Finding a reliable boss tailgate spreader can honestly make or break your own productivity when the first big snow storm hits plus the calls start pouring in. A person don't want to be fumbling with a blocked hopper or a motor that chooses to quit right when the mercury falls below zero. There's a specific type of peace of brain that comes through knowing the gear in your truck bed is actually built to deal with the abuse of a brutal winter.
If you've already been doing snow elimination for a while, you already know that the "Boss" title carries some excess weight. They've built a reputation on being tough, but also within their collection, there's a lot to think about. It's not really just about slapping a bucket of salt on the back again of your pick up; it's about effectiveness, material flow, while not having to jump out associated with the cab every single five minutes to poke a stay into the hopper.
Why You'll Appreciate Having One particular
The major reason people go toward a boss tailgate spreader is the build quality. Let's become real: salt is usually incredibly corrosive plus heavy. Cheap plastic material spreaders often split in the intense cold, and the particular motors on budget units tend to burn out the 2nd they encounter some sort of frozen clump associated with rock salt. Boss tends to overbuild their stuff, which is exactly what you want when you're operating a 14-hour shift in the center of the evening.
Another huge plus is the "Restore the Order" philosophy they speak about. Everything is designed to be intuitive. Whenever you're tired, chilly, and trying to navigate a limited parking lot, you don't want a complex interface. You want a control that works with gloves on along with a spreader that responds instantly.
Breaking Down the Main Models
Not every single truck needs the same setup. Based on whether you're doing small residential pavements or sprawling commercial lots, your needs are going to shift. Boss has a few different ways to deal with the problem, generally categorized by how they feed the materials to the rewriter.
The TGS Series (The Classic Choice)
The TGS series will be probably what most people picture if they think of a boss tailgate spreader . These are the workhorses for Class one and Class 2 trucks. They are relatively lightweight but surprisingly high-capacity.
The TGS 600, such as, is usually a favorite intended for guys with half-ton pickups. It doesn't overwhelm the suspension system, but it retains enough salt to get a decent number of driveways done before you need to return for a refill. If you step upward to the TGS 800, you're taking a look at more volume, which is great if you're trying to minimize downtime. The attractiveness of these will be the low profile—you can still see out your back window, which is a luxurious you'll miss the second it's gone.
The VBX Collection (For Bigger Jobs)
If a person find yourself doing more than simply a few driveways, you might appear at the VBX models. While a few of the are full-sized V-box spreaders that undertake the whole mattress, Boss also can make versions that bridge the gap. These are typically auger-fed, which is the game-changer if you're coping with "bulk" material rather than just the particular clean, bagged stuff. Auger systems are much better from breaking up pieces and ensuring a consistent flow, actually when the sodium is a small damp.
Set up and Installation (It's Easier Than You Think)
One particular of the greatest headaches with pickup truck accessories will be the set up. Fortunately, a boss tailgate spreader is designed with the user in brain. A lot of them use a standard 2-inch hitch receiver. You slide it in, pin number it, and you're halfway there.
However, the actual "pro tip" right here is the swing-away mount. If you've ever tried to weight gear into your vehicle bed or also just close the particular tailgate with a fixed spreader within the way, a person know how irritating it is. The swing-away attachment enables you to move the whole unit to the side without unmounting it. It's among those things you don't want until the particular first time you have to reach over the particular spreader to grab a shovel plus realize your back isn't as young as it used in order to be.
Wiring is the additional half from the battle. Boss utilizes a quite clean harness program. It's usually a plug-and-play situation once the initial truck-side wiring is completed. Just be sure you grease those connections! Sodium spray gets everywhere, and also a little dielectric grease goes the long way within preventing those "why isn't this switching on? " moments in January.
Salt, Sand, and Everything in Between
Not most materials are made similar. This is exactly where a lot of people run straight into trouble. If you're just throwing dry, bagged rock sodium, almost any boss tailgate spreader will handle it like a champ. But the moment you start mixing within sand or making use of bulk salt that's been sitting within a damp stack, the physics switch.
Sand is a lot heavier and more "sticky" than salt. If you're planning on using a sand/salt mix, you really need to appear at the devices having a high-torque motor and also a solid clitoral massager kit. The clitoral vibrator is basically a small motor that shakes the hopper to keep the material from "bridging"—that's once the salt forms a hollow arch on the discharge hole, and the spinner just rotates air while you think you're de-icing. Boss spreaders generally have mounting factors ready for these types of vibrators because they will know exactly exactly how frustrating bridging may be.
Real-World Maintenance Tips
If you need your boss tailgate spreader in order to last more than 2 seasons, you've obtained to be a bit disciplined regarding maintenance. I understand, nobody would like to clean their truck whenever it's ten levels out, but sodium is the enemy.
- The Post-Storm Rinse: At the very least, apply down the engine housing and the spinner assembly right after a big occasion. You don't require to ensure it is show-room clean, but obtaining the heavy crust off helps.
- Check the Spinner: The spinner plate is where the miracle happens. Make sure it isn't warped and that the vanes are clear. If a piece of debris gets caught in there, it may toss the whole point out of balance.
- Empty the Hopper: Never leave sodium within the hopper regarding a week between storms. It will eventually soak up moisture from your air, turn into a solid block of "salt-crete, " and then you'll end up being spending your Weekend morning with a hammer and the pry bar.
- Lubricant the Bearings: Most Boss units are pretty low-maintenance, but the quick shot associated with lubricant on moving parts before the particular season starts will be just good insurance plan.
Controlling the Spread
The controller inside the taxi is your control center. What's wonderful about the Boss strategy is the variable speed control. You don't always need to hurl sodium 30 feet in every direction. In case you're doing a narrow sidewalk or even a small residential spot right next to a neighbor's expensive landscaping, you can dial it back.
Being able to "blast" is also the handy feature. When you hit a patch of thick ice, you are able to strike the blast key to temporarily override your settings and dump a concentrated amount of material right where it's needed. It's all about having that level of control without getting to stop the truck.
Final Thoughts on the particular Investment
Let's be honest, the boss tailgate spreader isn't the cheapest option on the market. A person can find "no-name" brands for a cheaper price at big-box stores. But there's a reason you see so many red hoppers within the back of professional rigs. When you're out in the center of a blizzard at 3: 00 AM, the last thing a person want is in order to be a "mechanic. " You want to be an operator.
Trading in a top quality spreader means you're spending less period fixing gear plus more time removing lots. Over the season or 2, the efficiency gains usually pay for the price distinction. Plus, the reselling value on Boss equipment stays incredibly high. If a person ever choose to improve your truck or even get out of the overall game, you won't have any difficulty finding a buyer for a well-maintained Boss unit.
All in all, winter is hard enough. Having equipment that actually functions with you, instead of against you, makes the long nights much more bearable. Stay secure out there, maintain the salt dried out, and let the particular machine do the particular heavy lifting.