Self-Propelled Sprayer Made From GMC Van Truck

Self-Propelled Sprayer Made From GMC Van Truck SPRAYING New Sprayers 23-3-29 Schram Farms built its own self-propelled 2-wheel drive sprayer out of a 24-ft. 1993 GMC van truck. They first removed the van box and cut off the frame 10 ft. from the back. The axle and springs were moved forward and bolted to what was left of the frame. They wanted big tires in back so they had to slow the drive shaft speed down by mounting a 3-speed dropbox in between the Allison automatic and the final drive. Driveshaft speed is 2:1 to the final drive. The wheels are on 90-in. centers with special-built rims from Unverferth. Tires on back are 13.6 by 38 in. and the front are 13.6 by 24-in. There's a 6 1/2-in. lift on the front axle in between the axle and springs to make it level. The sprayer itself is a new 60-ft. Ag-Chem skid-mount system designed for pickups. It's equipped with a 750-gal. tank. The boom and tank bolts to the frame. Booms fold hydraulically from the cab. A Raven 440 monitor with radar automatically controls spray rates. The pump is driven by an 8 hp. Honda mounted on the left side between the cab and rear tires. The pump can be started and stopped from inside the cab. The foam marker tank is on the right side between the cab and rear tire. A 35-gal. rinse tank mounts on back of the big tank and a hand-washing tank mounts on back of the foamer tank. The truck is also fitted with cruise control. The truck works great and the engine stays cool because the hydraulic fan is locked in. It has air conditioning, a heater, and radio. Speed ranges from 3 mph to 40 mph. Schram Farms used it all last season and they say they actually prefer it over their big Ag-Chem 1004 sprayer. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Schram Farms, W890 Hwy AA, Berlin, Wis. 54923 (ph 920-361-2743).

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