Review: Fliegl ASW 271 trailer
The spreader with rear 'Profi' door attached.
The rear spreader attachment, the 'Profi' door is additional and for light material allows for a wider spread pattern.
The black side panel is an option for working alongside a forager.
The PTO running through the middle of the trailer provides power for the spreader deck.
The three stage pusher moves the wall.
Drawbar suspension also works as a hydraulic jack making attaching easier.
The moving front wall features a folding front flap for opening up maize paddocks.
The reaer door is fitted with a grain shoot.
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The spreader with rear 'Profi' door attached.
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The rear spreader attachment, the 'Profi' door is additional and for light material allows for a wider spread pattern.
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The black side panel is an option for working alongside a forager.
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The PTO running through the middle of the trailer provides power for the spreader deck.
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The three stage pusher moves the wall.
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Drawbar suspension also works as a hydraulic jack making attaching easier.
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The moving front wall features a folding front flap for opening up maize paddocks.
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The reaer door is fitted with a grain shoot.
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Fliegl's range of push-off trailers includes the ASW 271. Recently we got to see it in action.
Unlike that great Japanese invention of the small biscuit tyre, which inevitably makes your car look ridiculous and doubtless reduces your safety rating, this month I have a space saving solution which is both practical and useful.
As technology advances, the demand for more versatile machines continues to grow. To meet this demand, leading European brand Fliegl has developed a range of push-off trailers, one of which is the ASW 271 which I got to see in action in the Manawatu recently.
The Fliegl market their push-off system as "…a revolutionary and successful system, combining and optimising the advantages of all well-known transport systems. Offering push-off instead of dumping, high quality chassis technology (due to long years of development) allows for secure handling, even under extreme driving conditions."
I set out to see the machine in action for myself at the home of Manawatu contractor Nigel Pedley. Nigel owns and runs Pedley Slurry Services, just out of Sanson, and is impressed by the performance of the machine so far.
The fact that you can add a rear spreader to the trailer and that it's on a swap body, means the opportunities really are endless.
As the name suggests, the main focus of Nigel's business is slurry. However during summer, silage and maize services are also part of the job description and the Fliegl ASW 271 has both bases covered.
As the photos show, the machine was busy doing silage work when I was there, so the rear spreader body wasn't attached. I'm assured attaching it is a simple 15-20 minute job with a decent loader though, as it really only requires the removal of a couple of bolts and some precise driving.
The spreader body is a nice fit into Nigel's operation, as the capacity of the machine allows the fast removal of herd home solid effluent or the spreading of palletised human waste (so you can imagine my relief when I turned up to see it as a silage trailer).
So why the space saver reference then? Well, the push-off design of the machine allows material in the bin to be compacted by up to 60 percent, which means you can fit sufficiently more material in each load.
Nigel says this is a real advantage when working alongside a forager, as you will not compact the 35m³ if there are trailers waiting. If the forager is left waiting however, you simply compact the load which then equates to 56m³ of material per load – which over the course of a day is almost two loads for every three of the conventional trailer – all of which can be done on the move if the chopper operator is on the ball.
This is also an advantage when the machine is used as a chaser bin for the combine harvester, as the grain can be compacted; reducing trips to the silo. For unloading, a large 400m auger can be attached to the rear, or the silage door also boasts a grain shoot if required.
Spreader attachment
As shown in the photos, it's obvious that this is not a normal trailer chassis. It has the PTO shaft through to the rear of the machine and the necessary hydraulic ports for the rear spreader attachment.
The question must be asked; for the price, why not buy a silage trailer and a solid spreader individually? This is a valid point and to a certain degree you possibly are better to have two machines. But put simply, you wouldn't be able to buy two machines with this level of capacity for the price.
The added advantage of compacting effluent, and the rear 'Profi' spreader door with the ability to funnel dry material onto the large spinners (achieving up to a 22m spreading width) is something many other spreaders simply will not achieve.
The argument the other way is that they are not water tight machines, so sloppy slurry really should be handled with another machine. This is where Nigel has the advantage of his slurry tankers for this application.
As mentioned, our test trailer had the rear 'Profi' spreader door. This is equipped with an auto regulator which works automatically and guarantees an even spreading pattern. Spreading dry bulky material is the hardest for some muck spreaders, as it can bridge and is often hard to move, even smashing shear bolts.
This is where the Fliegl machine comes into its own though, as no chains can be stretched or bent and the rear spinners pull the material out of the bin (with the aid of the pusher), blasting it against the 'Profi' door, where it drops onto the large spreading discs and is evenly distributed over the paddock.
The verdict
There is no denying these trailers are extremely versatile and thus a huge asset to many businesses which require the sort of flexibility they offer.
The rear spreader attachment is very well built. Given the capacity of the trailer without the compaction feature, it makes the Fliegl a real contender for the serious muck spreader, regardless of its silage and grain hauling abilities.
Like most European machines, if you want something you can get it and the Fliegl ASW 271 is no exception. If triple axles, scales, drive axles, hydro-pneumatic suspension, hydraulic sliding and lift axles tickle your fancy, then the team at Claas Harvest Centre will no doubt be able to bring some German inspired engineering into your life.
Pros
- Heavy duty construction makes it versatile and can carry almost anything (except rocks)
- Steering axle with a variety of axle options, including hydraulic sliding and lift axles
- Large capacity with up to 60 percent higher carrying capacity due to front pusher
- Hydraulic lines for the pusher are well protected
- Swap body further enhances the versatility of the machine
- Ability to add a rear spreading attachment makes it a large capacity spreader
- An impressively long list of options to suit individual requirements
- Low centre of gravity makes unloading on slopes or stacks very safe for the capacity of the machine
- Folding front and side options for work with foragers
Cons
- Recommended retail pricing. Arguably, for the same price, you could have two machines, which could be in two different places during peak times, mitigating the need to swap attachments
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