Spreader Winter's coming gotta spread salt/sand

[Dick]

Winter upon us here in NH today (6 to 12 inches). Thank God I don't live in Buffalo. My old salt/sand spreader is a tow behind made for fertilizer/seed but I have used it for salt and sand. After 10 years it has disintegrated. Want to step up to a 3 point spreader but the more I research the more confused I get. I want something that is made to spread sand and salt. It has to be rugged. Size is not critical but would want it to hold at least 4-500 pounds. I have a BX 1500 as well as a L4740 so not too concerned about weight but would like to have the option to put on either tractor. Have seen King Kutter S-250-XB but don't have any reviews or specs on it. Also have seen S-500 and 400. Looked at Meyer but would have to Grinch my wife for Christmas if I got one.

Any help appreciated

 

[leonz]

The best and the longest lived spreaders are the VICON pendulum spreaders.

Its an opportunity cost thing for you as you have to decide whether you can
afford one Vicon unit with the fiberglass tank versus buying the spinner junk that
is out there that will rot away on you.

You have a large enough mule for the smallest Vicon unit so...................................................

The biggest and best thing that the pendulum spreaders offer for the end user
is near zero waste and much better coverage because YOU can preset the
spreaders casting width and you can use a the baffle option to prevent overcasting
of material at any PTO speed.

 

[Dead Horse]

I bought this used. It is lined on the inside with 3/8" plastic of some sort. I use it to put down sand salt mixture maybe once or twice a year when the drive gets a coat of ice and turns into a toboggan run. I run it on the back of a 3710. Sometimes have to back up the drive which is a steep clime of 1/2 mile.

Real PIA when I have to rig it, fill it and use it, but nothing else fits the bill unless I call out the sander truck. For as infrequent as I use it, it is the best all around solution. I keep about 100 gallons of mixture in the barn in 5 and 30 gallon pails. that way it is always dry and NOT frozen, when I need it.

I nearly sold it a few years ago to a member here who lives on the other side of town. I have used it several times since, and own it cheap enough i am very happy to still have it. Re the spinner comments: at the end of the season, I empty it, store it upside down in a barn and douse the spreading mechanics with used motor oil..... no problems.

 

[Farmall45b]

This is the best constructed spreader for salt and sand that I have seen. Have not purchased one yet, but hope to some day.
PTO Powered Sand Spreaders, Salt Spreaders

 

[Tomtint]

Well, I have a land pride Polly feet spreader, had a Skidsteer front mount hydro spreader , have a 2ys stainless V box in the back of the truck and had a 1/3 yard electric V box that I was going to use in a carry all on the back of my L3700. The Polly fertilizer spreader would be fine if you use straight DRY salt. Salt sand with any moisture is a bit of a challenge. The 1/3 yard electric Curtis Vbkx would work with anything, sand,salt, or sand and salt together. The biggest pita with any of them is that you need to shovel into it .. What you want to come out. You need a place to keep it warm and dry as well. The skidsteer front mount is a sturdy piece and you can tip it down, drive into a pile , tip it back and hit the button to throw it 30-40 feet. If you go the fertilizer route, have a sprayer with diesel fuel at the ready to soak it down after use in order to stop rust.

 

[crazyal]

I've got a herd 750s spreader. Found it used for a real good price because someone left fertilizer in it and it was rusted. I replaced a number of pieces, the steel "box", both input and output shafts on the gearbox, the aluminum spreader and bottom flow control panel, and one u-joint. Even with all that work I'm still in it for less than $600 and it's painted orange with Kubota paint. It has a agitator inside it that bangs around to help knock loose anything that's frozen. Even with it straight sand sometimes still freezes. When possible I try to mix in a little salt. One thing I can say is it's almost too small for my 4240. If I was to buy one I would go a size bigger.