I’m looking for a pasture vacuum/sweeper available in the US that preferably sucks from the undercarriage and not a hand-held hose. The ones I’m most interested in seem to only be available in Europe (If I could find something similar to the Trilo I would be thrilled). I’d like to keep it under $5,000 with shipping, but I’m guessing that’s going to be a stretch. Does anyone have something like this? Pros? Cons? I’m essentially looking for something that will suck up manure and grass clippings on 20 (soon to be 45) acres.
FYI… that link does not go to a pasture sweeper. :eek:
Someone locally has the larger (1500) one of these: http://www.towandfarm.com/tow-and-collect-c-92_107.html and a Greystone vacuum. He said they prefer the vacuum. I would love one of the tow and collect versions, but it’s not in my budget for a while.
Holy crap, I don’t even know what that was! I’m so sorry!!
This is the proper link http://www.vanmac.nl/en/machines/trilo
Thanks for replying!
I didn’t even know they made manure sweepers! Now I want one! Honestly, they sweepers look like they are made for really big operations and likely expensive. Are there any sweepers in your budget? I have the large Greystone pasture vac, it was over $3,000 several years ago. If there are some in your $5,000 range post the links, I would be interested in at least looking at them.
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http://www.towandfarm.com/collect-mini-p-212.html[/QUOTE]
Ouch, that much for ground driven and no motor and no vacuum? Anyone have one? Comment first hand on how well they work v/s a Greystone. I can’t see it working as well in really tall thick grass (i.e. my pastures). Wish they would make an attachment for the Greystone that allowed you to mount the hose to something so you could drop it down/pull it up without having to hold it, my biggest complaint with it.
Most of the other non hand held sweepers that looked like they would do tall grass were manufactured in England. They had metal tines to break up the piles and then a 4 row sweeper bar to send them into the hopper. Some of them needed a 45 horsepower or higher tractor. There doesn’t seem to be enough demand. One site that had the bigger/better sweeper mentioned that some zoos were using them for their exhibit space. I would think they would be well outside of the $5,000 range, even if they were available in the US.
Bumping this: has anyone tried a basic “turf sweeper”? The kind with a barrel of flexible fingers that dethatches and tosses up the manure into a bin.
Example http://agrimetal.com/en/sweeper-vacs/leaf-and-debris-collector/
I don’t see horse specific tools like this come up for sale as used but occasionally I see the landscape/ golf maintenance designs. Of course it would stink if they’re somehow different and don’t work for me.
Ah, but it wouldn’t stink for us if you tried it and then reported back 
I’ve been tempted to try one. I see them on craigslist once in a while, but haven’t found one cheap enough to experiment. Golf courses seem to use them, so I watch for any golf courses that may be going out of business.
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Ah, but it wouldn’t stink for us if you tried it and then reported back :)[/QUOTE]
I’m considering one for sale locally, but it’s quite big and if it doesn’t work it will be one massive yard ornament. (I hate yard ornaments)
No they say that is good for grass clippings,leaves and pine straw. Its not tough enough to sweep a 5 pound pile of wet manure.
I pay about $300 a month just to have the dry lot cleaned twice a week so I’d love to find something that could pick up AND dump manure. my small pastures are a mess…I just can’t do it physically anymore.
Hope some manufacturer is reading this as all us boomer riders will need some extra help soon and the main one for me is manure pickup out of the fields and paddocks.
Ideas?
I don’t even have a tractor just a lawn tractor. I’m lucky in that the neighbor farmer, mows, seeds and fertilizes, about $400 a year so why maintain a tractor.
