The Pros and Cons of a Pull-Behind Sprayer

A pull-behind sprayer is a versatile and productive tool for your pest or weed control business. It can be used in a variety of pest and weed control applications, from residential gardens to commercial spaces. With the best pull-behind sprayer for the job, you get the perfect solution for spraying weed-killer, insecticides, fungicides, and other liquid treatments. Whether you're a professional landscaper or gardener, a weed spraying business, or even one of those commercial pest control companies working with big clientele like hotels and resorts, these power sprayers are beneficial for your business.

To understand the versatility of tow-behind weed sprayers, we'll be looking at some of their key benefits so that you can see just how handy this tool can be. This way, you can determine if a trailer-mounted sprayer is right for your pest and weed control business.

The Benefits

You Have Options When Needed

A trailer-mounted sprayer is a versatile piece of equipment that can be used with a variety of vehicles or by other technicians. Unlike a truck-mounted sprayer, which gives you no other options, a pull-behind option can be easily detached and towed by another vehicle. This is critical when, for instance, your truck needs service or is involved in an accident. This flexibility matters when you're in the pest and weed control business.

You Can Better Deal With Emergencies

In case of emergencies, a tow-behind weed sprayer can be a lifesaver. Whether you're dealing with a landscaping job, pests, or termites, having a backup sprayer on hand can make all the difference. And because any truck with a hitch can tow the best pull-behind sprayer in your inventory, you'll always have the equipment you need to get the job done. So, next time you're facing an emergency, you'll be able to tackle the problem head-on.

You Have More Space for Your Equipment

A towable pest control trailer is a great addition to weed-spraying businesses or commercial pest control companies. With a larger water tank, you can perform more or larger jobs without having to stop to refill your tank, which is often inefficient and costly. Continually delivering services without downtime can determine your profitability on every job. A tow-behind weed sprayer also enables you to increase the volume and size of equipment you can bring along for jobs.

You Get to Save Your Personal Truck

The pull-behind trailer will save you from having to drive your personal vehicle everywhere with a power sprayer permanently mounted on the truck bed. For busy pest/weed control owners, this is an important consideration. When you are not operating your business and trying to take care of loved ones or do other things outside your job responsibilities, the last thing you want is to drive around with a power spray rig.

Well, if you have a particular truck used exclusively for these purposes, then sure – but if it's your personal truck you have to leave sitting around doing nothing productive until next time, you might need to consider getting a pest control spray trailer.

You Enjoy More Flexibility When Placing Equipment

When it comes to placing the equipment you need for every job, you get more flexibility with a tow-behind weed sprayer or trailer as compared to a truck. When you have a power sprayer on a truck, you're bound to deal with lots of constraints, such as the bulging wheel wells, gas tank, and structural designs on the truck bed.

All these pose a challenge when it comes to placing equipment where you need it to be. However, for commercial pest control companies or any weed spraying business that has invested in the best pull-behind sprayers for their operations, a trailer is larger, more spacious, and more ideal in terms of accessibility, productivity, and even maintenance.

You Save Your Personal Truck from Serious Depreciation

You have spent money on buying your truck and want it to serve you as long as possible while retaining its value. That's why pulling a tow-behind weed sprayer or trailer can be the best decision. Driving your truck around with all the equipment mounted permanently on its bed and drilling holes in the bed will decrease the vehicle's value from day one.

This is in addition to the effect it has on the engine when transporting heavy loads like propane tanks and power sprayers. A trailer is the best way to transport these heavy items, thus saving your truck from serious depreciation.

The Downsides

While a tow-behind weed sprayer is a great idea in most instances, there are some downsides that you should know.

Maneuverability

This is a major concern for those who have employees driving the trailer. Parking, backing up, and turning around in tight spaces are all more difficult, even with the best pull-behind sprayer trailers behind them, which can lead to safety issues.

Safety

Hauling a large landscape or weed control spray trailer in traffic is less safe than not hauling a trailer. Because of the additional weight, stopping distances increase, and your ability to maneuver to avoid a situation in front of you is reduced. Sometimes, other drivers miss a low trailer. At one point, I was stopped at a light, and an idiot rammed into the trailer carrying the tow-behind weed sprayer I was towing. He said he didn't see it.

• This is Important #1 - We recommend installing spray equipment on the trailer so that the trailer is slightly tongue-heavy. This usually means placing the water tank over, then slightly forward, of the axle.

• This is Important #2. We recommend that you contact your company insurance agent BEFORE purchasing a spray trailer to ensure you don't have any insurance-related issues or surprises.

Money

Whether you're a small weed-spraying business or one of the biggest commercial pest control companies around, the trailer is an additional cost that you would not have if you put the sprayer in your truck. In many cases, however, the tow-behind weed sprayer trailer cost can be less than the depreciation you would incur on your truck if the power sprayer is installed directly on the truck.

Where Do We Store It?

Finding a place to store your best pull-behind sprayer and other spray equipment can sometimes be an issue. You will need a convenient, local, easily accessible location with good access to quickly back up to drop off or pick up your spray trailer. The best option is usually a garage or shed. If you don't have either of these, you may find a spot in your yard that is out of the way and will provide enough protection from the elements. 

Another option is to rent a storage unit for your tow-behind weed sprayer. This can be a great solution if you don't have the space at your house. Just be sure to choose a large enough unit with easy access for backing up your trailer.

Theft

If you own a trailer-mounted sprayer, you may be concerned about theft. Unfortunately, thieves often target these units, even when they are properly secured. In fact, we have had numerous clients whose trailers were stolen despite taking precautions such as chaining them to a lamppost. There are a few reasons why tow-behind weed sprayers are such attractive targets for thieves.

• They are easy to hook up and tow away.
• They usually contain valuable equipment, such as pumps and hoses.
• They can be sold for scrap metal or used to start a new business

If you want to protect your sprayer from theft, it is important to take extra security measures, such as parking it in a garage or shed when it is not in use. Also, consider investing in a GPS tracking device so that you can quickly locate the unit if it is stolen.

Spray Equipment damage

Trailers bounce around a lot more than trucks, so damage to spray equipment is a common problem. The tow-behind weed sprayer can become damaged or bounce off the trailer if not carefully secured. Before driving off, lock the hose reels and power spray guns. In addition, be sure to check the equipment regularly for any damage that may have occurred during transport.

Learn More at QSpray.com

Purchasing the best pull-behind sprayer for your operations is a must-have for anyone in the pest/weed spraying business, including residential and commercial pest control companies. It offers you flexibility, space, and efficiency - all of which are necessary when running a successful business. If you have been looking for a trailer-mounted power sprayer that suits your business size, budget, and operations, visit QSpray.com to learn more and pick the best model.

Our experienced experts are here to help you purchase the right tow-behind weed sprayer or other power sprayer equipment and even design and set up the perfect trailer with all the components you need. Contact us today or request a sprayer quote.