Adding spreader. TGS05 or TGS07

[Raymond S.]

I currently use a Buyers TGS05 which has ran flawlessly. I like the size and simplicity of the unit. We added a vibrator which has made the unit operate perfect, no salt bridges or clogs. I am adding another salter to a different truck. I like the idea of having everything identical, (plows, salters, mowers, employees....well anyway.) I am going to either get another TGS05 and purchase a vibrator as well, or just get the TGS07 which I believe includes a vibrator. I will be running bagged salt only, no sand or bulk. I have the swing mount on our other truck for the TGS05 but would probably just use the receiver mount on this one as I don't want to drill holes into the bumper and rails.
Any ideas...

[John143]

No holes with the TGS07. Comes with the vibrator. We have the 07's on our trucks and love them! But I do have a question? Why are you spending more money on bags? We run bulk thru our 07's and they run fine with no problems of clumping. Get 2 new TGS07's and have 3 ton of bulk delivered and have some spear change in your pockets from the big savings of running bulk!!

[John143]

Sorry..... I thought you were only talking about the rear bumper. But you do have to drill 1 hole on each top rail. But I didnt drill them 2 holes on my new 2500 ram. I just used a heavy duty C-Clamp on each rail. Works great so far and no holes!!

[Raymond S.]

I use bags for a few reasons. 1. I store everything inside the shop on pallets. I don't have a place outside that I can store it without it being in the way. 2. I carried over 18 pallets last year. I simply just had to look at them sit in the corner of the shop. Can bulk be easily carried over season to season without worrying about moisture? I don't know, just asking. 3. I sold my skid steer last year because it just sat and never got used. I have a forklift in the shop which is pretty handy for loading skids in the back of pickups. Also, we will go through almost a pallet per round. I would have to come back to the shop twice to fill the salter if I had bulk.
On an average year I'll go through around 75k lbs, or 30 pallets. I know it sounds like alot and maybe I'm an idiot but I like the convenience of bagged. If I had my skid and it wasn't just sitting all year waiting to load salt, with a convenient place to store the salt, then I'd probably go with bulk.

[John143]

So lets do the math..... Lets just say you get 40 (50)Lb bags a salt in a pallet. Thats 2000 LB's of salt or 1-ton. You are using 30 pallets of salt a year. Thats 30-ton's. Now at $5.00 bucks a bag. That would be around $6000.00 dollars a year to buy bagged salt. I got my bulk pricing in a few weeks ago. 22-ton delivered to my shop would be around $1400.00. That would leave you with a difference of 8-ton. Will bump the price up to 75.00 a ton because your only getting 8-ton and not 22-ton. So at the end of the day..... Are you ready?? Are ya sitting down?? If you buy bulk you would spend $2000.00 dollars for salt for the same 30-ton!!! WOW!! $4000.000 dollars is a new 8ft snowdogg plow (installed) or hell it would be one hell of a vacation for you and the wife!! With 4K bring the kids as-well!!

[Raymond S.]

Well since you're into math...let's play.

30 pallets x 2450/pallet = 73,500lbs or 36 ton
36 ton x $75/ton = $2700
73,500 / 50 (lb bags) = 1470 bags
1470 x $3.70/bag (I buy truckloads, not from home depot) = $5439
Wow, you're right, I'm $2739 in the hole. Wait, now let's calculate productivity.

I can only load 800lbs in my spreader, unless I buy a Vbox (which would be paid for in the first year w/ savings, I understand that.) So I have to pay a driver to come back to the shop twice per night, so we lose 2 hrs total, per event

2 hrs x $150/hr = $300
$300 x 20 events (avg) = $6000
It now costs me $6k to use bulk, but I did save $2739
$6000 - $2739 = $3261

I haven't even bought a skid to load it or built a place to store it. I have 5 properties that account for almost all my salt. All 5 properties are tied into the hospital. What happens when they decide to pull it in house, give the lowballer a try, or just start busting balls and eliminate the salt (which won't happen.) For me, bagged salt works. I make ALOT of money when the snow flies. I buy new trucks, put the biggest plows on them money can buy, and pay my guys well. I could probably make due with older trucks, smaller plows, and unemployed crackheads. The $2700 it might "cost" me to use bagged salt is a drop in the bucket for the benefits I might see. I understand for most guys it's a no brainer. If I had a skid steer that was just sitting in the winter and a huge empty pole barn or mafia blocked pad to store the salt, and a Vbox in a dedicated salt truck...sure I'd use bulk. At the end of the day there are many more variables to a business decision than dollars and cents.

Or another option would be to buy a load of bulk salt and pay my guys to put it into bags for me. Just kidding. What kind of leunatic would do that.

So...about that spreader

[John143]

Originally Posted by Raymond S.

buy a Vbox (which would be paid for in the first year w/ savings,

So after all that math....... What did we learn?? You got it right!! Time to buy a V-box!!

[John143]

getting back on topic... If you decide not to take your own advice. The TGS07 would be worth every penny.

[Raymond S.]

This is gonna be a long winter if we don't get some snow

[John143]

Originally Posted by Raymond S.

This is gonna be a long winter if we don't get some snow

Now that my friend. I'm sure we are both in agreement on!!

[Mega cab]

I agree that baged is the way to go unless you are using 100s tons. I went through 50pallets last year. We also store inside and use forklift. The whole key is what your paying we are buying rock salt pre season around $3 per bag in season 4ish. Not worth the problems not to mention if you have waste.