough or extreme site conditions?
Etc...

[GRIZZ88]

Some things to think about.
Are you considering a larger trailer mounted unit or skid to mount to a truck?  What type of mulch/s are you using?  What is your typical mulch application rate / acre?  Or does it vary from job to job?   Do you apply via hose or tower?  The Vic 800 you are using, do you like it's performance?  Do you like its mixing time?  Do you have a need for a flush system or shredder?   Are there any changes you might want to consider like pump type (centrifugal or gear) or tower location?  Do you ever have the need to shoot from either side of the tank (when using the tower)?  Do you encounter the need to pump heavy slurrys long distances?  Do you use a hose reel?  Do you think you will be running your unit off road in rough or extreme site conditions?
Etc...

Im thinking truck mount 3000+ thought about mounting it on a trailer and getting a big tractor to pull it around.... guess im still up in the air about it. We almost always pump 70/30.... mainly turf grass and natives... flush would be nice shredder a must...we pump as much as possible from the tower...do not have a hose real, we just drag soft hose around....we have a side boom that we stand on so that we can spray back at the seeder for doing road ditches and cranberry dikes.... rough and off road is getting to be more common for us

[landscaper1009]

If you are looking to go that size, you need a trailer that needs to be able to handle over 40,000 lbs.  If you want to use the tank top or trailer for hauling materials to the site, increase the trailer capacity accordingly.  You need to check your Motor Vehicle laws on the requirements for over the road laws.  Trailer ground clearance, deck height and overall height of the unit need to be considered. 

Not all of the manufacturers offer grinders.  And you have two types of flush systems to consider, air or water.

Maintenance is always a concern, so if your crews are good, look for the lowest amount necessary.  Aside from normal engine care, you need to grease moving parts daily - tower and hose reel swivels, agitator bearings and your pump.  Some pumps have automatic lubricators on the pump and they are very nice.  But you need to watch it very closely.  When they are working, they are great.  When it isn't filled, the pump shaft and bearings will be in jeopardy  Gear pumps should be greased at regular intervals.

Engaging the agitator, pump and discharge functions are either by clutch, hydraulic or belt and sprocket driven (or a combination of one or more).

What else do you put in your tank besides seed and mulch?

[GRIZZ88]

We never really got into adding anything other than mulch and seed...some times fert...kinda got away from the fert when the price went through the roof and the state got nervous about all the phosphorus in the water...I see from reading on here some are adding lime and I'm sure other stuff...would like to learn more about what every one else is doing to help promote germination and growth.

Still looking btw for a bigger rig...found a stainless one 3500 gal big pump 3 towers 2500hrs plus sitting on a 1980 something KW for $55,000 also found a  2006 Bowie Imp 3000 180hrs sitting on a 2000 Sterling for $74,000 

[ECSVA.com]

I just bought a Finn 330 last August, and mounted it on a Mack RD690.  The truck was a tri axle dump that I pulled the bed off of and had H&E Equipment mount the machine.  It is an okay machine, I have had some issues with it, and it is brand new, but such is the nature of the business I guess.  I would just do what you are doing, ask around and see what people say.  All of my equipment is Finn, so I don't know any different.  I used a Rienco straw blower once, and a grin seeder I had to rent while my Finn was down, so that is my only other experiences.

[GRIZZ88]

So I bought a 2003 or maybe 04 3000 gal finn mounted on a 2000 Sterling chassis with a steerable tag axle. Very few hours and has sprayed water more than mulch. It does not have a shreader so I am assuming that you just drop the bales in? Any one have any advice with this rig? (do's and don'ts) keep in mind our only experiance is with a bowie Vic 800. What would be a typical load for this using 70/30 with tack?

[hydroservice]

If its a Finn an has a shreader it must be an add on.

[GRIZZ88]

Yes it does not have a shreader.  Anyone got any mix recipes for a 3000 gal finn?

[ECSVA.com]

I used only Profile 70/30 unless I am tacking, in which case I use paper.  Anyway, I can only get about 25-27 bails of 70/30 from profile in the truck before it starts to bind.  I have also noticed, the more tanks you run in a day before cleaning it out, you may have to use as few as 23 bails per tank.  If I use Second Nature, or a Profile paper mulch, I can get all 1,500lbs in the machine with no problem.  My major problem with the machine is the foot valve on the cannon.  No matter how much I grease it, it will always freeze, and I have to put either a pipe on it and jump, or take it apart.  I really hate it, and may go to a valve place and just get a fitting made like the one on my T-120.  As far as mix, I usually use 200lbs of fescue, 250lbs fert, and a jug of liquid lime along with the mulch if there is no seed spec, and they just want a sat and of grass to get a CO.  Switch the fescue for bermuda in the hot months at 75-100lbs, and thats what I use.

[hydroservice]

03 or 04 would be a T-330. We used 1200 lbs of fiber, 500 lbs per acre of 19-19-19, 4 lbs per thousand of our premium lawn mix and a gallon of liquid lime. That load would do 1 acre. The machine can handle 1500 lbs of fiber which would then cover about 38000 sq ft. Keep the fiber between 1200 and 1500 lbs per load and adjust the seed and fert to what you use for your area. Yes you can put the bales in whole. I used to load 1200 lbs fiber plus seed and fert in just about 12 minutes.

[GRIZZ88]

Thanks guys...Truly do appreciate it. We use second nature 70/30 w/tack for 95% of our work.

Clear water it sprays 180 feet. Just measured it on flat ground. The foot valve works nice and smooth. The previous owner had gauges for the hydroseeder engine put in the cab of the truck as well as an ignition switch. So it can be monitored and controlled from the cab. It does have a very homemade "cobbled looking" lever to engage the pump that I don't like.

How do you post up a picture on here?

[Turboguy]

Click the REPLY button then look below the text box for a link that says ADDITIONAL OPTIONS one of the additional options is to upload photos.photos

[Turboguy]

Actually it says ATTACHMENTS AND OTHER OPTIONS.   It wS the previous software that said what I said in my last post..