I have an old Echo backpack 5 gal sprayer and am very happy with it. Check out Echo..........

http://echo-usa.com/prods_list.asp?Category=SPRAYER

- Kris

Solo makes good sprayers and they have parts readily available.

Go with masiman on this one. Solo is top quality, and you can get replacement parts. I have an older 4-gallon backpack, and it's hard to get mounted up - I'd never make it with 5 gallons. It's not just the weight, it's also the size. I have to set my sprayer on a tall barrel and back up to it to get hitched up. The local Northern Tools store is closing out some Solo backpacks (I don't know what capacity they are) for $60, so you might check that out.

eal51,

You might be interested in this battery powered backpack sprayer.

MM

I have 20 acres of land in Colorado. A portion of it, maybe 5 acres, has a noxious weed problem for which I spray. I bought a pump-style four gallon backpack sprayer from Home Depot. (Don't know the brand, it's not here in the east, but it doesn't really matter.) While the sprayer is of very good quality and easy to pump, my arm strength is definitely the main limit on how much spraying I can do. I very much wish I had been knowledgeable enough to get a battery powered sprayer, and I still may.

I like the fact that MaineMan's sprayer uses a lead acid battery rather than a NiCad. It's undoubtedly heavier, but it should last pretty much indefinitely.

Does anyone know where I can get parts for my Sun back pack sprayer? Thanks.

Have had Solo 4 gal unit for about 5 years.. initially got it from Costco costing about $85 It has a side pump (arm pump) and is virtually maintenance free as long as you rinse it out; after you use it!

Have seen parts in Lowes but only part I had to repurchase was a tip and once I accidentally stepped on the brass wand.. so I replaced that also.

I use it to spray dormant oil on some apple trees i have & spray my Blue Spruce Trees with Mitacide in August. THen I have another hand held sprayer that I put my Poisonous Weed killer and oil products in. I keep my sprayer uses separated as to not to make a mistake with my weed killers on my lawn.
Some Weedkillers are SAFE for lawn use.. Some aren't. The NON selective ones like Roundup & Brush killer go in the small tank sprayer only. Well, thats just the way I do things..JMHO

I'm trying out a 4-gl Field King Backpack Sprayer (easier on the old body than a 5-gl...(8 lbs lighter). Heard some good things about this one and the Solo, but decided to go with this one this time. For some reason I can't seem to keep a sprayer operating that I buy from the big box stores. They used to sell replacement wands since the tank hardly ever went bad, but they don't even do that anymore. Presumably to sell more sprayers.

I hate to say it jimtnc, but you could underfill the 5 gal. Solo sprayer to make it lighter ;). I'm guessing the sprayers themselves weigh about the same.

Good luck with the new sprayer.

SP Systems is nice, http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_6970_9404_9404