Are there any decent mid-range spreaders?

[Sun Treader]

So a few times a year I spread granulated fertilizer, grass seed, or other small pellet like things. Pretty sure I need to lime at some point. Haven't used sand or salt.

I've gone through countless hardware store plastic roller things and hand crank spreaders. They're all garbage.

I'm not spreading a thousand pounds of anything, more like a few hundred pounds at most and its not just back and forth fields but around the orchard and yard; or just to fill in grass seed on patches of disturbed ground.

The big 3 point metal or plastic cone hopper spreaders seem like over kill to me. The spreader mechanism looks very similar to the little plastic gear boxes and blades on the hardware store push spreaders.

The smaller towed ones look the same as the push carts but even less likely to survive.

Is there some middle ground spreader? Anyone had experience with tractor (not law mower) class drop spreaders?

 

[Old Red]

I have an earthway push spreader. It is as simple as this….for a lawn of an acre or two I can spread faster and better (more accurate) than doing it with a machine like my tractor or four wheeler. This is total time to spread…meaning from when I walk to garage and finish throwing away bags of fertilizer. I do my acre lawn in less than 30 minutes and I usually spread around 500 lbs at a time. Even the pros like Tru Green etc., they use ride on spreaders that are the same as my push spreader except it is self propelled.

For the farm my large acreage alfalfa I rent a fertilizer buggy from the fertilizer store.

 

[Gunny]

I've got a Gandy drop spreader, four footer, holds about 300 pounds, adjustable settings, flotation tires, grease-able bearings, all steel, not a piece of plastic in it anywhere, just what I needed for my fertilizer and lime needs.

I bought it used from an Ace Rental place, think I gave $100 or $125 for it, great deal. They sell a lot of their stuff after they've used up all the tax depreciation benefits.

Do some hard internet searches, maybe you can find something along those lines

 

[DJ54]

Have to agree on the Gandy. I had one, and just sold it. It was something to get me by, until I got my larger hopper type rebuilt. It does well with granular products, or, like dry hydrated lime, although it may bridge over, unless you get the optional "jigglers". This was a 38" model, and sold it to a fellow to spread pelletized lime on a food plot for hunting. He was planning on pulling it with his 4-wheeler. I pulled it with a 10 hp. Wheel Horse, with no problem.

 

[Spindifferent]

I've asked those same questions, and haven't found any good middle ground between cheap and expensive spreaders for both fertilizer and seed.

While not cheap, the pendulum spreaders use a different mechanism to spread, and seem to be more customizable and more accurate than the typical spin cone 3 point spreaders. Check out this info:

http://kubota.com/product/Spreaders/VSModels.aspx?
PFS Series Spreaders | Land Pride
Gearmore, Inc. - Spreaders: Pendulum
Rear Mounted Pendulum Spreaders / Fertiliser Spreaders / Spreading Equipment / Vicon brand Corporate site / Home - Vicon International

Good luck, and keep us posted on what you find.

 

[mmancuso13]

I have had good luck with the Agrifab 175 pull behind. It is inexpensive, and ABS to prevent rust. I just pull it behind my zero turn.

Amazon.com : Agri-Fab 45-288 175-Pound Max Tow Behind Drop Spreader, Black : Lawn And Garden Spreaders : Patio, Lawn & Garden

 

[mmancuso13]

You can get one for about $165 on Amazon

 

[oldnslo]

Ground buster advertises 500 & 1,000 lb drop spreaders. No idea on the cost or quality of these spreaders though.

Lime Spreaders | GroundBusters

 

[copytmpmzl]

So a few times a year I spread granulated fertilizer, grass seed, or other small pellet like things. Pretty sure I need to lime at some point. Haven't used sand or salt.

I've gone through countless hardware store plastic roller things and hand crank spreaders. They're all garbage.

I'm not spreading a thousand pounds of anything, more like a few hundred pounds at most and its not just back and forth fields but around the orchard and yard; or just to fill in grass seed on patches of disturbed ground.

The big 3 point metal or plastic cone hopper spreaders seem like over kill to me. The spreader mechanism looks very similar to the little plastic gear boxes and blades on the hardware store push spreaders.

The smaller towed ones look the same as the push carts but even less likely to survive.

Is there some middle ground spreader? Anyone had experience with tractor (not law mower) class drop spreaders? Top 5 Best Drop Spreaders [2021 Review] - Grass Killer

What brand of manure spreaders holds up the best without spending a fortune? Im talking used $7500 and less range. Lots of NHs in that price range or the older JD hydra pushs. Not sure I want a hydrapush, have heard stories about them. My BIL in NWIA says they used ot have a NH and that it wasnt heavy enuff and had alot of promblems with it. What kind of luck have you had with NH, New Idea, Gehl, old Kelly Ryans, Dual, CIH or something like that. I want a slop gate, and has to have 1000 PTO, also want 300bu or bigger spreader. This will be used for our 250 hd backgrounding yard, and want something that will last a long time and will hold up if we ever go to 500 head in the future. Havent hauled any out in the last couple years, been piling it and the lots are showing it, need to get something and take care of this promblem this winter.

This is more of a need then the new stock trailer, thats more of a want. LOL But thanks for all the replys on that thread, am still shopping around on the trailers.

 

[leonz]

Without spending good money on a good manure spreader your only fooling yourself.

The only high quality side discharge tub flail manure spreader I am aware of is the ABBEY brand,
made and sold in Europe and you could import it here.

A flail tub type manure spreader like the Abbey has many fewer parts and 2 rotor bearings, roller chain drive
and high floatation tires.

Abbey does not have a dealer network in The United States but I am sure they would love to enter the market
if you wanted to represent them

Don't worry about its being from IRELAND: We have Most Favored Nation status so importing one will not be an issue.

Like the old US made flail tub spreaders except the HAWK brand it can be
loaded from both sides as it is hinged to allow it to be loaded from both sides.

Parts like roller chains, bearings and tires are easy to obtain locally.

You can ask questions of them by sending an e-mail to info@abbeymachinery.com and ask
if it is equipped with a 1,000 RPM power take off or use a speed increaser gearbox is used.





www.abbeymachinery

.com