August 1, 2019
Gear Guide: Truckbed salt spreaders
COMPILED BY SCOTT BARBER
Success in snow has plenty to do with the numbers — ask any contractor. Landscape Trades is trying an experiment this year: compiling specs on an important equipment category. Maybe you are looking to buy a new spreader, or maybe you just enjoy comparing the stats.
BRAND | MODEL | CAPACITY (CUBIC YARDS) | FEED MECHANISM | SPREAD (FEET) | CONTROLS | MOTOR | ADDITIONAL SIZES/MODELS AVAILABLE |
Blizzard | Ice Chaser | 1.5 | Pintle chain | Up to 40 | Dual variable speed | Dual electric | 1.8 and 2.5 cu. yd. |
Blizzard | Ice Chaser LP | 0.5 | Auger | Up to 40 | Dual variable speed | Dual electric | |
Boss | VBX 6500 | 1.5 | Pintle chain or auger | 2-40 | Dual variable speed | 3/4 horsepower | VBX 8000 (2 cu. yd.) and VBX 9000 (3 cu. yd.) |
Boss | Forge | 1 | Pintle chain or auger | 2-40 | Dual variable speed | 1/2 horsepower | 1.5 and 2 cu. yd. |
Fisher | Poly-Caster | 1.5 | Pintle chain | Up to 40 | Dual variable speed | 12V dual electric | 1.8 and 2.5 cu. yd. |
Fisher | Steel-Caster | 1.5 | Pintle chain | Up to 40 | Dual variable speed | 12V dual electric | 2, 3, 4.5 and 6 cu. yd. |
Fisher | Speed-Caster 525 | 5.25 cubic feet | Auger | Up to 30 | Dual variable speed | 12V dual electric | Speed-Caster 900 (9 cubic feet) |
Meyer | Elite 6 | 1.5 | Drag or belt-over chain | Up to 30 | Wireless with gas models | Dual electric, gas or hydraulic | Elite 8 (2 cu. yd.) and Elite 10 (4.5 cu. yd.) |
Meyer | Base Line 600 | 1.5 | Drag chain | Up to 30 | In-cab with electric start | Dual electric, gas or hydraulic | Base Line 800 (2 cu. yd.) |
Meyer | Crossfire Standard | 1.5 | Auger | 4-40 | In-cab controller | 1/2 horsepower, electric | 2 cu. yd. |
Meyer | Crossfire Deluxe | 1.5 | Auger | 4-40 | In-cab controller | 1/2 horsepower, electric | 2 cu. yd. |
Meyer | Polyhawk | 1.5 | Drag chain | 4-30 | Wireless with gas models | Gas or electric | 2 cu. yd. |
SaltDogg | SHPE 1000 | 1 | Auger | 5-30 | Dual variable speeds and vibrator | 12V dual electric | Multiple sizes between 0.75-6 cu. yd. |
SaltDogg | Pro 2000 | 2 | Auger | 5-30 | Dual variable speeds and vibrator | 12V dual electric | Pro 2500 (2.5 cu. yd.) |
SaltDogg | 1400050SS | 2 | Conveyor chain | 5-30 | Dual variable speed | 10.5 horsepower, gas | 1.5 cu. yd. |
SaltDogg | 1400455SSE | 2.5 | Conveyor chain | 2-30 | Dual variable speed | 12V dual electric | 1.5, 2.75 and 3 cu. yd. |
SaltDogg | 1400475SSE | 3.5 | Conveyor chain | 4-30 | Dual variable speed | 12V dual electric | 4, 4.5, 5 and 5.5. cu. yds. |
SaltDogg | 1400475SSH | 3.5 | Conveyor chain | 4-30 | Sold separately, multiple options | Hydraulic | 4, 4.5, 5 and 5.5 cu. yd. |
SaltDogg | 1406657SSH | 6 | Conveyor chain | 2-40 | Sold separately, multiple options | Hydraulic | 6-15 cu. yd. |
Snow Ex | V-Maxx G2 VX 1500 | Struck 1.5 | Auger | Up to 40 | Dual variable speed | 12V dual electric | Multiple models 1.5-6 cu. yd. |
Snow Ex | V-Pro SP-3000 | Struck 0.5 | Auger | Up to 40 | Dual variable speed | 12V dual electric | SP-6000 (struck 1 cu. yd.) |
Western | Striker | 1.5 | Pintle chain | Up to 40 | Dual variable speed | Gas, electric or hydraulic | 2, 3, 4.5, and 6 cu. yd. |
Western | Tornado | 1.5 | Pintle chain | Up to 40 | Dual variable speed | 12V dual electric | 1.8 and 2.5 cu. yd. |