Message Board - Machinery: Spinning Disc Top-Dressers
12 Nov 2007 by Richard Cutler
We are due to buy a new top dresser to be mounted on a Toro Workman utility vehicle. Does anyone have any positive or negative feedback on either the Pro-pass, Turfco or Dakota units.
12 Nov 2007 by sipho
We have a dakota - i forget the number but its fits on the back of our Pro gator. Its does an excellent job and we seem to be very happy with it.
sip
Gogga International Affairs Officer
12 Nov 2007 by Mal
We have a pro-pass for the back of our Progator and it is excellent and I would find it hard to fault it. we have had it now for 18 month and we have had no problems at all with it. A good investment.
Geography is everywhere
12 Nov 2007 by Grassman2011
RWC,
Please do not forget Ultra Plant International. They supply an excellant machine at a very good price.
12 Nov 2007 by caravan
depending on what jobs you are trying to achieve will have abearing on what make you go for Dokota offers drainage chute ,bunker filling elevator,easy adjusting spinners for supplying fertilizer.Dokota came out tops of all spinner dressers published in groundsman
13 Nov 2007 by Sumomosr
The Dakota is THE machine. Available from Campeys.
My only observation is regarding the fitting of it on to your Workman:
This removes the Workman from all other duties while it becomes a dedicated top-dresser.
You may be wise to consider the tow-along version fitted behind a tractor thus leaving the Utility vehicle for use as staff transport and load carrying duties... ?
GOGGA
13 Nov 2007 by Richard Cutler
Thanks for all replies.
The length of time needed to mount/de-mount the machine is very relevant to us as we use the workman for spraying also.
Is the Dakota awkward to take on and off?
The tow along versions are not so appealling as we have a number of areas where turning is very tight.
13 Nov 2007 by Rob Goodes Last edited 13 Nov 2007
You forgot to mention If its on the back of the pro gator it will be a Dakota 410 carvan! And its only a 10minute job to switch the dakota back to a trap sumo!
Golfers and members seem to be happier seeing a gator or workman drive over there greens, even if the footprint on some tractors is lighter!
Spec on something like a zero turn New Holland on galaxy tyres. A 60hp tractor can be lighter than the workman!
The dakota tow behind also has the lightest footprint on the market i believe
The pic is of a fully spec up 420 tow behind with side chute & vibrating hoper.
How do greenkeepers earn a living!!! ;-)
13 Nov 2007 by ricam
You need to spec Dakota 410 up with a demount Kit, then to detach from workman or Pro Gator you slide in two legs and fasten with pins . Attach two screw jacks to body and wind until weight is supported then pull two rear mounting pins and draw forward. This should take no longer than two to three minutes.
13 Nov 2007 by ricam
Goodday Oz Rob and Surmoser at least you are back with us again
13 Nov 2007 by gregevans
I've used the Ultra, turfco and Pro pass spreaders. The pro pass is bar far the best. We use on a pro gator and a great bit of kit. Easy to adjust for heavy and light spreadings. Maintenace friendly and takes about a tonn of sand.
You will not be disappointed.
Greg
13 Nov 2007 by caravan
rwc where are you based? reason for asking is Campeys sell Dakotas through dealers out of there own area ,who will be willing to give you a demo .
Sorry gregevans but i can not agree with your comments about the pro pass been easy to adjust from light to heavey as you have to mess about adjusting spinner plate angles ,so as you dont get a witness line down the centre .on a recent demo the dealer messed about with this for an hour still not sorting the problem, why have you not tried a dakota? you will not be disappointed lol
14 Nov 2007 by Sumomosr
Hi Richard. Glad to be back too.
Rob, my point was in reference not to the time taken to switch modes but to the concept that I'd prefer to have a tow-along Dakota and keep the Workman as a Utility vehicle which can carry out other duties, transporting staff and small machinery transport etc.
Also the Dakota on wheels is easily manoeuvered when not in use - whereas the demounted Dakota is stuck in one place on its Dakota legs until remounted.
Richard: Trying to get a few Dakota 'points' here!
Did I mention the Dakota is a great piece of kit. We have a Dakota on order down here...
GOGGA
14 Nov 2007 by Rob Goodes
Who is your supplier down there Sumo?
We have a bloody turfco at work 
had to dust all the greens the other day. Every time you load up and go spread your load you need to get off and shovel sand back from around the sides as it bloody sticks to the edge. Im not talking a little bit ether, half the bloody load does!
How do greenkeepers earn a living!!! ;-)
14 Nov 2007 by Richard Cutler
I am based in Scotland. I had a demo of the dakota a couple of years ago and it is indeed very impressive. Unfortunately there is only one dealer in my area that sells campey equipment and I am not too keen to use them due to various issues encountered in the past. I saw a pro pass last week and thought it looked very similar to the dakota and figured it may well be just as good.
Sumomosr-
I understand and agree with your comments re the towed version but we need to be able to turn the machine in tight spaces so I feel it makes sense to keep the overall length of the machines to a minimum i.e mounted not towed.
14 Nov 2007 by Richard Rainford
We use a Dakota 412 trailed spreader behind a 42 horse tractor, 200 ton per day is no problem, really easy to use and maintain. Mounted on 4 big tyres you can move it around by hand when its empty
Much better than than big f' off spreaders.
We have put 9000 ton through ours since April without a hitch apart from a big stone going through and bending the discs, easily repaired though.
Richard Campey is the man to talk to 01260 224568
Check your contractors credentials before you use them
14 Nov 2007 by caravan
having used both machines the main advantage i found was the Dakota has 24inch discs where as the Pro pass are 18 inch thus meaning they have to spin faster to get the throw of material wide and even,due to the high speed you get excessive wear on disc blades.if you have problems with your local dealer why not ring mr Campey direct i am sure he would be willing to help his mobile no is 07771990471 .i am sure most of the major clubs in Scotland use Dakotas Castle Stewart,St Andrews glen eagles may be worth contacting them before you make a decision ps i think the Dakota is cheaper but dont hold me to that hope this helps
15 Nov 2007 by Richard Cutler Last edited 15 Nov 2007
Thanks for the info caravan. I'm already convinced the dakota is a good machine but I would like to be convinced of the quality of the other machines. The disc wear issues you mentioned on the pro-pass are interesting.
Dakota are distributed exclusively by the said dealer in my area so I don't see any way round that situation. Campey may sell me one direct but what about warranty issues etc?
Having thought more about the mounted/towed question - These spinning disc dressers will only require two passes on average to cover a green so turning is minimised anyway and the towed version has some distinct advantages as mentioned by others previously.
15 Nov 2007 by Grassman2011
RWC,
Please google ultra plant international, e-mail them and arrange for Des to come and meet with you. Des is based in Scotland.
24 Nov 2007 by calcallaby
I went to a Dakota demo a few years ago in the Bristol area, the chap doing the demo was brilliant, his product knowledge was first class. The machine is also first class and I wouldn't hesitate to buy one.
Having said that we actually prchased 2 Ty-Crop machines and they are mounted on Toro Workman. Quickly and easily demounted they are also a very good machine, not sure about the Dakota but the Ty-Crop can be fitted with a vortex brush for very heavy applications, to change from one to the other takes just a couple of minutes. So far the Ty-Crop has given us no problems at all.
Contacting Richard Campey will secure a demo and you may get my old friend Ian Pogson to demo for you, he used to sell the Ty-Crop when with another company.
Regards
Cal
24 Nov 2007 by Nifty
The Dakota was always a popular hire machine , it gave a really wide spread as well as being very reliable , Mr Campey really "knows his onions".
Its got to be purrrfect
25 Nov 2007 by ticky21
i presume all you ole boys are talking about spinner disc machines mounted on a utility truck, or even small trailed machines aimed at greens tee,s etc, if i was buying a trailed machine for football/rugby/polo pitches i would look at Bredal then Weidemann, when i worked for Parkmans uncle we ran Bredal machines and they are simple to use yet robust and very reliable, the weideman PC6 is a very good machine as well,
Ticky supports British farmers...!!
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