Cullen Farm Contractors Ltd is run by Brian Cullen with the help of his father, Eamon. The pair are based near Ballinacarrig, Co Wicklow. In January of last year, the Cullens took a delivery of a 2004 TerraGator 2014 self-propelled slurry tanker.
Brian and Eamon Cullen.
At first glance, the TerraGator looks similar to a dump-truck body, with a mounted tank and a disc injection system. However, when you delve into the closer specifications, it is similar to a Krone Big M, a well-designed purpose-built machine, specialised for one particular job.
Why self-propelled
When I first laid eyes on the machine, the main question I had for Brian was why he bought a self-propelled slurry tanker over the conventional tractor and slurry tanker that he was running up to then.
The machine landed in Ireland at the end of January 2018.
Brian outlined a number of reasons that made up his mind to opt for the unique machine. Firstly, he explained that skilled labour is becoming more of an issue for all contractors. The self-propelled tanker means that he can shift 80,000 to 90,000 gallons of slurry by himself in an average day, and often more.
Various slurry application systems can be easily retrofitted onto the three-point linkage.
Secondly, Brian explained that the machine is very versatile. It is a machine with one job that’s always ready to go. He explained that it is purpose-built with many features that a conventional tanker does not have, allowing him to provide a professional service.
Brian was very fond of the offset “dog walk” position used for field work. The offset working position with the large flotation tyres, in addition to the fact the 8.4m disc injector takes much of the weight off the back wheels when injecting, means that the weight is well distributed and compaction is reduced.
Finally, Brian is contemplating purchasing a nurse tank. His intention is to use the tankers to draw slurry from the farms to the field on long-haul work, unload the tankers into the nurse tank before filling the TerraGator using the lazy arm.
Research
Brian has had the intention of purchasing one of these machines for a number of years now. Five years ago, he first travelled to the Netherlands with the idea in his head. There, he spent some time learning how to successfully operate and maintain such self-propelled machines.
Eight years ago, Brian purchased a Veenhuis VMB 8000 slurry tanker in the Netherlands. This tanker was equipped with a disc injector very similar to the one on the TerraGator. As a result, Brian had a lot of knowledge built up on the Veenhuis disc injector.
The machine is equipped with a lazy arm.
He explained that he used the Veenhuis tanker to showcase the advantages of the disc injector to many farmers in the local area.
He has now built up a customer base that solely uses the disc injection method.
The machine
Power for the machine is provided by an 8.1-litre, six-cylinder turbo-charged inter-cooled John Deere engine that churns out 325hp. This is the same widely popular engine used in the infamous John Deere 7810. Brian noted that he is burning an average of 40 litres per hour. He also explained that injecting slurry in hard ground will consume 25% more diesel than injecting slurry into soft ground.
The machine is a rear-wheel drive, with the option of four-wheel drive with the flick of a switch. It also has a Funk-sourced power-shift transmission with 11 forward gears and three reverse gears. The transmission comes with the option of select-shift, an automatic shifting between pre-selected gear ranges. It has a maximum speed of 50km/h.
A ram on either side of the rear axle enables the machine to run offset while working on the land.
It is a very industrial-spec machine, resting on John Deere plant systems axles and brakes, similar to those used in dump-trucks and John Deere construction equipment.
As the 2104 model is an articulated machine, it is capable of working in crab steer mode or “dog walk”, as others may call it. The front of the machine remains straight, while two rams enable the rear axle to run offset, on a different track.
Features
Brian noted how the variable flow rate allows the machine to precisely apply slurry. Once the type and width of slurry application method (disc injector, dribble bar, etc) is inputted into the machine’s computer, the flow meter can be accurately set for the required cubic metres per hectare.
The machine is fitted with an 8.4 metre Veenhuis disc injector.
Brian has recently purchased a Veenhuis TerraJect ripper 644 and is awaiting delivery. This 6.4m unit will rip the round before injecting the slurry in. This was purchased to spread slurry on maize ground. The existing disc injector is attached to the machine via a three-point linkage. So, different slurry application systems can be easily retrofitted.
The offset/crab steer mode in action.
The machine is fitted with a Borger industrial pump and not the typical vacuum pump system used in the majority of slurry tankers in Ireland. This nine-cube sludge pump with rubber veins will fill the 3,300-gallon tank in approximately one minute and 40 seconds.
Once the pump is turned on and the RPM is set in the cab, nothing will actually initiate until the gate valve is opened. The slurry will pass through numerous chopping systems including an inlet macerator and the chopping unit with a fixed counter knife, before being injected. The tank itself is manufactured using fibreglass in an attempt to keep the weight down.
The tyre inflation and deflation kit allows the tyre pressure to be automatically reduced when the machine enters the field. This will help to increase the footprint and reduce compaction.
One year on
The machine landed in Ireland at the end of January 2018. After several flights, the deal was done with a machinery dealer in the Netherlands for the self-propelled machine. One year on and Brian explained that he is very happy with his decision to take the gamble.
His biggest fear when purchasing the machine was its performance on hilly ground, especially in the area of Wicklow where he’s from. However, millions of gallons spread later and Brian noted that the machine is far better than he had expected, having travelled on hills where he wouldn’t be able to do so with a conventional tractor and tanker of the same size.
Machine specs
Year of manufacture: 2004.
Engine: 8.1-litre, six-cylinder turbo-charged, intercooled John Deere.
Horsepower: 325hp.
Transmission: power-shift with 11F and 3R gears.
Max speed: 50km/h.
Tank size: 15m3 (3,300 gallons/
15,000 litres).
Disc injector width: 8.4m.
Tyre size: Michelin 1050/50R32.
Contractor charge: 1.5c per gallon injected.
Cullen Farm Contractors Ltd is run by Brian Cullen with the help of his father, Eamon. The pair are based near Ballinacarrig, Co Wicklow. In January of last year, the Cullens took a delivery of a 2004 TerraGator 2014 self-propelled slurry tanker.
Brian and Eamon Cullen.
At first glance, the TerraGator looks similar to a dump-truck body, with a mounted tank and a disc injection system. However, when you delve into the closer specifications, it is similar to a Krone Big M, a well-designed purpose-built machine, specialised for one particular job.
Why self-propelled
When I first laid eyes on the machine, the main question I had for Brian was why he bought a self-propelled slurry tanker over the conventional tractor and slurry tanker that he was running up to then.
The machine landed in Ireland at the end of January 2018.
Brian outlined a number of reasons that made up his mind to opt for the unique machine. Firstly, he explained that skilled labour is becoming more of an issue for all contractors. The self-propelled tanker means that he can shift 80,000 to 90,000 gallons of slurry by himself in an average day, and often more.
Various slurry application systems can be easily retrofitted onto the three-point linkage.
Secondly, Brian explained that the machine is very versatile. It is a machine with one job that’s always ready to go. He explained that it is purpose-built with many features that a conventional tanker does not have, allowing him to provide a professional service.
Brian was very fond of the offset “dog walk” position used for field work. The offset working position with the large flotation tyres, in addition to the fact the 8.4m disc injector takes much of the weight off the back wheels when injecting, means that the weight is well distributed and compaction is reduced.
Finally, Brian is contemplating purchasing a nurse tank. His intention is to use the tankers to draw slurry from the farms to the field on long-haul work, unload the tankers into the nurse tank before filling the TerraGator using the lazy arm.
Research
Brian has had the intention of purchasing one of these machines for a number of years now. Five years ago, he first travelled to the Netherlands with the idea in his head. There, he spent some time learning how to successfully operate and maintain such self-propelled machines.
Eight years ago, Brian purchased a Veenhuis VMB 8000 slurry tanker in the Netherlands. This tanker was equipped with a disc injector very similar to the one on the TerraGator. As a result, Brian had a lot of knowledge built up on the Veenhuis disc injector.
The machine is equipped with a lazy arm.
He explained that he used the Veenhuis tanker to showcase the advantages of the disc injector to many farmers in the local area.
He has now built up a customer base that solely uses the disc injection method.
The machine
Power for the machine is provided by an 8.1-litre, six-cylinder turbo-charged inter-cooled John Deere engine that churns out 325hp. This is the same widely popular engine used in the infamous John Deere 7810. Brian noted that he is burning an average of 40 litres per hour. He also explained that injecting slurry in hard ground will consume 25% more diesel than injecting slurry into soft ground.
The machine is a rear-wheel drive, with the option of four-wheel drive with the flick of a switch. It also has a Funk-sourced power-shift transmission with 11 forward gears and three reverse gears. The transmission comes with the option of select-shift, an automatic shifting between pre-selected gear ranges. It has a maximum speed of 50km/h.
A ram on either side of the rear axle enables the machine to run offset while working on the land.
It is a very industrial-spec machine, resting on John Deere plant systems axles and brakes, similar to those used in dump-trucks and John Deere construction equipment.
As the 2104 model is an articulated machine, it is capable of working in crab steer mode or “dog walk”, as others may call it. The front of the machine remains straight, while two rams enable the rear axle to run offset, on a different track.
Features
Brian noted how the variable flow rate allows the machine to precisely apply slurry. Once the type and width of slurry application method (disc injector, dribble bar, etc) is inputted into the machine’s computer, the flow meter can be accurately set for the required cubic metres per hectare.
The machine is fitted with an 8.4 metre Veenhuis disc injector.
Brian has recently purchased a Veenhuis TerraJect ripper 644 and is awaiting delivery. This 6.4m unit will rip the round before injecting the slurry in. This was purchased to spread slurry on maize ground. The existing disc injector is attached to the machine via a three-point linkage. So, different slurry application systems can be easily retrofitted.
The offset/crab steer mode in action.
The machine is fitted with a Borger industrial pump and not the typical vacuum pump system used in the majority of slurry tankers in Ireland. This nine-cube sludge pump with rubber veins will fill the 3,300-gallon tank in approximately one minute and 40 seconds.
Once the pump is turned on and the RPM is set in the cab, nothing will actually initiate until the gate valve is opened. The slurry will pass through numerous chopping systems including an inlet macerator and the chopping unit with a fixed counter knife, before being injected. The tank itself is manufactured using fibreglass in an attempt to keep the weight down.
The tyre inflation and deflation kit allows the tyre pressure to be automatically reduced when the machine enters the field. This will help to increase the footprint and reduce compaction.
One year on
The machine landed in Ireland at the end of January 2018. After several flights, the deal was done with a machinery dealer in the Netherlands for the self-propelled machine. One year on and Brian explained that he is very happy with his decision to take the gamble.
His biggest fear when purchasing the machine was its performance on hilly ground, especially in the area of Wicklow where he’s from. However, millions of gallons spread later and Brian noted that the machine is far better than he had expected, having travelled on hills where he wouldn’t be able to do so with a conventional tractor and tanker of the same size.
Machine specs
Year of manufacture: 2004.
Engine: 8.1-litre, six-cylinder turbo-charged, intercooled John Deere.
Horsepower: 325hp.
Transmission: power-shift with 11F and 3R gears.
Max speed: 50km/h.
Tank size: 15m3 (3,300 gallons/
15,000 litres).
Disc injector width: 8.4m.
Tyre size: Michelin 1050/50R32.
Contractor charge: 1.5c per gallon injected.
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