Coming from a history of agricultural contracting started by Sam Smyth Sr, brothers Sam and Clive grew up with a hands-on work ethic which is still very much the case today.

In January 1994, which was an exceptionally wet winter, the brothers made the decision to purchase a welder and make a trailer to sell as they had free time on their hands.

“We bought a welder to use up our spare time; now we have loads of welders and no spare time,” laughed Sam.

The popularity grew from there, with sales steadily increasing each year. In 1998, Sam Sr passed away, leaving the brothers with the decision to continue contracting or focus solely on trailers.

Sam explains: “We cut silage in 1999 but after that we decided it was one or the other”. Smyth Trailers is now run by the brothers at their purpose-built facility in Garryhill, Co Carlow, where they employ 15 staff. They manufacture silage, grain, root crop, bale and dump trailers, while also offering the service of making a bespoke trailer if required.

We bought a welder to use up our spare time; now we have loads of welders and no spare time

Smyth have a very good export market built up, with their trailers found in the UK, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Denmark, Sweden, Norway and one trailer as far as India. This goes to show the reputation Irish machinery manufacturers have for build quality and reliability worldwide.

So what has the new Fieldmaster got to offer customers for 2016?

Build quality

The Fieldmaster trailer is constructed with 3mm sides, front and rear, while a single-piece 5mm steel plate comprises the floor.

The chassis is constructed of 250x150mm box section while the floor runners are made from 100x150mm box section.

Moving up top to the silage sides sees the first change to the new trailer – a single piece of 3mm pressed steel forms the side which eliminates the need for 80ft of box section traditionally used in the sides, reducing weight with no compromise on strength.

The smooth finish to the sides eliminates the problem of moisture and dirt collecting in the channel on the older version. Heavier duty versions are available on request to suit the customers’ needs.

The hydraulic door mechanism has been redesigned with the linkage at the sides moved up, making the body clear of obstruction for ease of travelling through awkward spaces. The linkage at the top of the hydraulic door is lengthened, giving superior clearance of loads when raised. All trailers are fully shot-blasted on site, primed and painted in two-pack paint of the customer’s choice and finally baked, leaving a high-quality durable finish.

New heavy duty suspension

The new Fieldmaster trailers are fitted with a heavier duty spring suspension system which is 4” wide by 2” thick (the old type was 3” wide by 2” thick).

The increased popularity of low ground pressure (LGP) tyres fuelled the need to alter the suspension as increased flex in the tyres sidewall coupled with softer springs reduced stability on the larger trailers. The heavy duty suspension eliminates the flex in the spring, therefore increasing stability. The design is also capable of handling greater weights than the traditional system. Smyth explained this system is a proper agricultural suspension, not something taken from a truck, and is unique to them.

High volume capability

The Fieldmaster is now available in a high-capacity model as an option. For example, in a 20ft trailer, by increasing the length to 20ft 6” and height from 8ft to 8ft 6”, the capacity is increased to 99% of that of a standard 22ft version. This would not have been possible without the introduction of the new heavy duty suspension.

Braking

All Fieldmaster trailers are fitted as standard, with high-speed commercial axles rated to 105km/h. These axles have 420x180mm brake shoes and can be hydraulically controlled up to 40km/h, where the tractor towing the trailer is travelling over 40km/hr; load-sensing air brakes must be fitted.

Trailers being towed over 50km/h require ABS brakes as standard. A manual handbrake is fitted as standard to all trailers connected via a steel cable to the tractor. The load-sensing valve has now been relocated to the drawbar; Smyth claim there is less fluctuation there opposed to between the axles. The valve can be set more accurately as rough ground and tractors with different hitch heights won’t affect the setting.

This version was field-tested at maize in late 2015 by local contractor Alan Lucas, who commented: “It worked exactly as it should. We are very happy with it”.

New Fast Tip system

The new Fieldmaster trailer can be fitted as an option with the Fast Tip system. This design uses the novel idea of two hydraulic pipes feeding into the hydraulic rams, increasing the oil flow, which in turn increases the speed of tipping and lowering of the trailer.

Each pipe is plugged into separate spool valves, giving the operator the choice of standard or fast tip by ether engaging one or two spool valves together. When two valves are engaged, the oil can fill the rams faster on tipping and return the oil faster on lowering. A test was carried out with a Deutz-Fahr 165.7 set at 1,500rpm and with a hydraulic output of 120 litres/min.

There is a total time saving of 35 seconds per load with the Fast Tip system. in a busy contracting period, the time spent in the yard is greatly reduced and productivity is increased as the trailer can get back to where it should be faster. Chrome tipping rams are now fitted as standard; these reduce seal wear and increase reliability.

Lighting

All Fieldmaster trailers are fitted as standard with full LED lighting. This consists of double LED tail lights on the bottom of each side, with single LED tail lights fitted to the top of the hydraulic door option.

Amber LED side lights are now standard in keeping with the new rules and regulations. The option of LED reversing lights is a new feature to the Fieldmaster range. There are two lights fitted to the rear and one each side up front. These are engaged automatically when the body is raised once the parking lights are switched on. Alternatively they can be wired to a switch in the cab. A warning LED strobe light is also fitted to the rear hydraulic door as standard as well as a licence plate holder and light. All trailers now feature reflective markings each side and rear to comply with the new regulations.

Options

Front mud flaps are a new addition to the Fieldmaster as an option, while full-width rear and front wheel mudflaps are standard spec.

Smyth offer various hitch options such as standard hook and eye, swivel or ball and spoon-type coupling.

Tyre options vary from standard 385 super singles to 560 LGP versions depending on the customer’s requirements. Sprung drawbars are standard spec consisting of a single-leaf parabolic spring. The Fieldmaster is available in 16, 18, 20 and 22ft tandem axle versions with rear steer option, and in 24 and 26ft tri axle option with front and rear steering option.

All trailers feature a rear hitch and seven-pin lighting socket, large removable aluminium front panel for better visibility, safety prop for working under raised body and hose burst valves fitted to the hydraulic rams for increased safety.