Am looking for advice on essential equipment required for an Equipment Trailer in Ireland.
This is a new proposal so would appreciate a list from those who use this system already.
Scarifier, top dresser, spiker, drag mat.
Those are the 4 essential items I'd suggest, oh and a trailer of course.
Of course there's no bounce, bend your back and put some bloody effort in.
satchwell, I am sure you are trying to get this trailer up and running with all the best intentions and for all the right reasons, I agree with what JL has put, but there has been much discussion on here in the past about the old C4 trailers, forgetting the crap scarifier, this mainly centered around badly maintained and abused machines, whats the point of forking out the best part of 20k for the trailer and equipment if the people that borrow it have no bloody idea how to use it, half the clubs I visit to help out and offer advice to can't even set the HOC or the reel onto the bedknife properly, sorry to be a downed but you need to think about the longer term viability of the trailer.
Was going to say something like that myself Andy.
But here's a thought for you Satch'.
If you do get it up and running I would assume it will be in place this summer. That would give you lots of time to invite prospective borrowers/users of the equipment to prove their competence at using said machinery. Ireland is much bigger than a county over here and travelling might be a problem(I don't know) but it's not that big that the people who have most to gain from borrowing the stuff can prove they won't shag it up and will look after it , let alone clean it, keep the oil topped up and leave some petrol in it when they've done with it.
So:- are they competent, do they have insurance to cover it whilst they have it and will they pass it on on the allotted day?
Also Satch' , make sure there is a strict rota in geographical order. I borrow a county trailer, or rather two machines from it, and over a period of 5 days, 4 local clubs use it. We pass the machines between us and when done the next on the list comes and picks it them up.
Robust, child proof, machinery is a must B T W
Let us know in Autumn how you get on.
Chris
"He not busy being born is busy dying"
9 Feb 2011 by olaf
Drag Mat?
Don't be daft.......
No use on a cricket square where the object when working top dressings in is to restore levels.......
As for the bulk of the equipment what exactly is the proposed use for the stuff, general maintenance or end of season work.
We've all (County Pitch advisors) been through this process and the vast majority of trailers have completely different kit on than what they started out with. All adapted to suit the individual needs of the end user.
Some people are like Slinky's, totally useless but amusing if you push them down the stairs
I have been involved in a scheme where clubs have the option to hire the trailer with an operative which has been very well received by user clubs. It gives them the extra expertise to get the job done well and minimises the wear and tear on the machinery. Fee includes delivery and pickup of trailer ready for next user. Other counties are considering this scheme, too.
On the point of a drag mat, it is very useful to work seed and loam into scarifier grooves to increase germination uptake and minimise the waistband expansion of the local birds!
Levels is another process entirely and a metal ladder does a decent job with a little patience.
Proud to serve grassroots cricket
I agree Phil.
The process of working in seed/loam and the process of restoring levels are two different operations.
Of course there's no bounce, bend your back and put some bloody effort in.
Best option for top dressing ?
I haven't got a pedestrian top dresser but I have used them.
The best results I ever got at renovation were when I had to do the job alone. Once the seed was brushed/matted in I used a pedestrian cyclone spreader, admittedly quite a good and big one, not cheap plastic rubbish. The job including seeding took nearly all day for 14 decks at 7-10 bags per deck but by using the same principle as fertilising (little down and many passes) the coverage was near perfect. A much more pleasant job than millions of little pyramids to be luted in by hand then levelled.
Best option for pedestrian topdressing Sisis Truepread but get the bigger one that takes 2 bags, puts a lovely even dressing on.
We have a truespread on our trailer - takes 2 bags.
Personally I prefer to use my broadcast spreader though it needs more walking.
The other year I used a cushman spreader borrowed from the Golf club. It took longer to load than it did to actually spread the loam - less than an hour and 8 tracks were done.
Of course there's no bounce, bend your back and put some bloody effort in.
Sisis Autospread does a good job, simple engine and controls, 2 people loading, takes about 6 bags at a time without overdoing it, effortless spreading, just costs a bomb to buy!
Proud to serve grassroots cricket
Many thanks for all advice on equipment required and equally important, the tips on how to run a good trailer system re training ,insurance etc.
Im thinking Graden, Groundsman, Truespred and Dragmat.+ Trailer of course. Will report back on progress!!
something to collect the arisings?
My choice would be an old rotary with the main criteria being running as low as is possible without the casing scraping the ground, a wide rear exit that won't clog up and an easy to remove grassbag.
That is why for trailers i would suggest the sisis 600 or 602, only because of the collecting box. Unless of course you purchase an auto roto rake as well. A graden man myself, everytime.
For trailers yes agreed, but 'in house' many clubs don't have a budget that extends to a 600 or a Graden. A quality rotary with collector, even if very old has lots of uses if it is well maintained and reliable.
So clubs who cannot afford to buy should seriously consider hiring the right equipment. Sub standard equipment means sub standard work.
I would suggest that the trailer you purchase is big enough to take the kit but small enough to fit a normal house garage that the hirer can lock away for security. The ch4/ECB trailer was far to big , our County groundsman
ass. have traded in for two smaller trailers 6.5ft x 4ft
Mike
Grassman : "So clubs who cannot afford to buy should seriously consider hiring the right equipment. Sub standard equipment means sub standard work."
Totally agree Grassman, you are completely correct.
We do not have the finances for an adequate professional scarifier, truespread, etc. We either have to adapt or hire in. Often hiring is a better option than the trailer because of the pressure and timescale involved. I hire the best possible scarifier I can find and book it for a week in the hope that two appropriate days are available within that window. I check 1 month in advance that it will be ready. I do the same with a fortnight to go. With a week to go I do the same and make sure it is local, sharp and serviced. Similarly our megaton roller is useless for PSR so I hire in a Bomag Tandem 800 after intial light rolling. These machines are more readily available than scarifiers so booking isn't an issue.
For us the Lancashire trailer is too far away and the Cumbria trailer is often in use further north. Chris Thornton knows how fine the timing between clubs in south Cumbria is sometimes.
So, as Grassman says, if you need the job done properly hire in the machinery until you are in a position to buy yourselves or access the trailer when you have your time, availibility, and weather window in perfect conjunction.
3 Mar 2011 by satchwell Last edited 3 Mar 2011
Result - at our recent Union meeting our proposal to fund a Trailer System in the Leinster province of Ireland received a very positive response. Should be up and running for Autumn renovations. Once again a big THANK YOU for all
advice.
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