Spreader sand spreader

bellweather · Sep 27, 2004

I am interested in obtaining a sand spreader for what will soon be my very long, very icy driveway. Like everybody else, I'd like to avoid spending a fortune. Any suggestions on the type to buy and where to buy it? My tractor is a Kubota BX22. Thanks

GaryM · Sep 27, 2004

How about the cheapest 3pt mount cone spreader? I see some in the MFA ad for less than $400, including the PTO shaft.

nick37 · Sep 28, 2004

A cone fertilizer spreader may not work very well with sand. When I was shopping for my tractor, a sand spreader was very high on my list due to my very steep, north-face drive. I was told that the cheap ones (< $ 600)could not handle something as fine as sand very well, but could spread granular salt, calcium chloride, etc. The price of a model that the dealer said could spread sand was twice as much. This was based on their experience in their own lot, and I feel was good honest advice, since I ended up spending less there and they don't sell salt. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
However, after one winter's use, I am a little disappointed with the fertilizer spreader simply because it's hard not to throw the stuff into the woods. If you lower the PTO speed, the tractor travels too slow and the spread is too thick. Gonna try it without any paddles this year and see how that works. Am also looking to enlarge the spreader's shield as the salt mist usually covered the rear of the tractor and the driver.

Bob_Skurka · Sep 28, 2004

HERD Spreaders, based in Logansport, Indiana has sand & salt spreaders.

Herd Seeder Company, Home Page

bellweather · Sep 28, 2004

thanks for the useful info

GaryM · Sep 30, 2004

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Gonna try it without any paddles this year and see how that works.)</font>

MAybe try reducing the length of the paddles first. That might reduce the throw distance. Or add flaps to deflect the material down rather than out. I've seen adjustable doors or flaps on the salt spreaders that the highway department uses.

NHSawyer · Sep 30, 2004

Bell,
I have the larger size Herd spreader. At this point I don't use it. I found out the hard way that rocks that will pass thru the diamond screen at the top are still big enough to shear the pin on the spreader with the paddles at the bottom. Unfotunately its not a pin but rather a bolt. Since I haven't had time to repair it I spread sand by hand on an 800' driveway.
If you get one of these critters make sure your sand is screened. No rocks.

bellweather · Oct 1, 2004

saw a cheapie Craftsman sand/salt spreader for under $200 that may do the trick. made for lawn tractors, but appears that it may work well for my needs.

thanks again for everyone's help.

JimMorrissey · Oct 2, 2004

Bell,

I would say that you need a 3pt implement (at a minimum) that gets the job done! You're talking about a serious winter condition that requires attention..... Price should be secondary, certainly considering your conditons as you described them. Months and months of a long icy driveway cannot be worth any "savings" you may be thinking about. Carefully evaluate your needs and don't buy anything before you do. Maybe ask a local snowplow guy how much sand a driveway like your usually requires...You can divide that volume/pounds into the volume/pounds a 3pt implement will hold to find out how many trips you neeed to make. I don't want to sound too richeous, but tractors aren't worth much without implements that work.

Things to consider:

- If at anytime in the future you may want to spread salt, I would seriously consider a spreader with stainless steel guts.

- How are you going to fill this hopper and how long will the material last? Shoveling frozen sand into a hopper for the sixth time at 15 degrees won't be very fun.

-Take a look at a tow-behind option as well. That way you could load a bigger/stronger "spreader" with the BX loader then hook up to it and drive away, happily spreading sand. You'll find references to them here on TBN.

-Where are you going to store the sand so it's not covered in snow and ice when you need it? Spreaders don't like frozen chunks of material.

-Factor in weight and traction issues. You don't want a trailer full of sand pushing you down the icy road into a ditch or out into the street.

I used to live on a drive like you descibe and ice/packed snow was a major problem. I know what you are dealing with. Sometimes it's exciting like during a big storm and other times it's a real pain. Best of luck to you.