Spreader Spreaders "walk behind" vs 3 point hitch

hazmat · Oct 2, 2002

Spreaders \"walk behind\" vs 3 point hitch

Since its never too early to start your Christmas list:

I want a spreader for fertilizing, lime (probably pellets) and grass seed. My lawn is littel under 2 acres. I've used a commercial grade walk behind spreader before with good results.

Suspend your tractor bias for a minute, Any reason I should choose a 3point hitch version over the walk behind?

I know the walk behind is "lower impact" if I were to be seeding a new lawn.

I actually have a POS scotts that I bought for $20 to do my lawn renovation last weekend. It doesn't even hold a full bag of fert or lime!!! But I needed something Sunday morning & that's what was available. So I'll have that to use if necessary.

I like the idea of riding vs, walking, but am I giving up too much in manueverability?

theboman · Oct 2, 2002

Re: Spreaders \"walk behind\" vs 3 point hitch

I'm kinda considering one to that mounts on my ATV or on a 2" receiver, usually under $200. I just used about 300 lbs of lime/fertilizer and wheat on the ole garden and my push spreader that holds over 50lbs wore my butt out.
I used my ATV and an empty pallet to drag the surface and cover the seed. Lookin' for a little rain to see how it works.

Alan L. · Oct 2, 2002

Re: Spreaders \"walk behind\" vs 3 point hitch

2 acres is not THAT much, but the 3-point allows you to spread it quick, and without refilling. When I use my spreader I spread a 40 foot swath, and go at maximum speed in medium range - probably 5 or 6 mph. It is really fast.

kevincook · Oct 2, 2002

Re: Spreaders \"walk behind\" vs 3 point hitch

I got a 3pt spreader ealier this year. I now can spread 500 pounds of fertilizer on my 4 acres of lawn in about 30 minutes. A walk behind spreader would take me half the day and wear me out.

I also have been buying Ag fertilizer from Agway this year for the lawn. I just put down some 20-7-13 (12.5% ammonium nitrate) last week and the lawn is loving it.

500 lbs. is about $50 which is much cheaper than buying anything at HD or Lowes. It doesn't have slow release nitrogen so I was worried about burning the lawn at first but I haven't had any trouble at all.

hazmat · Oct 2, 2002

Re: Spreaders \"walk behind\" vs 3 point hitch

Kevin,

Small world, I broke my thumb skiing at Song Mountain! Had to have it fused together as I did too much damage to the joint.

So three point sounds faster, Are you guys using them in open fields or do you have to drive around some obstacles?

Soundguy · Oct 2, 2002

Re: Spreaders \"walk behind\" vs 3 point hitch

I've got the three common types.. the junk walk behinds.. carry about 20#.. I god a slightly nicer 100# unit that pulls behind a lawnmower or atv... will also areate with tines, etc..
Really don't like it.. and it was almost as much as the small 3pt one I got at tsc. The one from tsc was less than 3oo bucks.. has a flexible 'universal' pto coupler.. and holds about 2-300 pounds of seed / fertalizer.

I did my 10 and 3 acre pasture with it fast... like someone else said.. you can get a good swath at dectnt ground speed going. I got about 30' of great coverage.

Soundguy

MReeter · Oct 2, 2002

Re: Spreaders \"walk behind\" vs 3 point hitch

haz,You can buy commercial walk behind spreaders of good quality and performance.Or you can buy a 3-point type,I prefer the tractor mount,simply because it's another reason to climb on and "work".

We own the smaller "hopper type" spreader that Landpride offers,350 lbs. capacity,I hook this up to our BX and it works great.This style spreader, of about any color are all made by a Company in Italy,I can't come up with the name.

If you opt for this type spreader,one thing you want to watch out for;these things spread a LOT of material in a hurry.On granular fertilizer,I have the gates set at about 1/2".When spreading Ag Lime (non-pelitized) I will open the gates all the way.I also buy fert. in the bulk,MUCH CHEAPER,plus you can have whatever formula you want blended.

kevincook · Oct 2, 2002

Re: Spreaders

Hazmat, I can see Song Mt. out the window. It's small but close, we ski there every weekend in the winter. I jammed my thumb into the snow a couple of years ago but at least it was in Austria so I could make up a good story to go along with it.

My property is pretty much wide open but I don't have any trouble running around the obstacles that I do have. I spread a swath about 30-40 feet wide and set the gate opening small enough that I need to go back and forth in one direction and then perpendicular to that with the rest. I haven't had any trouble with streaking or burning anywhere.

The one I got is made by Sitrex. <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.sitrex.com>http://www.sitrex.com</A> I think these are sold under many different brand names.

theboman · Oct 3, 2002

Re: Spreaders

They don't have a dealer listing ....

IllMarty · Oct 3, 2002

Re: Spreaders \"walk behind\" vs 3 point hitch

MReeter,
What type of spreader are you using that spreads ag. lime? I want to get one that will do that. I use ag lime that has the consistancy of fine sand, not powder, and is stored outside in a pile and is damp but not completely wet unless it has been raining. I looked at one brand that makes a nice heavy duty spreader made for sand and salt spreading but it was $1200.00.ouch!Marty

cj7 · Oct 3, 2002

Re: Spreaders \"walk behind\" vs 3 point hitch

Maybe look at a hopper from Northern that slides in a 2" receiver and spins with a 12v motor. You could use it on the back of your pick-up or tractor. It would also spread salt in the winter on your driveway.

I would like one myself have not yet bought one. Too many other tools to get first!

cj7 · Oct 3, 2002

Re: Spreaders \"walk behind\" vs 3 point hitch

Maybe look at a hopper from Northern that slides in a 2" receiver and spins with a 12v motor. You could use it on the back of your pick-up or tractor. It would also spread salt in the winter on your driveway.

I would like one myself have not yet bought one. Too many other tools to get first!

MReeter · Oct 3, 2002

Re: Spreaders \"walk behind\" vs 3 point hitch

Marty,We have the standard Hopper Type P.T.O. driven spreader.It has the steel driveshaft,not the flex type.Has 2 openings that determine the flow rate.I've found that the ONLY way to spread Ag Lime with this unit is that the Lime has to be almost powder dry.

I live within 10 miles of a good Quarry,I will call them to see if they are crushing stone that day,if so,I will have them deliver a load that is "right out of the crusher".

If the Lime is the least bit damp,it will bridge and not flow worth a darn.Have learned this the hard way.The pelitized version will flow,break down,and start working sooner,but is much more expensive.

If you have access to dry Lime,this spreader will work for you.

Buck · Oct 3, 2002

Re: Spreaders \"walk behind\" vs 3 point hitch

Hazmat,

Have you considered a tow behind? Cut the grass while fertilizing?

Buck

Huskerfan · Oct 3, 2002

Re: Spreaders

I have the 12 volt, tube hitch mount, Earthway spreader from Northern. It holds 100 lbs. and which covers about 1 acre. It is light polypropylene, easy to clean and takes little storage space. It is ideal for the 2 acre lot. Priced under $200 3 years ago.

OkieG · Oct 3, 2002

Re: Spreaders

hazmat,

You are getting some good information here. I believe that if you once try a 3pt spreader you will not consider a walk behind.

What kind of obstacles do you have?

While 3pt spreaders will throw up to 30-40 ft., lowering the spreader closer to the ground and/or slowing the engine rpm will spread a narrower swath that you can adjust for a little more control contouring around flower beds or fertilizing narrow areas in the yard.

OkieG

TresCrows · Oct 4, 2002

Re: Spreaders

Walk behind?? you must be ill!!!!!!!!!!!!! Adding to what the others say, the Herd Comapny makes a smaller 3-point PTO powerd unit that holds approx 3 bags of fertilizer or a whole 50 lb bag of seed with room to spare. It throws an adjustable swath depending on material of 15 to 25 feet. It is called the Herd model M-96. I damged mine, my fault, they sent me parts on OPEN acount. I can spread, litteraly hundreds of pounds of fertilizer or seed or lime or gypsum rapidly. I can cover large fields (relatively speaking) or zip around my trees and beds. There is no loss of manuverability with my "small" tractors and your little TC18 will be very sporty with the Herd M-96. It's smaller size balances well with sub compacts and tractors the size of the JD4100, Kubota 7500 and 2410 and of course the BX. I love my M-96, a great investment. It is a humdinger. J

NY_Yankees_Fan · Oct 4, 2002

Re: Spreaders

Ok Tres you got me sold, what did it cost u??

Thanks

Tom

hazmat · Oct 4, 2002

Re: Spreaders

<font color=blue>Have you considered a tow behind? Cut the grass while fertilizing?</font color=blue>

I'm sure they make better ones, but I've tried my dad's craftsman tow behind. It was almost useless, even on his lawn tractor where you could reach the on-off lever. I couldn't get the thing to back up at all. I ended up pushing the thing around by hand.

<font color=blue>Walk behind?? you must be ill!!!!!!!!!!!!! </font color=blue>

Well I kept hearing 30-40 ft spreading width. I was wondering how I was going to keep from fertilizing the driveway, the pool, and the garden. 15-25 ft sounds a little more reasonable. If you turn the RPMs down can you get to 8-10' width?

I've read thru your thread on the Herd spreader. Do you find that the M-96 has enough capacity, or should I step up to the F-160 because I can handle the weight (1200# three point capacity)? Less stops to fill up on lime.

Speaking of lime, do you use the powdered or pellet version?

Thanks for all the responses, So far sounds like no one has regretted the upgrade to the 3point spreader.

Anonymous Poster · Oct 4, 2002

Re: Spreaders

I have the Herd spreader and it's performed great with my BX. It took a little fiddling to get the adjustment correct for the material I was spreading the first time around, but for the money, it's a good machine. Others I looked at were just plain too big!