PRACTICAL TEST: Sitting smack-bang in the middle of Hardi’s trailed sprayer line-up, the middleweight Navigator is a real mix of simple spec and top-end tech. To obtain a true picture of how it performs we ran a 4,000-litre model with 27m booms for a full season last year
The Navigator is Hardi’s mid-range, mid-spec trailed sprayer. Introduced in 2007 to complement the Commander flagship (profi 05/2007) and the entry-level Ranger trailed sprayer, the line-up offers tank capacities from 3,000 to 6,000 litres and a choice of three different types of 18-39m boom. Unlike the range-topping Commander with its established axle steering, the Navigator is only available with drawbar tracking as an option. But more on this later…
Our Navigator 4000 was equipped with a 27m version of Hardi’s three-way folding Delta-Force steel boom. Not only does this fold the sections individually (e.g. from 27m to 21m), but it is significantly shorter when folded in its transport position. With virtually zero drawbar or rear-end overhang it makes for an exceptionally compact package even when kitted out with 30m plus booms. Our 27m version sported Norac’s industry-standard ultrasonic height control system — tagged by Hardi as AutoSlant — a £5,500 option that we would strongly recommend.
As usual, we start our walkaround at the front end. The machine is hooked up to the tractor with a low-level ball-hitch. If you opt for the ‘IntelliTrack’ drawbar steering system, for your first run-out you simply need to fix up an angle sensor and spring-loaded chains. Once this is done, attachment and removal are no longer big jobs, helped by the handcranked drawbar jack
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