I need a salt/sand spreader

[Hammy]

It is how I use mine but when I have taken it off and leave it outside, it is empty and I cover it with something. Mine is the 500# one and does a pretty darn good job for the money. This is my second year with it and it has been a life saver. It has an agitator that is turned by the PTO. I have to bounce it a little to keep the sand flowing but other then that, it works great.

I have found that I have to fill it 3 times to cover my 1/3 mile driveway and up near my house if I want it all sanded.

I did break the agitator last year shortly after I bought it because the sand I had delivered is straight from the pit and had small rocks in it. However, I haven't had any issues since I started filtering it through the expanded metal.

If you need sand, Sandman, is very reasonable if you live on the north side and good to work with.

I haven't noticed it effecting my center of gravity to any extent that worries me but I don't every side hill with it either.

 

[Zephrant]

Do you really go though 1500# an application, or do you not fill it all the way? Just shovel it in each time?
I can't get a truck up here with sand in it until spring time, so was thinking of using bags and only when I really needed it, but not at that kind of a rate.

Has anyone setup a rack that would hold the sander while you used the loader to fill it, then turn around and pick it up?

 

[Hammy]

Yes, that's 3 full loads.

Before I started using this set up, I had to get a load of sand in my truck and shovel it out by pulling forward 10', getting out, throwing down the sand, then moving forward another 10' till it was done. Man that is a workout.

I wish I could come up with some way of not having to shovel the sand into the sander by hand. If you find something, let me know.

 

[Adiredneck]

Yes, that's 3 full loads.

Before I started using this set up, I had to get a load of sand in my truck and shovel it out by pulling forward 10', getting out, throwing down the sand, then moving forward another 10' till it was done. Man that is a workout.

I wish I could come up with some way of not having to shovel the sand into the sander by hand. If you find something, let me know.

You could get a small SCUT to fill it!

 

[Zephrant]

I was thinking of making a solid place to set the sander out of blocks, next to the sand pile but raised 18" or so. Then I could get a bucket of sand and dump it in, letting the extra slop over one side. Then turn around and pick it up with a quick-hitch and go.

 

[Mcourchesne]

I hate to revive older threads but this particular one has merit. Significant history and experience of folks using their sand/salt spreaders.

A few questions I have:

1) I also have a very steep hill on my driveway and would like to use a 3 pt. hitch spreader but many of the previous links (especially to TSC) are no longer available (all I found was this =<CLICK HERE>=). Has anyone had good/bad experience with their hopper?

2) Any good tried and true set ups or ideas on how you fill your hoppers?

3) Controlling the spread ~ I also want to just throw about 8 - 12 foot and imagine just lowering the hopper closer to the ground would do just that...or am I mislead?

Thanks everyone~

 

[Dead Horse]

Back up the hill............

 

[Opti-Mist]

Not that specific spreader but the issues are with the gate controls as rust can form between the gates and the hopper. Clean it up well and treat for rust.

I made a cover for mine to keep the sand dry. I also stored the sand indoors.

Yes, lowering the spreader helps to achieve a narrower spread. Lengthening the top link to tilt the rear toward the ground also helps.

 

[Zephrant]

A lot of places sell the same(ish) red hopper- TSC, even my local farm/feed store (Big R).

It actually does not take long to fill with a shovel, I just want something quicker if I'm out in the sleet and all.

No, even on the ground at idle RPM it spreads way wider than my road- keep in mind that the road is icy, or you would not be out there with it- it hits, bounces, and spreads off the road. Berms help, but my berms were sanded better than my road, and I was driving along dragging the spreader.

That reminds me- don't run it without the loader frame on- I had to hit the brakes to land the front wheels to turn...

 

[daveinnh]

A neighbor did swear by their Herd spreader for sand in the winter.