My Ford 5000 went high tech

[Fred Werring]

Always had skips and/or overlaps when spraying or spreading fertilizer 'cause I couldn't tell where I'd been.
Never could find a used reasonably priced foam marker, and my attempts at building one were failures.

Had been seeing these GPS units. It's just the GPS/lightbar unit on the front of the tractor. Runs on a phone app, the phone and mount you supply.
Claimed accuracy is 12". The company says it will probably be better depending on your location, but 30cm is what they claim.
Close enough for what I want to do.

Anyway, used it to do some spraying a month ago. Checking the field a week later, no skips that I could see
And used it mowing hay to keep me in a straight line when cutting out lands. No more leftover triangles.

And when I saw this one on Ebay for $400 less than new ($1095 is new, looked new when I received it) with a 30 day return window, well.....


I'm pleased

 

[showcrop]

Getting the right heading for cutting out lands could save a lot of time!

 

[Fred Werring]

Getting the right heading for cutting out lands could save a lot of time!

Wasn't the only time saver.
I'd always relied on the engine rpm and gear selection chart on the tractor to figure ground speed
When I was setting up to spray, the GPS told me my actual speed was around 18% slower than what I'd figured based on the chart.
So I kicked it up a gear mowing.

 

[Russ from MN]

When I was driving sugar beet truck 15 years ago the Harvesters were steered by the gps. It seemed like the operator would turn around at the end of the field, start it in the next rows, hit enter, and go back to playing with his phone!

 

[Scott 730]

And when I saw this one on Ebay for $400 less than new




View attachment 164511

View attachment 164512

$400 less than new equals how much????

 

[Fred Werring]

$400 less than new equals how much????

I bought the one on the left.
New is $1095

onTrak

 

[Fred Werring]

When I was driving sugar beet truck 15 years ago the Harvesters were steered by the gps. It seemed like the operator would turn around at the end of the field, start it in the next rows, hit enter, and go back to playing with his phone!

Yeah, this isn't that, you gotta do the steering.

The front end of that 5000 is a little loose, harder to keep perfectly straight than you'd think.

 

[Scott 730]

I bought the one on the left.
New is $1095

onTrak

Seems like a reasonably priced system. I would love something like this on my JD 4020 but would have to invest in a phone first.

 

[Fred Werring]

Seems like a reasonably priced system. I would love something like this on my JD 4020 but would have to invest in a phone first.

You do not need cell phone service to use this GPS, only a tablet or unused phone with Bluetooth (don't know how old it can be) to run the app.
You will need wifi to download the app to the phone/tablet.
I have a smartphone, but bought this Motorola Moto G as it had a large screen and good reviews for screen brightness and battery life.

Straight Talk Motorola moto g 2025, 5G, 64GB, Blue - Prepaid Smartphone [Locked to Straight Talk]

Never activated the the Straight Talk service...yet. Mobil data (cell) is turned off, wifi enabled. I'm using it like a mini tablet.
I was getting nag screens for the first couple weeks to activate the cell service, but straight talk hasn't cut me off yet. From what I've read on Reddit I may have to pay for one month of service, but so far, no.

Bought this phone mount. Removed the suction cup, bolted it to a steel plate with 4 magnets glued to the bottom. Does a good job.

Car Phone Holder Model-C

 

[Paul swpa]

Only problem I saw with the ontrak when I looked into them couple years ago was that the older one like you got weren't very accurate on side slopes, would have to get the newer one that compensates for slope. Almost got one if it wouldn't have been for that. Didn't feel like spending the extra $. Gal from the company even returned emails on the weekend when I had questions.