I need a salt/sand spreader

Hammy · Jan 18, 2008

David Crockey,

I've never used one of those but they do look a lot better for the task then the cone seed spreader. Mine works but when it wears out, I'll be looking into something like that.

It's more then twice the money but from the pictures it looks heavy duty and if it can spread wet sand then thats the ticket. Mine will do it, but I have to bounce the 3ph a bit to keep it flowing.

Thanks for the link.

Craig

daveinnh · Jan 20, 2008

I agree - those Herd sanders sound promising.

Anyone w/ experience?

daveinnh · Jan 26, 2008

jpm said:
if the drive is so iced that it has to be sanded,and the sander is on the truck that needs sand to go up or down the drive,what give the truck the traction to sand the drive?

I go up the driveway, but stopping at the road going down can be challenging when fully iced. Also, the oil delivery company has a policy of having their drivers back-up driveway hills, so if they can't drive up, we get cold.

I've been shoveling sand out the pickup bed to date, but my shoulders are looking for options, especially from this past December's snow - most in 80 yrs. for the month. But having gone to school at SUNY-ESF in Syracuse, it's not that deep.

Casco1 · Feb 3, 2008

Thanks for all the help and suggestions. I ended up buying from TSC It's a receiver mount retail $529 but I was able to get 10% and paid $476 and no sales tax. Ya gotta love living next door to a sales tax free state. After looking at it I found it to be very simple in construction, all parts easily replaceable or altered to make it work better.

This is the unit I bought, the only question is 'how will it work with sand?'. Only time will tell but since I'm mounting it to a receiver welded to my FEL bucket I can shake it to loosen stuck sand. Maybe?

Tractor Supply Company - SUV Tailgate Spreader

Thanks again

IXLR8 · Feb 4, 2008

Let us know how it works out. I am looking for something like that for my 1/3 mile dirt road.

Zephrant · Jan 18, 2009

Anyone use this one: Poly Hopper Seeder/Spreader? Claims it can handle salt and sand, and with the poly hopper at least that part is rust-proof.

Looks like it is made by "KingKutter"

They also claim in-store sales only, but I suspect I could find some company to ship it to me.

Zephrant · Jan 18, 2009

Northern Tool has the steel model, but not the poly one. I've emailed to ask if they can special order the poly.

Hammy · Jan 20, 2009

Zephrant,

Check Big R. That is where I got mine. It's the steel one but it works pretty darn good for the money. The hardest part is loading it up by hand. Whatever you get, just make sure you filter your sand first. I put a 4'x4' piece of expanded metal over the top and then fill it up.

Craig

Hammy · Jan 20, 2009

Here is a photo of my sander on my tractor.

The steel one works for me but I don't use salt in my mix, sand only. I have a long steep driveway and the sand is the ticket.

Zephrant · Jan 21, 2009

Thanks Hammy- I was there a few weeks ago, but was not looking for a sander yet.

I'm really concerned with it rusting out though- I want to put it on the 3PH and leave it there most of the winter. I won't be taking it off and cleaning it ever, so it will have damp sand sitting in it.

Is that how you use yours? Does it have a vibrator or agitator?

Does the high mounting make your tractor any more tippy? I'm thinking that 500# mounted at the operator level would move my CG a little.

Nice looking tractor!

Hammy · Jan 22, 2009

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 · Jan 23, 2009

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 · Jan 23, 2009

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 · Jan 23, 2009

Hammy said:
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 · Jan 24, 2009

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 · Dec 2, 2009

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 · Dec 2, 2009

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

Opti-Mist · Dec 2, 2009

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 · Dec 3, 2009

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...