Customer Reviews

Precision Products TBS6000RDOS 6-Series 130-Pound Tow Behind Broadcast Spreader with Rain Cover

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The Precision Products broadcast spreader seems well built and was designed as a tow behind unlike some less expensive spreaders that are just modified walk behinds. Besides handling a heavier load, the wider tire spacing of a true tow behind keeps it from tipping when going over bumps or when making sharp turns. A strong gearbox is very important for a tow behind and the all metal gears and enclosure should give many years of service. The tires are pneumatic and big enough to carry the full load.

Assembly seemed simple, but when I tested the feeder rate button I couldn't get it unlock and move easily. It looked like I needed to squeeze the button to unlock it and after trying to do so with pliers I discovered inadvertently that I just needed to push the button in. Embarrassing, but in the process I discovered that, while the feeder controls look like they are made out of cheap plastic, it's some really tough stuff that I expect will last the lifetime of the equipment.

I have only used the spreader once and with only about a 30 lb load, but the feeding rate control and the spreader mechanism all worked well. The feeding control was easy to reach from my lawn tractor's seat so that I could shut off or turn on the spreader as needed. There was never a time I felt like the spreader was going to tip over on my relatively flat, but bumpy lawn. The spreader did the job well and seems like it should last for many years of use.Precision Products TBS6000RDOS 6 Series 130 lb Tow Behind Broadcast Spreader with Rain Cover

The spreader was easy to assemble. It works great! The volume adjustment is easy to reach from the tractor seat, and can be adjusted quite easily, even without looking. I found the coverage on the lawn to be uniform, (something I had never quite been able to achieve with other spreaders). I have a hilly lawn, so the wide stance and big tires made a full load of fertilizer easy to handle with no danger of tipping! I issue only one negative and caution with a question. Why do manufacturers build an implement designed to hold corrosive materials and fail to use stainless steel in essential parts? I, for one, will happily pay more for this feature. I would suggest to any prospective buyers to spray the rotor shaft and areas exposed to fertilizer or other corrosive material with WD-40 or similar product before using, and spray after cleaning after each use. Even though I washed out the spreader as instructed after use, corrosion had already begun its nasty work on the shaft and some adjacent parts. The spreader is a good one, but it could be great!!

I recently bought this Precision Products 130-pound tow-behind spreader. I live in Albany, NY and we do get our share of ice and snow. Although I do not spread salt, I found this product does a superb job in distributing dry coarse sand, called cement sand, on my 75 ft. driveway. It took a few tries to adjust the flow properly, but now I found the setting. The hopper holds approx. 4 coal scuttles full of sand which is enough for one side of the driveway. Then I fill the hopper again and do the other side. Finding the proper towing speed is also a factor. Too slow does not spread very well. After a few passes I did find the proper speed. Maybe I should have bought the next larger size hopper (200 lb.)to make the job go even faster, but all-in-all I am quite satisfied with the unit. The tires are a plus...large enough and they don't drag on the terrain. It's a smooth, even spread. I give it 5 stars.

Honestly took like 15 minutes to assemble. Love the fact that they made the spreader wide enough so you have no worries about it tipping. I use it to spread salt on my gravel driveway behind the house leading out to the back garage. It's 200 feet long so the extra capacity is nice. I had considered the next size however their was a big price jump. This one is plenty large. The metal grate inside is great it breaks up the large chunks so the spreader has a nice consistent flow. The cover is great too so no water gets inside and nothing spills over the top. The drivetrain seems plenty strong and I appreciate that they even put a grease fitting on it (remember those??!!).
I anticipate this spreader lasting a long time. Don't hesitate to buy!!!

I reviewed many spreaders and found many, if not most, had plastic gears, and thus, dented or warped with use. I found this advertised to having metal gears. It was a cinch to assemble, as most was already done. Very sturdy, smooth operation. Great product.

Works well, enclosed transmission, metal gears, big tires, doesn't tip over on hills. I'm pleased..............

After searching high and low for a decent broadcast spreader (it seems this is a seasonal item sold during the summer and fall), I finally found this one. Although we don't use it for fertilizer (we use it primarily for spreading salt during the snowy months on our extremly long driveway), it seems to serve it's purpose quite well! I would recommend this item to anyone who needs a good sturdy broadcast spreader to attach to their garden tractor.

I was all excited with it arrived on 4/13. Very easy to put together, basically all you have to do is bolt the pull bar on and attach the adjustment lever to the pull bar. Construction is excellent and sturdy. Now for the weird thing, I will be using this as a 4 season spreader and found out that is does a poor job spreading grass seed. The small agitator as they call it, in the bottom of the spreader, it is the little wire that spins as you pull the spreader, does a poor job as installed. I called the 800 number listed in the instructions and spoke with a Design Engineer and he was aware of the problem and is sending me a replacement agitator to use when spreading grass seed. The one that is in the unit when it arrives is good for heavier spreadable product like ice melt, salt, lime, granular fertilizer but not seed. So I am now waiting for the new piece so I can get the seed out on my 4 acre yard.

I bought this spreader based on other reviews and the fact that it is made of sturdier materials than the competition. I have only used it for spreading salt on our gravel driveway this winter and have not used any other spreader so this review is based on somewhat limited experience at this point. My drive has quite an incline and obviously not very smooth but this spreader never came close to tipping over. Not even a concern. Although the construction is sturdy, the assembly instructions could definitely use some improvement. Assembly is not difficult but the illustrations in the instructions are not clear or accurate so it took a little more time to put together than it should have. I am also having a slight problem with the adjustment controls which makes it a little tricky to get the opening completely closed when filling but this would not sway my decision to recommend this spreader to others. From what I've seen of the competition available in local stores, this spreader is much better built and worth the extra money. I have no doubt that it will last a long time.

This spreader worked better than expected. Used to put out 50 bags of lime and this was a breeze with this spreader.Highly recommend.