GardenerHeaven.com is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Maintaining your lawn or yard can be a challenging task. As the larger property requires special care or, they can get out of the hand in no time. Hence, costing you more money and time. Usually, this is the cause why you need to own the right tools with you before you face any issues taking care of or maintaining your yard. One such commodity that is a savior at such a time is commonly named a tow behind spreader. Selecting the right tow behind spreader is challenging too. We’ve made this easy for you by compiling the list of the best tow behind spreader to make your purchase easy.
This article includes not only the best buys but also the parameters to pick the best tow behind spreader. In the end, we will give you some basic suggestions to always keep your tow behind spreader in the best shape. So let’s begin the journey.
All About The Lifesaver Tool: Tow Behind Spreader
A tow behind spreader is a tool that helps you to scatter grass seed, insect control, and weed control. These tow behind spreaders are usually a kind of broadcast spreader meant to outspread the pelletized fertilizer across the broad swath as it gets attached after any vehicle such as ATV, mower, or tractor. They create a temporary job of yard fertilization and are amazingly multifaceted for annual property care and maintenance.
Why Agri-Fab outperforms others?
Agri-Fab is a renowned name in the agriculture enterprise because of its quality product, which withstands the time. It’s a high-efficiency pull behind spreader, from 1/2 acres coverage on a single fill to 12-foot widespread for all seasons. Agri-Fab tow behind spreader never ceases to work the best. Easy to assemble and attach and the very durable pneumatic tires are its two most trusted functions.
Backed with an Agri-Fab universal hitch, it attaches quickly and efficiently to all tractors. It presents a durable performance for a tow behind spreader. Together with 130 lb hopper capacity, easy to pull behind, and best accessory choices, Agri-Fab tow behind spreader indeed stands the best in all levels.
Our Top 5 Picks For Tow Behind Spreader
Buying Guide
Essential Things to Know Before Buying a Tow Behind Spreader
Imagine having a large yard without maintenance. It looks awful, right? Here rises the need for a life-saver tool, i.e., tow behind Spreader. The need for a tow behind spreader is to maintain your lawn. It can serve well for seasonal use as well as everyday maintenance.
We have reviewed our top five picks of the tow behind spreader. But when you buy a tow behind spreader, certain features are ought to be in the attention. Hence, we will throw the light on ten things you need to know before buying a tow behind spreader, or any tow behind spreader, for that matter.
The ten things have two objects. The first is to make sure your purchase is a worthy one. And the second one is to point the prominent features of the tow behind spreader. We shall now discuss the same below.
Indeed tow behind spreaders are manufactured with essential elements and parts. It isn’t usually the scenario that their operations are easy. The inner functioning of the parts mentioned above, the crannies, and nooks shouldn’t be difficult for the consumer. Also, they should be comfortable to wash. If more trash and dusty filth pile up in the base edges and pieces, the possibility of a breakdown shortly is much more likely.
It becomes extremely vital to pay special care to the section right under the hopper in tools like tow behind spreaders. The site through with exact dispensing takes place.
Also, the control panel is an essential characteristic to have. It guarantees the operator to effortlessly decide how much fertilizer material or seed is required to disperse into a particular area. The electric manipulation should be effortless to read and clear to understand the mechanics.
Tow behind spreaders in metal or polyethylene for their hopper material should be preferred. Polyethylene is very resistant to breeze and rain, and it’s very long-lasting and lightweight. But, polyethylene can also get weak if you randomly forget it out in the sun. Steel is strong, but it will rust and decay ultimately without the proper maintenance.
A spreader that has a hopper with a capacity of at least 100 lbs should be preferred. The advantage here is obvious: You don’t want to keep checking mid-session to refill spread material into the machine’s hopper. The larger the land you’re working with, the high the hopper capacity that you should pick.
Commonly, smaller-sized yards are more conveniently suited to manual spreaders and push spreaders. Manual spreaders are comparatively easy to use and take little time to settle. That is why they are favored mostly. There is a minimum adjustment needed. Also, it needs less space to store the spread. They are regularly the cheaper alternative for a spreader.
While operating on your ground, it is not that unusual for the dust and soil scraps to get into the product’s cockpit and your face. That is not merely an annoying situation that keeps happening. It is also a source of useless waste. The condition is imaginably unpleasant in a situation of an unprepared cloudburst or when tornadoes or mild wilds puffs. Here, the whole material contained in the hopper could disappear and incur damages for you.
That is the reason it is essential to own your planned tow behind spreader established with a guarding cover. That will preserve your hopper and the material from all neighboring forces, natural and mechanical. Many spreaders come with a cover that slides over the top of the hopper. It fits over the top to protect from water and weather situations. It can also prevent the product from coming up and hitting you as you move over uneven terrain. It can have a drawstring or elastic exterior layer to secure it in point.
If you want to start or stop the flow, some spreaders make you turn around and pull a lever to finish this. Yet, the best spreaders give you command of your flow rate directly from your operator seat. That is essential because settling too much synthetic or natural fertilizer on your yard can burn it and create brown spots.
It’s also time-consuming to manually start and stop the flow of fertilizers or seeds. It is essential to check for the control flow in the product.
The purpose while operating to conserve and maintain your yard is not about working hard but smart. What do you understand by this? Instead of planning for the traditional tow behind spreader, your preference should lie with a spreading device that helps with multiple purposes. A tool capable of performing better operations apart from only spread seeds, pellets, and fertilizer.
So, why not go for the somewhat more high-priced one that includes an aerator or multi-rake, which will dig in the product into a suitable depth in the ground. You should prefer a better tool, as this is a one-time investment.
There are usually wide tires on these spreaders, and they range 10-inches. These tires are large enough to give your spreader complete support. Pneumatic tires are very cost-effective for spreaders because they are genuinely handy to maneuver around your yard. And this gives you the best durability on irregular and rough terrains.
Most of the spreader mentioned in this article use pneumatic tires. Before picking any spreader, you should look for the one with pneumatic tires, as pneumatic tires are a plus point in the case of the tow behind spreader.
You must pick a spreader that features elements built to resist corrosion, damage, or peeling off the material. A machine that will endure for you so that you by no means need to keep purchasing a new one each year. The most reliable and easy choice to go for while selecting any spreader is proceeding with the one that has an extremely durable steel structure.
Moreover, examine the weight capability and make sure that you pick a tow behind spreader that could support the load you desire without ending in the wreckage. Hoppers are usually built out of heavy steel or plastic and are securely attached to the vehicle. Most vehicles are built from steel bodies strengthened to carry about 200 pounds of fertilizer or grass seed, or different elements.
Of course, when you are looking for something within the original budget, it may be of some appeal to get something that is made less enduring, made solely of plastic. True, the initial impact of those may be to reduce your expense but believe us, plastic spreaders do not endure. So, it’ll be better to get something made up of solid body and material that is durable.
A few spreaders have levers on them that provide you to immediately and effortlessly alter your flow rates and how the swath scattered is. That is beneficial if you have numerous flowerbeds or walkways dispersed throughout your garden that you want to avoid getting fertilizer or grain on.
Spreader width is the opening from where the spreader will discharge the fertilizers or seed. While several spreaders have fixed widths, some also come with adjustable settings such as 8 to 12 feet.
This way, the consumer can control the spread’s width and ensure more steadiness’s in the field. In the fixed-width models, you can find spreader width like 8-feet, 10-feet, 12-feet, etc.
That is a significant characteristic to check, particularly if you have an intricate pattern of the garden. You can have a decent view of how much material you will be able to spread at one time.
The coverage of the hopper modifies with its size. As the capacity increases, the coverage range will also expand. A large-sized hopper with around 185-pounds Capacity can provide coverage of 43,000-square feet.
The spread of these pull behind spreaders is pretty varied. Furthermore, if you purchase the broadcast spreader, you will understand that these spreaders distributed the material in all courses.
It has multiple openings curate on the structure so that it disperses material in various directions, providing more coverage to the hoppers. We have provided recommendations on the most suitable pull behind broadcast spreaders in the article; you can refer to them.
5 Best Tow Behind Spreaders Reviews
130 Pound Broadcast Tow Behind Spreader
Agri-Fab is a trusted and renowned name in the agriculture sector. Generally, this indeed is on the list of most reliable tow behind spreader. Exactly like the other well-known products by the Agri-Fab, the 45-0463 130-Pounds Tow Behind Broadcast Spreader supplies you the best spread plausible. It is a pull behind the broadcast spreader.
It poses a capacity of 130 lb and a universal hitch for effortless hook-up. It is particularly ideal for uses over a large acreage, such as yards up to 25,000 sq ft. The widespread of 12-foot is indeed helpful and beneficial for all-season usage. It is also proficient in controlling all petite spreadable substances.
To cover larger areas, it comes with a wide hopper. The wide hopper allows it to cover the property at once. It has a capacity of 130 lbs, which ensures you won’t have to stop in the middle of your plan to refill it. The comparatively wide pneumatic tires are fit to make it easier to maneuver.
The pneumatic tires allow you to handle it on bumpy ground, making this an extremely well-built commodity indeed. For intensified stability, Optional accessories are provided, which allow the consumer to use it all-season for a diversity of requirements. It provides much more control over the model.
150 Lbs Auto-Stop Tow Behind Spreader
Chapin International 8620B is a 150 pounds model that you can use to spread fertilizer and seed on your lawn. It has a capacity of 150-pound. The Capacity helps huge lawns or yards anywhere you comprise of many roots or fertilizer to outspread. It includes an auto-spot dual impeller that stops spreading when you stop your vehicle. It ensures so that you wouldn’t get a large quantity in a single spot.
The arrangement of the gate is incredibly smooth to use. The system also grants you the freedom to adjust up to 11 incremental sets to provide precise spreading. You have oil-infused bronze bearings on the Chapin model of the tow behind spreader. These bearings reduce resistance at the control & gearbox, increasing the lifetime of the spreader. The product also comes with an axle that supports it to move it around with efficiency.
The pneumatic tires with a width of 14 inches enhance your balance as you work them over various areas. The pneumatic tries can move across all difficulties. It has an excruciating trailer hook that arrives designed for commercial or professional usage. It is a model built to use on all surfaces.
175 Lbs Tow Behind Spreader
If you want an excruciating tow behind broadcast spreader to suit your yard fertilizer, this product is a reliable pick. This product manufactured by Brinly has a 175 lb capacity for a hopper. This product is built for large areas and gives as much coverage of the 12-foot range. It contains sufficient material to cover at least 1 acre. The stability is secured through stainless-steel hardware, polyethylene hopper, and glass-filled nylon gears. It is prepared to manage a broad category of products that can be outspread. This feature makes it an excellent pick for annual usage.
The hopper can endure up to 175 pounds of material per fill. It is rustproof, and the equipment is completely enclosed. Generally, this comes in handy in keeping it useful and enduring through many years. Another characteristic of the model is the directional spread. The discharge of material takes place in a pattern control that provides an even spread pattern. It also claims widespread girths that allow the matter to spread even more. The directional spread control makes it ideal for all kinds of ground and commercial usage.
The additional advantage of this product is the efficient pneumatic tires, which provide support in pulling stabilization. Hitch being a universal hook makes it simple to attach with any vehicle, whether it is an ATV or any other mower or tractor that supports this kind of product usage.
125 Lbs Tow Behind Spreader
If you don’t want anything fancy but a simple tow behind spreader, this spreader is a great pick. This product is exceptionally made with a corrosion-resistant aluminum body. The Yard Commander spreader gives you the convenience of spreading compost, seeds, and other fertilizers for several years. To guarantee durability, its maker added a rustproof coating over the entire machine as well. As the hopper is corrosion and rust-resistant, it makes this model a perfect pick for annual usage, remarkably because it has a smooth flow of control. The control adjusts itself precisely to the material you are spreading.
This product arrives in a capacity of 125-pounds. It can cover a medium-size yard in a single shift. It also comes with 12-inch pneumatic tires that allow it to move on various grounds without getting stuck. Furthermore, it quickly hooks up to your carrier. The stability of the product is one of the factors that mark it a user favorite. The spreader also includes a rain cover and screen that can help you spread your material on a rainy day.
85 Pound Broadcast Tow Behind Spreader
So, this is the most budget-friendly product on the list. Agri-Fab 54-0543 is a model that claims a rustproof poly hopper. The hopper benefits to enhance its lifetime. Plus, it gives you worth for your money. It is a product that satisfies up to 32-inch at a go. It is an easy pull behind spreader with primary features. It is also moderately lightweight and weighs on 18-pounds.
It has an 85-pounds capacity. It can cater to a 14,000-square feet range. The spread width is 10-feet with 10-inches pneumatic wheels that serve in a smooth drive. The spikes are built of galvanized steel to ensure that they continue to be rust-free. It also comes with a three years warranty that includes any defect that might happen within that period.
The cable flow control ensures the smooth flow of the material on the terrain. It comes with added accessories like a hopper cover, grate, and a deflector kit. However, the size is too small, even for a medium-sized garden.
Use Of Tow Behind Spreader In Day To Day Life
Tow behind spreaders is a commodity used to outspread fertilizers, seeds, herbicides (weed killer), and insecticides also. They are a life-saver when it comes to maintaining your yards or larger properties. Apart from that, these products can apply fertilizers, seeds, or herbicides smoothly. They are also used in the wintertime to melt the ice and disperse some salt. This characteristic makes it an all-season pick.
Besides, if you don’t like using fertilizers and have more inclination towards manure and compost, this tool is perfect for that too. A few of the models of spreaders can disperse organic substances for organic fertilization.
This tool’s added feature is to pull out mulch, straw, compost, dry leaves, mowing, or any other substance. The material that is required to be transferred across your lawn.
These tools are usually used for cleaning and maintain lawns or yards. People usually use them on properties that are no less than an acre or more.
Distinction Between A Drop Spreader And A Broadcast Spreader
There are primarily two kinds of yard spreaders. One of them is a drop spreader, and the other one is a broadcast spreader. The main difference between these two is founded on the accuracy of their operation.
The purpose of the drop spreader is in its name only, drop. Drop spreaders perform precise work. They are designed in a way to place the fertilizers or lawn product in the intended area. The hooper discharges the material between the wheels. As you move, the tool pours the product accurately on the area underneath. So, you’ve control over where the material is poured precisely. Further, this serves best for the property that needs a precise treatment or smaller yards/lawns.
On the flip side, the broadcast spreader disperses seed, insecticides, or fertilizers directly on the front and rears of its body in a curve. The broadcast spreader incorporates an impeller connected to the gear. Furthermore, the gear is connected with the wheels.
As the name implies, a broadcast spreader outspread seed in all the direction through the hopper. The hopper continues rotating and dispersing the material in all directions as it moves. Thus, in conclusion, the broadcast spreader can be more active and faster, but the drop spreader is much more precise.
How One Should Work With A tow behind Spreader
To make sure you’re starting correctly, follow this guide step by step for using the product correctly.
1. Start With Setting The Rate Of Flow
You should start with setting the rate of flow of material. You can set this by the lever provided in the spreader. The lever allows you to set the speed with which you can spread the fertilizer or garden products. All you’ve to do is set the lever and dial properly. It will allow the hopper to spread the fertilizers, seed, or anything else in a precise amount to cover the field.
Easily, if the expanse of the opening is large, more material will flow out of it.
2. Examine The Pattern In Which Scattering Is Taking Place
As discussed before, the broadcast spreader functions in a rotating way. Hence, the garden products are spread in such a way. Nevertheless, you should check the pattern before using the spreader.
To check the pattern, set the material in the hopper. After that, arrange the flow arm at a proper level and slowly start dragging the broadcast spreader. You’ll get to know how the material disperse when it drops at the impeller vessel.
You can stop after some rounds of scattering patterns. That will give you a view of how much range it can reach with that spread.
3. Operate The Spreader
After completing these two steps, you can attach the spreader to an ATV or a lawn tractor with a hook or a hitch and start using it. You should ensure that the impeller or rotator is lateral to the yard surface.
When working with the slanted surface, never load the spreader fully into the hopper. It might result in spilling out of it if the hopper is not fully covered. Moreover, do ensure to spread the material first on the damaged or rough grounds.
4. Make Sure To Shut The Hopper Openings While Taking A Pause
During spreading the compost or seed, you might need to take a break. In that case, make sure that the hopper openings are closed. You can close them with the lever. That’ll avoid dropping the spread.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
With so many options to choose from and the parameters to consider, selecting the best tow behind spreader brings up specific questions.
The best and reliable tow behind the spreader is a large and powerful hopper with 100 to 185 lbs capacity. It should also have a genuine spreading width that is adaptable from 8 to 12 feet. Also, for heavy-duty performance, it should be built of quality steel. Considering these standards, the Agri-Fab 45-0463 130-Pound design is the most reliable tow behind spreader.
Broadcast spreaders are not as costly as other spreaders. They are about $100 to $200. You can quickly get yourself a long-lasting and durable broadcast spreader.
Spreaders demand little maintenance that can be simply completed at home. You only need to clean it regularly, oil all moving gears, and re-paint the metallic elements to prevent corrosion.
True. Some countries like America, Germany, and Japan manage to provide very high-quality spreaders due to their strict production guidelines. Nevertheless, they are further expensive. Other countries may offer very affordable spreaders, but with somewhat lower quality.
Every product comes with a scale that you can use to set the volume of material it can deliver. So, set the desired amount and, the flow will be of your preference.
No. You don’t need any professional experience to construct the broadcast spreader. Just follow the step by step instructions on the manual, and in no time, the product is ready to use.
Conclusion
We have covered every aspect to make your buy of the best tow behind spreader in this article. Maintaining the yard is indeed a difficult task. But the tow behind broadcast spreader is helpful to make the task an easier one. Now you have examined our top 5 best tow behind broadcast spreader models. Make sure to select the right product and start taking care of your field like you always desired.
