[hlntoiz]

Hi Jerre
You are correct about a newer controller, I bought one from Bob last winter and I can controller the auger and spinner just fine. It does throw heavy to the right side. I also had my box get stuck in the up position called Downeaster and the guy said just cut the hose! I told him no thank you drove it home about a mile and called jerre. He walk me through it, turned out it was a dirty contact in the controller. I also have a power up and power down short box unit and on the xway it does want to lift up if it is windy. then in the winter throw the spreader on the back and it is worse. If I am heading north I will somtimes put a strap to the front of it to hold it down.

Regards Mike

Jerre, That is what I asked you about origionally. You never mention this type of unit.

Hwo much are they (dare I ask) Do I still need 2 different power sources?

 

[flykelley]

Jerre, That is what I asked you about origionally. You never mention this type of unit.

Hwo much are they (dare I ask) Do I still need 2 different power sources?

Hi Hintoiz
I bought this right from Bob Church at karrier. I also bought his wiring harness because I want things to work right. All total it was $429.00 for the wiring harness model #1030-2170hr The controller is right around the same amount of money. I will post a picture of it later on tonight. the nice thing about buying the harness and controller from Bob is everything is plug and play, wire it to the battery, harness goes to the controller and then back to the spreader. All of his plugs are weatherproof. Not cheap but built the correct way.

Regards Mike

 

[Jerre Heyer]

Jerre, That is what I asked you about origionally. You never mention this type of unit.

Hwo much are they (dare I ask) Do I still need 2 different power sources?

Matt, they were under development. The one Mike got was an early model. They had some issues with them and pulled them for a while when you were looking. The new one's work much better. Same power source wiring for both and dual outputs. J

 

[GMC Driver]

Matt,

Sorry to hear of your troubles. I hope Downeaster steps up for you. I'm a little surprised to hear of the problems, after hearin again and again how great they are.

I own a Downeaster spreader - a 2 yard stainless like the one Matt had :wink, and I can be honest in saying there has been little I would change about this unit. We have had some trouble with the throttle control mechanism. It's one of the only plastic pieces on the unit, and is easily replaced.

Other than this small issue, we've been happy with our owner experience. I would easily assume that Downeaster products are a safe bet, so Matt's experience is a little surprising. Hope it all works out for you.

P.S. Your swivel bucket is really nice!! :grinz

 

[EIB]

Isn't true that the auger is at top speed now. The only thing the control will let you do is slow the auger down?

 

[niteman9]

I have not experience with these motors, but being an electrical engineer most motors with out variable speed run at full speed. The adjust ability comes in slowing the motor down.

So the question to ask is with this controller get me more speed or just allow me to slow down the current speed.

May also need a different motor.

Just thought I would throw that out so you don't get the new controller and still can't get more speed.

I'm sure Jerre can answer that question.

 

[flykelley]

Hi Guys
Here are pictures of my controller. I also belive it is runnung at top speed but I can slow the motors down which I have to do sometimes. All in all I am happy with my Downeaster, I do need to get the vibrater mounted though, sometime the salt will not flow all the way to the spreader, but that isnt the fault of Downeaster. Also if I have too much salt at the auger it will jam and the controller will shut it down. I then have to get out and grab the shovel and remove the extra salt. I only have this happen if I raise the bed too high with a full load of salt.

Regards Mike

 

[GMC Driver]

Me thinks Karrier developed the Downeaster ones as well - they sure look similar to my Karrier developed Buyers Salt Dogg controllers!

 

[flykelley]

Hi Guys
I just dug out my old invoice from Karrier. I order it last Dec and it was around $650.00 Hope this helps you, so far the controller does everything I have asked it to do. It not like my old Snowex you never knew if that was going to work or not. I also know Bob is trying to get Downeaster to use his controller as a option.

Regards Mike

 

[hlntoiz]

Also if I have too much salt at the auger it will jam and the controller will shut it down. I then have to get out and grab the shovel and remove the extra salt.

This is exactly what happened to me the other day and put me over the edge. That should not happen EVER!

I was always liked Downeasters V box. I liked how they where set up very much. All I did was add extensions. That is one of the reasons I went with this unit. Because of the great design.

The motor is pretty fast and the controller slows it. But the auger still feeds fast.

I wished the controller would "click" from number to number. It would be a better feel then guessing where it is or having to constantly look down at it.

Thanks for getting me the info. guys. I will look into it next week. The next few days will be very busy. Funny, I was actually at my dealers today purchasing a machine for that Bucket Dave has. The guy from downeaster called him for something. My dealer said he had a customer in the his office that was pretty pissed about the spreader he bought. The guy quickly said to call customer services tomorrow from 6-2.

Do you think they will credit me for the other controler I bought? I highly doubt it.

 

[paulsoccodato]

The guy from downeaster called him for something. My dealer said he had a customer in the his office that was pretty pissed about the spreader he bought. The guy quickly said to call customer services tomorrow from 6-2.

Thats a good sign, Hopefully they will work with you to resolve it.

 

[hlntoiz]

Thats a good sign, Hopefully they will work with you to resolve it.

We will see. My dealer here is awesome. Treats his customers like Jerre does. I guess that is why I decided to spend 10k more for a new machine than buy a used one. Service goes a long way.

 

[Mark Oomkes]

Hi Mark
I have a friend who had a truckcraft spreader on a pickup, it was under a year old shorted out caught fire. He lost the whole truck to the fire. Swears he will never buy Truckcraft again, maybe it was just a fluke.

Regards Mike

Hmmm, have a truck that needs a fire. :grinz

Jerre? Any experience?

Anybody else make electric under the tailgate spreaders?

 

[T-Zab]

Hmmm, have a truck that needs a fire. :grinz

Jerre? Any experience?

Anybody else make electric under the tailgate spreaders?

SnowEx has one out for 1 ton and up dumps.

 

[EIB]

Hmmm, have a truck that needs a fire. :grinz

Jerre? Any experience?

Anybody else make electric under the tailgate spreaders?

Mark,

I don't know how good they are. Check them out
http://www.smithspreaders.com/Spreaders/UnderTailgate/index.php

 

[Snowboy]

I am gonna pretend I didn't read that and chock it up to it being a Canadian thing...

No Jay its USA thing. They were trying to save money buy using a China made Motor.

They were good about it and after we figured stuff out they sent a new motor out UPS 2 days later.

 

[Pickering Snow]

Matt

Ask Jerre but iam pretty sure my second year buzzbox controller would work i have the first and second year design.

I figure i could change the bulkhead stepper switch to run your auger which would allow time delay and the speed for the spinner is got the detent settings like you want your more than welcome to have it.

It has blast funtion and overload led read out . Really there nothing complex about these controllers me and Jerre had them apart god only knows how many times just a series of pot switches which can be adjusted to your liking.

 

[Jerre Heyer]

Fred, good idea on the control. If ya send it down I can modifty it for him to work. Will have to make him a heavier harness thought. J

P.S. SOrry I missed calling you last night. Snow zoo here

 

[Matthew Bowman]

Mark
Smith just came out with an electric undertailgate spreader this year. I just bought one a month ago. So far it has gotten lots of use, and has been trouble free. This is our first non-vbox spreader and so far we really like it. It has duel speed controls for auger and spinner, which is good because the auger moves alot more material than we want on the higher settings, so we keep it as slow as it will go, which works well. The spinner will move side to side to adjust the spread pattern.
At this point it gets two thumbs up. I'll keep everyone posted if any troubles come up.

Matt

 

[hlntoiz]

Fred, good idea on the control. If ya send it down I can modifty it for him to work. Will have to make him a heavier harness thought. J

J, Thanks alot but lets hold off right now. Let me work out some of the things I want to first. and then worry about the controller. Maybe we can figure something out before the GTG. I am coming up early anyway.

Quote:
Originally Posted by flykelley
Hi Mark
I have a friend who had a truckcraft spreader on a pickup, it was under a year old shorted out caught fire. He lost the whole truck to the fire. Swears he will never buy Truckcraft again, maybe it was just a fluke.

Regards Mike

Hmmm, have a truck that needs a fire.

Jerre? Any experience?

Anybody else make electric under the tailgate spreaders?

OMG not the 2002 F450?

Mike do these spreaders fit an XC90 volvo? I really would like to see my wifes go up in flames!