To buy or not to buy spreader for spreading sand?

[C-85 775]

Hi All,

I am thinking about buying a Brinly 3.5 cu ft. broadcast spreader. Their info says it will spread sand and or salt, but I am concerned that this might be an overstatement. I've read some reviews on this spreader, but they all are about it spreading seed and fertilizers, none about sand. Does anyone out there have any experience using one of these or similar one to spread sand on their driveway? If you do and are willing to share stories that would be great!

Thanks,

C-85

[diesel cowboy 263]

Had a customer a work that wanted to do the same thing. We told him that if the sand was dry and where he was trying to spread it was also dry with no snow, sand, or ice what so ever it should work. He said to get one so we got a brinly spreader for him. After the first heavy wet snow we got he called and wanted to know about putting something on the wheels of the spreader to increase the traction of them because it just skidded along and didnt spread. He gave up on it after we told him it probably wouldnt work even with chains on it. The only spreader that I know of that will spread sand/salt is a Herd. Its a great attachment but unfortunatly it will only work on lager tractors with a cattagory 1 three point hitch and 540 rpm pto. And the smallest the make is around a 400-500 pound capacity. You might be able to find a small tailgate spreader for a truck and modify it to fit you tractor. That might be the best bet on getting one that will function properly. Hope this helps, Stewart

[Kelly 1,033]

I think there is a member on here that used a spreader, think it was electric, I think it mounted right off the back of the tractor, not a tow behind.

[GlenPettit 1,718]

There are many different kinds of sand: Beach sand is fine-round that flows easily, Sharp sand has many flat sides so it packs tight, and Rough sand has many many sizes in it.

For snow & ice you would want Rough sand on the ice, but it doesn't flow through the equipment well at all. No sand will spread well when even just a little moist.

Small Broadcast spreaders and Drop spreaders get their drive from the wheels and need friction & weight to get that, much harder to get with small tractors pulling them.

As Stewart said, you need a much much larger PTO or motor driven spreader. For a normal drive, best to just spread it by hand. Good Luck.

[Kelly 1,033]

Here is a bit of info, if you scroll down the page you will see the one I was thinking of.

[Amanda 82]

I've never used a spreader, but my main concern would be the Material (sand) your using and the damage it could cause to the unit ($$$) compared to the other soft things such as seed and fertilizer.

[Kelly 1,033]

as far as damage, you could construct a shield out of anything to keep the material from contacting the tractor, plastic sheeting, light weight wood, ect......

[Amanda 82]

True but the internal parts may be a little damaged compared to the protected outside depending on what kind of machine it is.....

[can whlvr 994]

i would not use one because of the rust factor for the tractor,if salt is needed i spread it manually,but thats just me not wanting any of my horses in too much salt,i have a gravel drive and built a ripper blade for my grader blade to tear up ice instead of salt

[C-85 775]

Thanks to everyone that offered advice on my spreader question!

I've decided not to buy this, as from what I've read it just wouldn't work.

The 200.00 dollar cost didn't bother if I thought it would have worked.

Some of the reviews I've read about this spreader indicate that it strips its gears just spreading soft stuff like fertilizers and seeds. For some reason they built this with plastic gears, and I'm not sure why, that would be a big weakness.

It's too bad someone doesn't offer a small spreader that was rugged enough and would actually work, having such a spreader would be great for my drvieway! This machine may have been okay if they had put better tires on it, put steel gears in it, and placed a electric vibrator on it to shake it a little and so that it would feed well.

Thanks again,

C-85 :flags-usa:

[varosd 1,185]

i would not use one because of the rust factor for the tractor,if salt is needed i spread it manually,but thats just me not wanting any of my horses in too much salt,i have a gravel drive and built a ripper blade for my grader blade to tear up ice instead of salt

I spead the sand by hand trying not to use any salt

the first yr living back up North, my B-80 paint took a beating on the paint. the county spreading salt on our roads and me running the ST all the way onto the main road! now I stop and shovel out the the end of the driveway. plus having a gap, in the snow, helps the auger of the ST clear out.... if that makes sense?