Lancaster manure spreader?

[Julie Clemons]

Considering buying a 25 bushel Lancaster spreader. I’ve seen a bunch of positive comments on them on the boards. I looked on their website and realized they make a 4 wheel one with a seat, as well as the 2 wheel one.

http://pacountryequipment.com/Lancaster.html

My husband said he was talking with Neal Perry at APFD last year and he said that his (2 wheel) manure spreader when loaded causes the tongue on the forecart to pop up. Has anyone else had this problem; does it persist once the horse(s) starts pulling and the spreader begins to unload?

Pros/cons of the 4 wheel one? I imagine it is both heavier and more expensive. I have a single horse (1700 lb or so Suffolk).

[Does’ Leap]

I have a two wheeled 50 bushel Lancaster. I love it and have not had a problem with the tounge popping up. I like the 2 wheel b/c I can switch forecarts from 2 to 3 abreast depending on the conditions. You can also move it around with a truck/tractor if need be.

George

[Tim Harrigan]

A 25 bu spreader is a small spreader so I would not anticipate it tipping the forecart. You have a lot of options in managing the load if for some reason it is a problem, which seems like would only happen with heavily soiled straw bedding that is really wet and heavy and front loaded on the spreader. You could 1) hang a tractor weight on the front of the forecart to balance the load, 2) avoid heaping the spreader to reduce the load, 3) not heap the load toward the front of the spreader.

From what I have seen, horse manure is often very light compared to a bedded pack manure for cattle. If you have a forecart, get the two-wheel spreader. If you have sawdust bedding I can not imagine any problems.

[Julie Clemons]

Thanks, that is what I was hoping to hear!

Especially since I called about the 4 wheel one and it is $2500 plus freight! Farm equipment guy: “Boy, we never get calls for the 4 wheel one! The only people who use those things are the Amish!”

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