Silly but how do you remember you have a salter on the back

[ih82plow]

I know it sounds silly but .I am constantly just remembering in the nic of time I have a salter on the back of my truck when backing up( western 500 low profile model)

I was thinking of getting a set of those lighted bumper markers you see on the big rig's and then mounting them on the side of the salter pointing outwards hopefully just peeking out from the quarter panels so I see them in the mirror.Or maybee a rotating beacon that would stick above the spreader high enought So I would see the beacon over my cross over box so I would see it in my rear veiw mirror.



I have had way too many close calls today,And eather remembered in time or just plain stopped before I hit for no other good reason then somebody was looking out for me.

[stackitslamit]

once youve smashed into a light pole or a dumpster once. then youll remember.
as with anything, youll get use to it. Remind yourself mentally before you do each account. remember that the spreader is a part of the vehicle now. Good Luck

[snowjoker]

The first time out with my spreader on I almost backed into a guard rail with it. Even though it sits well above the tailgate.I also took the tailgate off to help remind me it is there.

[BWhite]

Stackitslam it has it right you have to mentally remind yourself each time you drop the blade . After a while it will sink in , then reinforce it every so often hopefully by not hitting something . Visual reminders may not be effective . after a while they become commonplace and you wont even notice them .

[Waterchikn]

Yes indeed. Once you back into something, you remember everytime after that. Well, for me, it took two times. First was a tree that bent the cage alittle, of course it was the only tree with a half mile. Then it was an over sized parking curb. Whos idea was this! A parking curb that is garaunteed to screw your car up if you hit it! Anyway, I remember now, and after hooking up a strap to a light post to pull the cage out enough for the spinner to turn, it crosses my mind. Not to mention I was in the state police post parking lot :eek:

[wyldman]

I usually run a guard to protect it.Even if it's just a piece of 2X2 stuck in the hitch receiver with something welded onto it.Then when you hit something,it doesn't damage the salter.

[Mick]

Usually the repair bill from the first time will do it. I backed into a tree pretty hard one time. I was seeing many dollars in repair bills flashing before my eyes as I got out to see what I'd done. Fortunately, I'd hit the angle iron of the flat bed instead of the engine cage.

[digger242j]

I'm with everybody else--once you back into something with it, you'll remember. Every salter our company has owned has been damaged that way at least once. Different driver each time, and nobody has done it more than once.

(Yeah, I did it once myself....) :headwall

[WalkingMan]

I just missed squashing mine last sun. morning.
I folded my right rear quarter and bumber instead.
5 m.p.h. F-250 bump test sux.
Must be them gov. regulations on crumple zones or something.
Pix soon.:headwall

[SLC1]

As was said before, Once you total it by backing into something you will never forget. Back when I first started about 9 years ago, had my first Air Flo V-box 2yd sander on my pickup, backed into a telephone pole at about 8mph. Totaled the sander and sent it almost into the cab of the truck, smashed out the back window and wrecked it pretty good. Sander was about 2 months old. Well needless to say, I have never hit anything again. Just my two cents

[cmerland]

The real simple answer is to look at what your doing. If your backing up then be looking backwards since whats in front of you is heading in the opposite direction. Youd no more be looking over your shoulder when you start pushing the snow into the pile so be looking backwards (turn your head, not your mirrors) to watch what your backing up towards.

However, to save you the anger, frustration and downtime, tell you what I'll do for you. Send me the money for the spreader damage NOW before you hit something and just IMAGINE you hit something with the spreader. This way you'll be well aware that theres a spreader back there and I'll spend your money happily:cash :cash

This way we both end up smilling!!!! :) :)

Come on what da ya say?

[cmerland]

Just a quick follow up, the directions to look over your shoulder were only for those who have tailgate spreaders. Obviously those of us with dump trucks, or V boxes rely on our mirrors and its very important that you learn how to use these properly.

(Happy now Bill????_:D :D :D

[ih82plow]

Originally posted by cmerland
The real simple answer is to look at what your doing. If your backing up then be looking backwards since whats in front of you is heading in the opposite direction. Youd no more be looking over your shoulder when you start pushing the snow into the pile so be looking backwards (turn your head, not your mirrors) to watch what your backing up towards.

However, to save you the anger, frustration and downtime, tell you what I'll do for you. Send me the money for the spreader damage NOW before you hit something and just IMAGINE you hit something with the spreader. This way you'll be well aware that theres a spreader back there and I'll spend your money happily:cash :cash

This way we both end up smilling!!!! :) :)

Come on what da ya say?

Its never been a problem for me of what direction to look(sometimes if I forget what directionI am supposed to be looking I check the indicator on my steering collum).

The problem I do have is that the salter sticks out an addtional 2' off the back of the truck and becauses its completely hidden from sight and new to me this season

I have been having some close calls with it when backing up.I had decided to mount a beacon on a pole mounted to the sander and I am going to make an adpter to plug it into my trailer light harness so that when the back up taillight go on the beacon will flash reminding me its there,

As other have said it takes a while to get used to it But I am trying to avoid damaging it as a future reminder not to back into things .

I do have a peice of the busted front head lamp from my ford f150 hanging from my rear veiw mirror.I have hanging it from my mirror since 1996 or so when my ford was 2 days old and I ran into my partner while I was following him for saftey he was moving our backhoe and decided to try and put it in a higher gear.He ended up coming to a full stop and I was not paying attention.$3500.00 later I know never take my eyes off the road


PS iwas following real close because people were passing me to get in between us to pass him on double yellow lines.

Have a great day everyone

[Dan Deutekom]

We built a removable bumper out of steel tubing that fit into the trailer hitch reciever. We called it a Terrybar named after the driver of the truck;) It saved the salter many times.

[Ohiosnow]

Silly but how do you remember you have a salter on the back

HOW ????----- You do remember that it's winter ?? You plow & salt so there is a plow on the front so there a salter on the back right ?? :nodd

Sorry to bust your chops but I LMAO it all the guys I know that damage their trucks & salters (some every year)because they go brain dead when plowing (all they can think is how fast can they get to the next job) & BAM :headwall they hit a pole or a wall or a snowbank :rolleyes:

Not to jinks myself but still no damage to any of my trucks in 29 yrs. of snowplowing plowing!

[ih82plow]

HOW ????----- You do remember that it's winter ?? You plow & salt so there is a plow on the front so there a salter on the back right ??

I guess for me every time I plow I am not running a spreader.

As for being safe I am the guy who says I plow under 15 mph on every thing I do.So I am not rushing to get anyplace. I think the guys who have honestly answered here understand where I am coming from. Maybee I have to install the salter every time I have my plow on and this way I will always know its back there.

You know I am being honest here and had way too many close calls that 2nd day with the salter and wanted to see what others were doing.

If I had a giant pick up bed salter that I would see or feel on the back of the truck I would not forget as easey

[Mick]

Originally posted by ih82plow
[B]I think the guys who have honestly answered here understand where I am coming from.

If I had a giant pick up bed salter that I would see or feel on the back of the truck I would not forget as easey

I sure do and you may not forget it's back there but still could run into something. I was talking about driving my truck that's specifically for the V-box sander - no way I'm going to forget it's there. I ran into the tree because I was backing up to line up for the run and forgot the TREE was there.:rolleyes: :mad: . Actually, there were a lot of trees, I just lost track of this one.

[Ohiosnow]

I guess for me every time I plow I am not running a spreader
Ok, but when you put it on then you know it's back there right ??? ;)

So I am not rushing to get anyplace
OK, but there has to be a reason you can't remember it's back there

:headwall
I think the guys who have honestly answered here understand where I am coming from.
Honestly I was & am answering HONESTLY :nodd I'm sorry but I can't think how I could forget a salter is on the back of my truck :rolleyes: I put on & off my salter all the time the first yr. but now I buy a truck load of skids at a time so my salter is on most of the time.


too many close calls that 2nd day with the salter
2nd. day ?? OK I can see in one way as your not used to it back there but on the other hand you just got it so it's like a new toy right :wink :wink

[WoofsPlow]

Do they still make those curb feelers? I could use some! Anybody use them?

[EIB]

I have my tail gate off when my spreader is on. So I see it everytime I look into the mirror.
Everett

[phoenix827]

There is a technical term for forgetting you have a sander behind you, (or a tree, pole whatever). I think it is called a brain fart!:grinz

[bossplower]

I know what you mean about not knowing it 's there. I only use my little receiver hitch spreader on a few jobs and keep it in the back of the truck the rest of the time . I just bought a Magnum
spreader which will be on all the time . I think i'l take my tailgate off next yr.

Steve