Spreader Sand & Salt Spreader - Need Advice

   / Sand & Salt Spreader - Need Advice #1  

John1133

New member
Joined
May 18, 2008
Messages
12
Tractor
Kubota B7800
I have a new to me Kubota B7800 with a soon to arrive Kubota front mount snow blower. This is my first winter with the tractor. I live in Ontario Canada and because my driveway is about 1/4 mile long with VERY steep hills I have put trig / stud chains on the rear tires. I want to be able to tow or mount a spreader on the rear to spread sand with some salt. I'd heard good things about the King Kutter spreaders sold at Tractor Supply and spoke to them and King Kutter today. According to King Kutter their is no way other than reducing the RPMs down to almost nothing to reduce the spread width on the spreader. At normal RPS the spreader will spread material out to about 40 feet. My driveway is only 10 feet wide. According to them, even with the RPMs greatly reduced their spreaders will still spread the sand out to about 20 feet. At 20 feet 50% of my material will end up in the bush. Any suggestions? Having just bought the tractor, blower and chains I'm trying to spend as little as possible and still get the job done. Thanks in advance!
 
   / Sand & Salt Spreader - Need Advice #2  
If you a fabricator at all, could you make some simple 'shrouds' out of sheet metal to limit the spread/fan of the sand?? Nothing fancy, you could even just bend the sheet metal to adjust your pattern. I envision them being mounted on either side of the spinner. I suppose it would somewhat produce a heavier layer on either side of the path, but at least it'd be on your road instead of salting your trees. You could probably narrow it to just a wee bit wider that your car tracks.

When I was looking for my fertilizer spreader I remember reading about this and there are some out there that have adjustable fan widths, as well as only left or right patterns. They were more $$ though. Also, not all spreaders are beefy enough to spread sand (at least that's what I read), so be careful before you plunk down the cash.

I'd get a 3pt mounted unit, and DEFINITELY get one with a plastic hopper to limit corrosion.

I got one from agrisupply for something like 500$ (before the dollar tanked!!). I don't plan on spreading sand for salt, only seed and fertilizer.

Hope that helps.

-J.
 
   / Sand & Salt Spreader - Need Advice #3  
Look around and find an "EZ Flow" lime spreader. (Drop spreader) They're usually less than $200 at used farm equipment dealers and/or auctions. I've got an 8'er that I picked up for $150. Very accurate delivery.
 

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   / Sand & Salt Spreader - Need Advice #4  
I'm not sure how aggresive the feed auger in either spreader might be- I'm considering frozen/brick-like sand, salt, and fines that you are trying to spread. From experience the salt will crumble pretty easily, but not sure about the sand. You may add another baffle in the front to the cone-like spreader to keep salt/sand off your tractor and frame. Also, might run the baffles so it only spreads 8' wide because salt will bounce wider than that.

Good Luck!!
 
   / Sand & Salt Spreader - Need Advice #5  
Local Deere dealer had one of these Herd sand spreaders on the lot. Herd Seeder - Seeders, Spreaders and Feeders Looked very sturdy, and has a serious set of augers inside to break up the sand/salt. Its available with a shroud to control the pattern too. If I remember the price was somewheres around $1300 though.:rolleyes: Nice but expensive.
 
   / Sand & Salt Spreader - Need Advice
  • Thread Starter
#6  
Once again I'm impressed and so thankfull for everyone's thoughts and suggestions. I took a look a the Herd Seeder Company's web site then spoke to them this morning. They were very knowledgeable and helpful. They recommended the moded "5.5 Sand Spreader". It sell for $1173 plus freight. It's more than I wanted to spend but it certainly looks like it's the right tool for the job. If anyone else has experiece with this unit please pass along your comments. THANKS!
 
   / Sand & Salt Spreader - Need Advice #7  
Check with Northern tool. They sell several 12v electric motor driven tailgate spreaders that could easily be adapted to mount on a 3pt. for about $500. or less. Also TSC stores have a 3pt PTO driven spreader also for under $500.
 
   / Sand & Salt Spreader - Need Advice #8  
Be careful most spreader only have a gravity drop of the materials. and sand and stuff can get hung up. Unless you get the vigrators for them.
 
   / Sand & Salt Spreader - Need Advice #9  
Hi John,
I have the Herd 5.5 sander that I use with my BX23. I use a salt/sand mix that I got from the Highway Dept. The Herd works very well for sanding the dirt road and hill I live on. I am careful not to get the sandmix all over the tractor for fear of rust. The unit is about 3 years old now and even though I wash it, there is some corrosion around the spinner and the top screen. It gives a nice spread. One thing I did buy extra is a shield for inside the hopper. When the auger is turning it is pretty aggressive and can scape off the paint fast and possibly dent it up. The shield inside helps with this. I slow the rpms when spreading because Herd reccommends leaving the adjustment wide open with sand and it can empty pretty fast. Lastly, I try to empty the unit before putting it away so the sand won't freeze around the auger. Nice unit.
Larry
 
   / Sand & Salt Spreader - Need Advice #10  
I have a King Kutter seed spreader that I use to spread sand with, no salt. My driveway is 1/3 mile long all up hill. It gets really icy and the sand alone works excellent.

The spreader works great for the price. I have to bounce the 3ph a bit to keep the sand flowing. I just keep the RPM's down to keep from waisting the sand in the ditch. I'm sure it would be easy enough to fabricate some type of shield to keep the spread more narrow but I don't have a need.

One thing to consider, is to filter the sand prior to putting it into the spreader. I use some expanded metal placed over the top. It keeps the rocks and larger stuff out. I learned this after breaking the agitator during the iciest week of the year.

They are hard to beat for the money.

Here are a couple of pic's.

Craig
 

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