Salt spreader poll-which spreader ?

[wyldman]

We are discussing new products in the Fisher discussion thread here (http://www.snowplowing-contractors.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=5180) and are looking for input on building a new spreader.Just trying to find out what size\type of spreader most guys would be interested in.

What would you use,if you had the $$$ and option of getting pretty much anything out there for salt\sand\de-icer spreading ? What would work best for YOUR accounts,not the big ones you are dreaming of ? :D

Please vote in the poll,and if you want to explain further,then reply.

[JohnnyU]

It seems like many people in Illinois (Peoria at least) are still somewhat scared of "salt". I think that a tailgate unit, such as the Western model 1000 or ProFlo! are best suited to my needs. I don't think there is a need for a 2-stage unit, at least not yet. I have been trying to sell salting to teh residential customers, and it is just starting to catch on.

[snowjoker]

I picked the pickup v-box electric. That would be easiest for my needs, since my trucks are not equipped with hydraulics, and dont want the hassle of maintaining a gas engine.

[Great Lakes Snow Rem]

I have a love, hate thing going on with the snowex veepro 8000, they have the right idea with the poly box and the removable spinner, but i would of made the box longer to fit the whole 8ft. bed and would have not relied on the angle of the box and a vibrator to move the product.
If i worked for trynex for a day, i would redesign, to include a box length auger to feed the smaller auger, just my 2 cents.

Steve
SIMA Member :cool:

[wyldman]

I agree,they need a full length auger,and a little bigger in diameter too.

[sdpsd99]

I picked up a used Ice O Way V box so i did not have to shovel to do my own driveway. The main reason I chose was the swinging/removeable chute. It has a low profile for better center of gravity.

Things I would combine for my ultimate spreader.

1. Curtis Snowplows Gas engine/hydro power system
2. Downeasters or Ice O Way's SS Vbox with swinging/removable chute
3. dual 8" hydro SS auger drive system
4. a removable polycarbonite floor
5. Inverted V top screens

[cat320]

I kinda like what he said below

1. dual electric auger/belt and spinner control
2.All plastic or stainless body for rust protection.
3. make it so NO material will go onto pick up floor.
4 removable shute for discharging left over material.
5. inverted V and top screens.
6. make it easy to be put on and off truck.
7. make part readly avalable or use parts that can be found anywhere durring a storm.

I'm sure there is more but that would make me happy.

Originally posted by sdpsd99
I picked up a used Ice O Way V box so i did not have to shovel to do my own driveway. The main reason I chose was the swinging/removeable chute. It has a low profile for better center of gravity.

Things I would combine for my ultimate spreader.

1. Curtis Snowplows Gas engine/hydro power system
2. Downeasters or Ice O Way's SS Vbox with swinging/removable chute
3. dual 8" hydro SS auger drive system
4. a removable polycarbonite floor
5. Inverted V top screens

[chtucker]

Poly material, dual auger, electric or Honda. 10' 5 - 6 yard, self loading, quick connect electrics ( 7 pin trailer plug?) Stainless anywhere it needs to be metal, removable spinner so I can dump whatever is left. Turn signals, brake, reverse and amber leds built in.

[TLS]

I voted a large tailgate but I don't need two stage.

Biggest issue is hooking it up.

It must be easy for ONE person to hook up for me to consider it.

We'll see how my new BOSS tailgate spreader does for me this season.

[cat320]

I would also add a vot for a tailgate 2 stage for the smaller jobs.I would just like to have one that I could fill with a sand / salt mix wet or dry and be able to spread it further than the length of a parking lot.The fisher SCII is ok but needs to be improved.

[CPSS]

We do mostly parking lots and roadways. A large spreader is a must for us.

[JustUsDe]

I like the ideal of electric spreader for pick up truck dumpers. I only know of 2 right now, truck craft and down easter. For the simple fact that a v-box is useless equipment during the off season that you must store. Dumper could be used the rest of the year. Big v-boxes have their place and so does small tailgate spreaders have a good purpose too. I think the dumper and spreader combo will meet the need in the middle of the other two spreaders. Electric has to be an option since everybody dont have the money to spend on hydrolics.


Just my 2 cents,


Ray

[Great Lakes Snow Rem]

Ez Dumper has come out this year with a new spreader, a supplier by me was to contact me when they came in but they did'nt.
So i can.t give an opinon on it one way or the other.

[Pelican]

My selection doesn't appear in the poll. The combination body on my 550 has been the most trouble free, reliable sander I've ever used. It's very adjustable too as far as the spread pattern goes. I can spread the whole road at once or just under the truck. If I slow the spinner way down, I can spread the width of a sidewalk (which I do).

Ease of installation? I can go from landscaping dump truck to salt spreader in 10 minutes with one 9/16" wrench. Just slide the spinner over the receiver tube, clamp it down with the set screw, connect quick release hydraulic lines and lift up the hinged portion of the floor. I did it last season 4 days after hernia surgery! Effortless!

The spreader is powered by central hydraulics with a belt driven pump. It has an A/C style clutch, just throw a switch in the cab and you've got oil pressure.

This truck has yet to let me down!

[Mark Oomkes]

I have 2 choices. I like the features of both an under the tailgate model on a dump truck and a large v-box. I think they both have their place and we have one of each plus a RDS body on our F550. This is a dump box with a conveyor in the middle that moves the salt back to the spinner just like a v-box.

Sometimes it's nice to be able to drive close to vehicles and be able to throw the salt underneath them which we do with our tailgate model. Other times, narrow drives, this is a bad option, so the mid mounted spinner of our v-box is nice.

Like Steve, our tailgate model can be used for salting our hauling\dumping at any time. Other than releasing the chains on the tailgate, we don't have to do anything to use ours to haul brush, dirt, mulch, etc. This makes it very nice at the beginning and end of the season when we are doing other work, but we can still have at least 1 salt truck ready to go.

[4evergreenlawns]

here is what I have to offer

[4evergreenlawns]

I am so happy with the 05 F-350 set up that I have sold my 01 2500HD and the 06 F-350 will be here week of Aug. 22 to match the 05 exactly.

[4evergreenlawns]

This being said after I have owned a brand new VeeProo 8000 (JUNK) Brand new Swenson 8ft V box with the Honda upgrade (only about 70% realiable). What I have posted in the pictures gave me 100% production all winter no questions asked. That is what I want from the $$$ I invest in equipment and that is what the Client demands no Q's asked.

[Pickering Snow]

Well it was made very clear to the boys from Blizzard what i wanted back in april no word no news from them so has we approch sept iam gonna be forced into buying something else. I know Peter was interested has well i would hope the guys from Blizzard knew me and Peter arnt dreamers i displayed that in April buying the first production low pro. Sadly enough iam a bit offended by the lack of concern on there part not giving Jerre a solid answer. Heres my advice dont bring a half built piece of equipment to a trade show and then not offer it for sale, even when you have buyers that are willing to do your field testing for you!!!!!!!! :soapbox .

Iam not sure what iam gonna get at this point i need to replace the two tailgate units i had on the trucks that sold in the spring we used them for small parking lots doctors and Dentist office size lots. Besides a Western proflow 2 iam not sure about the others considered a Downeaster set up as well any input??

[cat320]

I like Ron's set up I almost went that way with the truckcraft body but I did want to really drive arounf in a dump all the time this being my personal vehical and the other being what i could put in the p/u dumpers. I do like the electric ones quiet never have to worry if it will start up on you because it will.

[gordyo]

Here is what I am running.

A 3.5 MVP Badged Meyer/Diamond made by Swenson, Stainless Steel V box on an F-450. This 3.5 yard V-Box (IMO) is too big for the truck, however I spread only Magic now. It was extremely heavy for the truck when I spread Salt/Sand the few times that I actually did. With Magic I can do the whole campus in one load so having the bigger v-box works out ok for me as I don't have to travel between accounts and because I only work the truck at one place I don't need to leave it loaded when plowing. This would be too big for this truck if I was running all over the countryside servicing accounts but I basically start dropping weight as soon as I leave the salt storage area since it is in a parking lot that I must salt. The only thing I had to do was change a gear out to decrease the width of spread as it was overspreading alot of my single lane roads. Other than that it works great for me.

[derekbroerse]

Hmmmm no one mentioned walk-behind spreaders (my first few years, small lots) or tractor mounted spreaders (last year).

I ran a Vicon three-point-hitch spreader last year on a Ford 600 (Jubilee style) tractor. It was a last second decision when our local grocery store was bought out by a large chain and they said I could keep the contract if I could salt. It held about 1/3 of a yard at a time (this was the little version but it was handy) and worked flawlessly all winter. I was filling it with bulk salt stored in plastic barrels off the back of the truck. Spreader was completely adjustable in every way, had breakers for clumps (and never any bridging), and totally reliable. The bad part was that I had to float the tractor to the store every night and slug these full barrels of salt around. Not very convenient but it made me a lot of money.

This past spring I picked up a used Flink 8' gas powered V-box. This thing is quirky... hopefully I will have it sorted out by the next event. Cant beat loading with a tractor instead of by hand...

[waterboy]

SOUND THE ALARM, NooB Alert, I repeat, NooB alert!!

On our F-650's we run Buyers tailgate spreaders with central hydaraulics. We have one in stainless and it is by far my favorite.

On our F-250's we run either Salt Dogg V-box setups or Sno-Ex 1075's. I have to admit the Sno-Ex are somewhat unreliable and not all that well made, IMHO. I have a Salt Dogg on my rig and I love it! No problems yet and the auto reverse feature on the auger in the case of a jam is very nice. Complete control of the spiner/auger/and vibrator features are a plus as well. Stainless metal components and plastic for the rest make maintenance easy. I can see where the electrical connectios are its weakness, though. The Sno-Ex goes through motors like water, and the swing/support rods get beat up and seized frequently, despite our best of intentions and maintenance.

For push spreaders we use Lesco spreaders. We have tried Agri-Fabs and the Salt Dogg offerings and they just don't stay together as well as the Lescos. Yeah, about $100 more than the AF or Salt Dogg, but how much is a broken spreader worth to you in the back of your truck?

[Ford fan]

I think Salt Dog has one of the best set ups. I havent used one yet but just by looking and seeing what they do, I'm going with them next year! BUT---Fisher has a great idea by having the top flip open to the sides, thats a great feature! IMO if the Salt Dog came with a little bigger spinner it would be perfect! JMO:D

[Jared in MT]

I'm pretty happy with the salt dogg V.

I would like to have the capacity to reliably spread 1/2"-5/8" gravel without busting sheer pins.

I'd also like a "circuit overload" that shuts off the belt when it gets jammed & have the capability to reverse belt direction.

Self loading at 0500 would be cool, too.:D

This is in addition to what everyone else has already mentioned.