Spreader Landpride FSP500, Gearmore PL180, or neither spreader?

[aloha]

Broadcast spreader advice and comments, please.

The local (Hawaii) dealers carry two lines of broadcast spreaders -- Landpride and Gearmore -- and generally bring in only the relatively small models. The Landpride costs about 10% more than the Gearmore.

But I have some doubts about the ability of either to spread my fertilizer mix. I mix 16-16-16 with calcium carbonate and magnesium suphate and the result in this humid climate is damp, gritty, heavy, and almost sticky. If the blend makes it onto the spinner it will be fine, but whether it will feed through the orifice of any spreader is uncertain. Local dealers "think" these spreaders would work with it, but really do not have experience.

I have been blending in a cement mixer and spreading by hand out of a trailer, but the orchard is about to expand from 2 acres to 10 and the labor of fertilizing is becoming overwhelming.

Thanks for all comments and advice.

 

[orangeandgreen]

Both units look to be made by Cosmo. The Land Pride has a single larger door and the Gearmore has 2 smaller doors. I have a Tarter ("Tarter" on the sticker and "Cosmo" stamped into the frame) with the 2 smaller doors that are advertised to be able to spread left, right, or both. I have never tried to spread to one side only.
If you are worried about feeding issues, the single larger door on the Land Pride might be the better choice.