Tow Behind Spreaders: A brief Guide and Best 6 to Buy

A tow-behind spreader is widely used nowadays because of its efficiency and ease of use. People usually buy one to attach it to tractors or ATVs to seed or fertilize big lawns and gardens. It helps people speed up different gardening and planting activities such as sowing seeds in the ground, spreading topsoil, or other substances such as fertilizers. It is also used for the process of feeding the lawn with different chemicals or ice melts.

If you are thinking of buying a new tow-behind spreader for your garden, remember that there are some important features that you should definitely check. To make it easy for you to buy one, we have listed those factors and reviewed the best six tow behind spreaders. All of the products in this guide are highly recommended and last a good time!

So read on to know everything you should about tow behind spreaders.

Why should you purchase a tow-behind spreader?

Most people wonder why they need a tow-behind spreader when you can do everything manually as well. But we are here to tell you exactly why!

As discussed above, a tow-behind spreader is indeed a very useful product and saves gardeners and lawn owners from the tiring activities of spreading seeds and fertilizers in large areas by hand. It saves you lots of time and covers big lawns with even layers of seeds and fertilizers, giving you lush and green gardens!

OUR FAVORITES

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6 Best Tow Behind Spreaders

1. Scotts Elite Spreader– Top Pick

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The tires are filled with foam, so they are guaranteed not to go flat for a long time.

Style: Walk Behind Spreader

Capacity of hopper: 20000 square feet of product

Spread pattern: 6 feet

The 20000 square feet hopper saves you time, as it’s big enough that you don’t have to refill it again and again. Its 6 feet spread pattern allows you to cover larger areas in a short time. This product is very lightweight and not difficult to use.

Pros

• Comes with high-accuracy dual rotor technology with a 6 feet spread pattern
• Can be walked on any kind of surface thanks to the tires that never go flat
• Large hopper holds up to 20000 square feet of product
• You will not get bored walking it, as it comes with a smartphone holder
• Very easy to assemble and comes with an instruction manual

Cons

• Hopper is made up of plastic

2. Chapin 8620B 150 lb Tow Behind Spreader – Highly Durable

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It gives you a spread pattern of 15 feet, which means that you can cover a larger area in a short time. It is recommended for commercial use as well.

Style: Tractor or ATV attached tow behind spreader

Capacity of pattern: 150 pounds of product

Spread pattern: 15 feet

It comes with an in-built dual impeller system, which means that it will only pass the product when it’s in motion; otherwise, as soon as you stop the machine, the spreading stops as well.

In addition, it comes with 11 different gate adjustment settings that you can set according to your liking, such as zero to close the gates of the spreader. You can open and close the gates by adjusting the settings.

Pros

• Extremely good capacity for the hopper
• Comes with a lifetime warranty
• Very strong with wide pneumatic tires
• You can set up to 11 gate adjustment settings

Cons

• Also comes with a plastic hopper

3. Agri-Fab 45-0463 130-Pound Tow Behind Spreader – Best for Rough Terrains

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This ensures that it spreads products evenly.

Style: Tractor or ATV attached tow behind spreader

Capacity of the hopper: 130 pounds of product

Spread pattern: 10 feet

Its hopper is made of polyethylene, which does not corrode easily. And its body is made up of aluminum, so you can be sure that it lasts a long time.

Pros

• Gives you a spread pattern of 10 feet
• Aesthetic-looking with all the machinery covered
• Good-capacity hopper can spread the product onto half an acre of land in one go
• Does not corrode

Cons

• Can only be used with tractors 14.5 inches high from the ground

4. Brinly BS36BH, 175 lb, Black Tow-Behind Broadcast Spreader – Best-Selling

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The Brinly BS36BH comes with the option of setting the spread pattern according to your liking, such as centering it.

Style: Tractor or ATV attached tow behind spreader

Capacity of the hopper: 175 pounds of product

Spread pattern: Adjustable

Its body is completely made up of stainless steel, which means it is very durable and long-lasting and does not rust. It is easy to calibrate and set according to your preference before you start working.

Pros

• A whopping capacity of 175 pounds.
• Highly commended for a consistent and even spread
• Very sturdy and durable
• Comes with an in-built detector that stops whenever the attached tractor or ATV stops.

Cons

• Because of its sturdy design and large hopper, it gets a little heavy to use when it is full.

5. Agri-Fab 45-0530 85 lb Tow Broadcast Spreader – Great for Small Areas

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It is made up of good quality materials. Its spread pattern is about 10 feet.

Style: Tractor or ATV attached tow behind spreader

Capacity of the hopper: 85 pounds of product

Spread pattern: 10 feet

The only problem is that its capacity is limited to 85 pounds, which is less as compared to other spreaders, but it is convenient for people who are looking for smaller spreaders.

Pros

• Ensures great value for money
• Has pneumatic tires
• Lightweight and easy to use

Cons

• Can’t be used on tough grounds

6. Agri-Fab 45-0543 100 lb Tow Spiker/Seeder/Spreader – The All-In-One Product

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It has a hopper with a 100-pound capacity, which means roughly 40000 square feet of product can be filled in it, making it good for small areas.

Style: Tractor or ATV attached tow behind spreader and spiker

Capacity of the hopper: 100 pounds of product

Spread pattern: 2.6 feet

Pros

• Rustproof hopper
• Can aerate and spread products on the ground all in one go.
• Comes with flat-free tires

Cons

• Spread pattern is only 32 inches, which is lesser than that of other spreaders.

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What type of tow behind spreader should you buy?

There are many types of tow behind spreaders used for different purposes or have special features. Read to know which one’s the best for you.

Handheld Spreader

A handheld spreader is great for beginners or people with small lawns. It is very easy to use. You just have to walk around and spread the fertilizer or seeds with your hand, so it can be a little time taking. A handheld spreader can be stored anywhere because of its small and compact size. It is not recommended if your lawn is spread over a large area.

Push Spreader

A push spreader is also good for smaller areas, but at the same time, it requires you to push it around, which can be a tiring task.

Pull Behind Spreader

This one is recommended for people who have large lawns and gardens, as it makes it so easy for you to just spread the seeds and fertilizers and cover all the land without missing any spot. Pull behind spreaders do the job perfectly without making the process too difficult or time-consuming.

How to use a tow-behind spreader

If you are a beginner or just simply unaware of how to use a tow-behind spreader, don’t worry; we are here to guide you! Firstly, we recommend reading the buyer’s or instruction manual that comes with the product. Then, you can follow these steps to use the tow behind spreader correctly:

• Remove any garbage or overgrown grass in your lawn that may interfere with the spreader.
• In the bucket or hopper, add whatever substance you want to spread, such as seeds or fertilizers.
• Adjust the speed and settings according to your preference.
• Now, if it’s a manual spreader, you should walk at the same pace to avoid any clumping of material at one place or missing any spots. The same goes for the machine ones – drive steadily with a maintained speed.
• After using it, clean it properly so that it doesn’t rust.

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Things to keep in mind before buying a tow-behind spreader

We had the following criteria in our minds that we looked for while choosing our top six products. We recommend that you consider these things before proceeding to purchase the product, saving yourself from regret later.

Value for money

It is very important that the products you buy, whether they are expensive or cheap, give you a good time of service. So make sure that you get a product that promises good value for the money.

Warranty

People usually expect a good product to come with a warranty. All the listed products in this guide have some sort of warranty, but keep in mind that a warranty doesn’t cover everything, so using the products with care is your responsibility.

Quality

Tow behind spreaders usually don’t come too cheap, which is why choosing the ones made with good quality and durable materials is important. While choosing the products to mention on this list, our main aim was to find the best designed spreaders at a good price.

Ease of Use

Ease of use is also a point of concern, especially when it comes to machines. The products in this list are mostly positively reviewed by customers for their ease of use and quick assembly.

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Final thoughts

We are pretty sure that by now, you have a clear idea of which spreader to buy and why. For us, the best tow behind spreader is the Agri-Fab 45-0463 130-Pound Tow Behind Spreader. It is not too expensive and is very sturdy and long-lasting. Plus, it comes with all the features that you would expect from a good spreader.

FAQs