In search of SOMETHING TO HELP TAKE A LOAD OFF MY BACK!!! I need something to drive down my barn aisle or on the back side of my stalls (the outside doors) to shovel the manure into, then ideally to be able to drive it out to dump it, from the same piece of equipment. Using manure buckets, dumping them into a manure spreader, then hooking it up and you all know the routine… My question is - Does it have to be a GATOR - waaay expensive - there must be other brands that do the job. Also I am not opposed to a used something - if you all can tell me that you have had good experience buying used. Suggestions are very much appreciated! I am willing to do the work, just need to ease the back a little! And, this is not a “hire someone” things. I am that “someone”! Thanks!!
Just to move a load of manure, get an electric golf cart with dumping bed.
There is an entire industry trying to convince you to buy a 4x4, diesel powered, heated cab, 35mph-zooming UTV. Because it makes them mucho money. They don’t make money selling used golf carts.
Thanks!
True that, unless your manure pile is somewhere that is hard to get to if it rains or snows, where the real UTVs can make it, unlike wimpy golf carts.
If you can set your manure piles where you have easy access for golf carts, of course save the money, the electric ones are quieter and cost, used, less than used UTVs.
Thanks to everyone who has replied to me on this topic of the Polaris , Gator or what. Lots of great information!
well I agree with DHCarrotfeeder because thats what I got 3 years ago and I love my electric Golfcart
You can get an idea of what is available and pricing here; http://www.tractorhouse.com/listings/farm-equipment/for-sale/category/1171/other-equipment-utility-vehicles
Get a Newer spreader! Just clean the stalls directly into the spreader, and go spread it. And pull it around the barnyard to make picking the paddock a breeze. It’s one of the best purchases I’ve made, love it. Only hitch is if you’re in a cold climate where the manure freezes solid. The ground-driven mechanism isn’t strong enough to break those up. On those days, I still use a wheelbarrow and create a small manure pile for composting.
My thoughts would be for getting a small utility trailer if you have something to pull it with, tractor, large lawn tractor type machine. A 4 x 4 or 4 x 6 ft trailer is pretty small, easy to handle. You could shovel into muck tubs, load them on the trailer while cleaning paddocks or stalls. I just don’t full tubs to the brim if I have to lift them. I bet they make dump trailer models so you can shovel into trailer and dump it on the pile after cleaning. Might be the cheapest method to use.
As mentioned the Newer Spreader is not very big, though again you need something to pull it with. It is ground drive, so you have to keep it moving to empty the load. Newest models say they can cut up hay and straw which clogged up the older models so badly.
A rotary spreader for manure is also ground drive, doesn’t have a lot of moving parts, is worth considering. Not large in size for pulling and storage. Also appears to be ground driven, so you have to keep moving to dump the loads. I am not good on estimating how much manure is in cubic feet, so would want them to say “That is 4 muck tubs full” or whatever is equal to the measurement given on each size spreader. Stainless steel tub to hold manure sounds long lasting as an investment. Not sure if you read the post asking about rotary spreaders. She didn’t get much in replies, so it seems not many are experienced using them yet. Here is the site it showed;
http://www.thestablers.com/Sizes_Prices.html
My idea is to consider a Mini Truck! These seem to be used in factories, golf courses, Colonial Williamsburg, where a small vehicle able to haul loads, is wanted. Here is a site I found Googling for Mini Trucks. The header shows a variety of these vehicles, one has a dump bed, while another has treaded tracks! But the more common one with a short flatbed looks really nice for hauling hay bales, maybe tubs of manure, to the pile. Could be cheaper than a UTV and have more uses around the place. I have an elderly Nissan 2004 small pickup, which comes in handy for many things here. There is one for sale at a used car lot by us, which is why I thought to mention them to you.
I have a Newer spreader and pull it with a 4 wheeler. I think I spent less on my spreader, ring drag (that is also pulled with the 4 wheeler) used 4 wheeler and used golf cart all combined than what I would have had to spend on a Gator/Polaris.
We have a rhino that works really well for similar tasks
