Best ATV Boom Sprayers

The best ATV boom sprayers for most food plots and pastures are the Chapin 97214 (25-gallon tank, 2-nozzle boom, 2.5 GPM pump) and the FIMCO 25-gallon with a 7-nozzle boom (2.4 GPM, 60 PSI). For small plots, the NorthStar 16-gallon is the compact pick, and for bigger acreage the NorthStar 31-gallon tow-behind keeps your rack free. The right choice depends on three numbers: how many gallons per acre you spray, how wide the boom is, and whether the 12V pump can feed the nozzles without starving them.

An ATV boom sprayer is a tank, a 12-volt diaphragm pump, a pressure regulator or bypass, and a boom with two or more nozzles that lays down a wide, even swath as you drive. It is different from a spot sprayer with a hand wand, which is made for fence lines and individual weeds. A boom is what you want when you are covering a food plot, a pasture, a lane or a long fence row and you need the same dose across the whole strip.

How we chose these sprayers

This guide is research-based. We compared manufacturer specification sheets and published buying guides, then filtered the field with the criteria that decide whether a rig works on a four-wheeler: tank volume against ATV payload, pump flow in gallons per minute, maximum pressure, boom width and nozzle count, filtration, drain design and how the tank sits on a rack. Where sources disagreed on a number, we say so below and suggest you confirm it on the current product page before you order.

Every product listed here is a currently sold model from a recognized farm or utility sprayer brand. Where a figure such as maximum pressure could not be confirmed, we describe the spec class instead of guessing.

Quick comparison table

The nine sprayers in detail

Chapin 97214 25-gallon boom sprayer

Spec line: 25 gal poly tank · 2.5 GPM 12V diaphragm pump · 2-nozzle boom with roughly 7 ft pattern · adjustable boom height · multi-stage filtration

Best for: Owners who want a boom included in the box and plan to spray food plots of 1 to 5 acres.

Skip if: You routinely cover open pasture where a 7 ft swath means too many passes.

• Pros: boom ships with the sprayer; solid pump flow for two nozzles; standard 25-gallon size that fits most ATV racks.
• Cons: a two-nozzle boom gives a narrower, less uniform spray than a multi-nozzle bar; maximum pressure is not clearly published, so add a gauge if you spray sensitive products.

FIMCO 25-gallon with 7-nozzle boom

Spec line: 25 gal low-profile tank · 2.4 GPM at 60 PSI · 7 nozzles · pressure control manifold · full drain port

Best for: Food plot growers who care about even coverage, such as clover or brassica plots where over-application in the overlap strip burns the crop.

Skip if: You need a rig for brush and fence lines, where a boom is more hassle than help.

• Pros: more nozzles spread the output evenly; the low profile lowers the center of gravity on side slopes; accessories are widely available.
• Cons: seven nozzles share the same 2.4 GPM, so each tip delivers less and you must pick tips carefully; the wider boom is awkward in tight woods.

FIMCO 25-gallon Deluxe spot sprayer

Spec line: 25 gal UV-stabilized tank · 2.4 GPM at 60 PSI · pressure control manifold · accepts add-on boom kits

Best for: Buyers who are not sure they want a boom. Start with the hose and wand and add a boom kit when the plots grow.

Skip if: You know you want a boom today and do not want to buy parts twice.

• Pros: clear upgrade path; pressure manifold holds a stable setting; the drain port eases cleaning and winterizing.
• Cons: the boom is a separate purchase, so the all-in cost climbs; confirm fitting compatibility with the kit you choose.

NorthStar 16-gallon boomless ATV sprayer

Spec line: 16 gal tank · 2.2 GPM at 70 PSI · regulator and pressure gauge · one broadcast nozzle with a wide swath

Best for: Small food plots, lanes and driveway edges, and small ATVs with a limited rack rating.

Skip if: You cover more than a few acres per visit; the tank empties too quickly.

• Pros: lighter when full than 25-gallon rigs; includes a gauge so you can dial in pressure.
• Cons: boomless broadcast patterns taper at the edges, so overlap needs planning; the tank is small for heavier application rates.

NorthStar 26-gallon boomless broadcast sprayer

Spec line: 26 gal tank · 12V on-demand pump · 2 broadcast nozzles · very wide swath · large-droplet nozzles to reduce drift

Best for: Open pasture or large plots where speed matters more than precision and the air is calm.

Skip if: You spray near sensitive crops, gardens or property lines; broadcast nozzles throw farther than a boom and drift risk rises.

• Pros: covers a lot of ground fast; fewer passes; large droplets help limit drift.
• Cons: pump flow is listed as 2.2 GPM by some sources and 5.5 GPM by others, so confirm it on the current product page; edge coverage is feathered.

NorthStar 31-gallon tow-behind boom sprayer

Spec line: 31 gal tank · 2.2 GPM at 70 PSI · breakaway boom with about 80 in effective width · towed behind the ATV

Best for: Larger plots and pastures where you want a wide boom without loading the ATV rack.

Skip if: Your trails are tight or you back up often; trailers complicate reversing.

• Pros: weight rides on its own wheels; the breakaway boom limits damage if you clip a post; larger tank.
• Cons: needs a hitch and a 12V connection; harder to store than a rack-mounted unit.

Master Mfg 25-gallon Deluxe

Spec line: 25 gal tank · 2.2 GPM · up to 70 PSI · long-reach gun with roughly 25 ft vertical and 30 ft horizontal reach

Best for: Brush, fence-line and ditch spraying where the gun reach saves you from driving into the weeds.

Skip if: You want a boom; this model is a wand-and-gun rig first.

• Pros: long reach; solid pump; well-known brand with easy parts supply.
• Cons: no standard boom; long-reach spraying is the most drift-prone method on this list.

Chapin 97561 Mix-on-Exit

Spec line: 25 gal water tank · separate concentrate tank · 2.5 GPM · adjustable ratio of about 1 to 15 oz per gallon

Best for: People who spray small amounts often and do not want to mix a full tank each time.

Skip if: You mix tank-sized batches of wettable powders or fertilizers that do not suit a metered injector.

• Pros: mixes only what you use; less leftover chemical to dispose of; easy rinse of the water tank.
• Cons: ratio accuracy depends on setup, so calibrate with water first; adds parts that can clog.

Ironton 8-gallon ATV sprayer

Spec line: 8 gal tank · about 1 GPM pump · hand wand

Best for: Very small properties, small ATVs and people who only spot spray.

Skip if: You want to cover a food plot in one pass; low flow cannot feed a boom.

• Pros: lightest and easiest to mount; small storage footprint.
• Cons: the small tank means constant refills; 1 GPM is a spot-spray flow, not a boom flow.

How to choose: criteria with thresholds

Tank size against ATV rack and payload

Water weighs about 8.3 pounds per gallon. A 25-gallon tank holds roughly 208 pounds of liquid before you count the tank, pump and battery. Many utility ATV racks have a stated capacity well below that, so check the rack rating in your owner’s manual. If your rack is rated for less than the full load, step down to a 15 or 16 gallon tank, fill partially, or move to a tow-behind.

Pump flow: GPM and PSI

For a boom with two to seven nozzles, look for at least 2.0 GPM. Pumps near 1 GPM are made for wands and cannot keep a wide boom at stable pressure. Pump ratings around 60 to 70 PSI are typical for this class. Boom spraying does not need high pressure; a steady, regulated 20 to 40 PSI at the nozzle is more important for even droplets and low drift.

Boom width and nozzle spacing

Boom width sets your swath. A 7 ft boom covers about 0.16 acre for every 1,000 feet of travel in a straight pass, while a boomless broadcast nozzle can throw 14 ft or more per pass but with a feathered edge. On a boom, nozzle spacing and height must overlap the fans so the dose is consistent. A common setup is flat-fan tips spaced 20 inches apart with the height set so adjacent fans overlap by roughly 30 to 50 percent. Follow the tip manufacturer’s height chart for your exact tip.

12V pump quality

Look for a diaphragm pump with a built-in pressure switch, which shuts the motor off when you release the trigger or close the boom valve. The wiring matters more than the logo: ring terminals, an inline fuse and a clean battery connection keep flow steady, while a weak connection starves the pump and shows up as uneven spray. Choose a sprayer with an inline strainer or multi-stage filter so debris does not clog nozzle tips.

Tank material and drain

Choose a UV-stabilized polyethylene tank with a translucent wall or sight line so you can see the level. A full drain port or sloped bottom speeds cleanup. Tanks that hold residue are harder to rinse between products.

Worked calculation: what a 25-gallon boom really covers

Use this formula to check whether a sprayer can do the job: gallons per acre equals nozzle flow in GPM times 495, divided by speed in mph times boom width in feet.

1. Pick your target rate. Many herbicide and fertilizer labels call for about 20 gallons per acre; always follow the product label.
2. Pick your speed and boom width: 4 mph and 7 ft.
3. Rearrange the formula: required GPM equals gallons per acre times speed times width, divided by 495. That is 20 times 4 times 7, divided by 495, or about 1.13 GPM.
4. Compare with pump output. A 2.2 to 2.5 GPM pump can deliver 1.13 GPM easily, with the extra flow returning to the tank through the bypass for agitation.
5. Acres per hour equals speed times width, divided by 8.25. That is 4 times 7, divided by 8.25, or about 3.4 acres per hour.
6. A 25-gallon tank at 1.13 GPM lasts about 22 minutes and covers about 1.25 acres.

The takeaway: a 25-gallon tank fits plots up to about 1 to 2 acres per fill. A 10-acre pasture at the same rate needs 200 gallons, or eight refills. That is when a tow-behind with a bigger tank, or a lower application rate allowed by the label, makes sense.

Use cases

Food plots

Pick a boom with multiple nozzles for even coverage and choose 20 to 25 gallons. The FIMCO 7-nozzle and the Chapin 97214 both fit. Spray in calm morning air to reduce drift onto new seedlings or neighboring cover.

Pastures

Speed and swath matter more. A boomless broadcast model or a tow-behind boom covers more ground. Stay at the label rate and watch edge feathering so you do not leave stripes of missed weeds.

Weed control along fences and lanes

A wand or long-reach gun is more useful than a boom. The Master Mfg 25-gallon Deluxe and the FIMCO Deluxe both suit this work. Keep the nozzle low and use a coarse tip to cut drift.

Safety and spray practice

• Read the pesticide label and wear the personal protective equipment it lists, usually chemical-resistant gloves, long sleeves and eye protection.
• Do not spray when wind is gusty or above the label limit. Avoid spraying during temperature inversions or just before rain.
• Calibrate with clean water first. Time the output for one minute and confirm your gallons per acre before adding product.
• Rinse the tank, lines and boom after every use. If you switch between herbicides and products for food crops, triple rinse or keep separate rigs.
• Secure the tank with straps and keep the load centered, especially on slopes. A full tank raises the ATV’s center of gravity.
• Store chemicals away from children and pets, and dispose of rinse water according to the label and local rules.

Maintenance tips that extend pump life

• Flush clean water through the pump after every spray day to prevent crystal buildup in the diaphragm.
• Clean the inline strainer weekly during heavy use.
• Avoid running the pump dry; it can overheat.
• Winterize with RV-style antifreeze in cold climates so water does not crack the pump head or fittings.
• Replace worn nozzle tips each season. Worn tips spray unevenly and use more product.

Frequently asked questions

What size ATV sprayer do I need for a food plot?

A 15 to 25 gallon sprayer suits most food plots up to a few acres. At about 20 gallons per acre, a 25-gallon tank covers roughly 1.25 acres per fill, so larger plots need refills or a bigger tank.

How many GPM should an ATV boom sprayer pump have?

Aim for at least 2.0 GPM for a boom with two or more nozzles. Pumps near 1 GPM suit hand wands and spot spraying better than a boom.

Can a 12V ATV sprayer run off the ATV battery?

Yes, most are designed to. Use the supplied clips or a hardwired fused connection. Watch the battery on long jobs and keep the engine running if voltage drops.

Is a boom or a boomless sprayer better?

A boom gives more even coverage and sharper edges. A boomless nozzle covers a wider swath per pass but feathers at the edges and drifts more. Pick a boom for plots and boomless for open pasture.

How wide should the boom be?

For ATV trails and food plots, 6 to 7 ft is common. Wider booms cover more but need space and can hit trees. Tow-behind booms around 80 inches work well for fields.

How do I stop spray drift?

Spray in light, steady wind, keep the boom low, use coarse or large-droplet tips and keep pressure moderate. Avoid spraying near sensitive plants or water.

Can I use the same sprayer for herbicide and fertilizer?

You can, but rinse thoroughly between products and check chemical compatibility with the tank and seals. Many owners keep a dedicated herbicide rig to avoid crop injury.

How often should I clean the sprayer?

Rinse after every use. Flush the pump, lines and nozzles with clean water, and clean the strainer. This prevents clogs and extends pump life.

Bottom line

If you want one rig for food plots, the Chapin 97214 or the FIMCO with a 7-nozzle boom is the safest starting point. Choose the NorthStar 16-gallon for small plots and light racks, the NorthStar 31-gallon tow-behind for bigger fields, and the Master Mfg Deluxe for fence-line and brush work. Before you buy, confirm the pump GPM, tank size and boom width on the current product listing, and match your gallons-per-acre target to the worked calculation above.