Would you buy a sprayer if you knew 30 percent of the rated horsepower never got to the ground to move the machine? That’s exactly what you get with most of today’s hydrostatic sprayers. Apache sprayers feature a simple mechanical drive that puts more power to the ground while avoiding yield-robbing soil compaction caused by heavy hydrostat sprayers. Other reasons you should consider Apache’s mechanical drive verses the competition’s hydrostatic drive include:
- Cost. Hydrostatic drives can cost almost $5,000 per wheel. That’s nearly $20,000 more for 30 percent less power-to-the-ground performance.
- Balance. The extra weight of the hydrostatic transmission and wheel motors requires even weight distribution or lost traction. Hilly, sloping fields or wet soil conditions can result in unbalanced hydrostats that bury themselves.
- Maintenance. Hydrostats require more (and more complicated) parts, making it more difficult to maintain and service.
- Weight. Apache sprayers with mechanical drive are 16-40% lighter than hydrostatic sprayers of comparable tank size, in addition to less weight than a tractor with a pull-type sprayer behind it. That means significantly better fuel efficiency and less compaction.
- Traction. With 70 percent of the weight on the rear drive axle, lock-up torque converter and limited slip differential, both rear wheels stay in contact with the ground and turn regardless of eld conditions.
