Top 5 Best Tow-Behind Broadcast Spreaders ~ (2024 Reviews)

Are you tired of using a push spreader? For folks with hills, obstacles, and multiple acres of land to cover, it’s wise to use the best tow-behind broadcast spreader for seed and fertilizer. One challenge you may have faced is to find a pull-behind spreader that’s not prone to tipping over. Another common complaint is a poor broadcast pattern that doesn’t evenly spread product.

In this guide, we share the top broadcast spreaders with high-quality components including metal gears that stand the test of time. Depending on how much land you have to cover and how often you need to use your spreader, there are multiple options featured in this guide.

A couple of our favorite lawn care equipment brands are Agri-Fab, Brinly, and for budget equipment, Craftsman gets the job done. In the chart below, you’ll find our top picks offered by these companies and a couple of others.

Several of the key specs/features to help you land on the right spreader for your lawn are:

• Coverage – Each spreader covers up to a certain amount of square feet (or acres) per load. This gives you an idea of how many times you’ll need to load it to complete the job.
• Spread Width – Spreaders offer adjustable spread widths to give you an idea of how long it will take you to do your lawn.
• Hopper Capacity/Size – This is typically measured in pounds, and the heavier the load the more coverage you get from each fill.
• Enclosed Gear Box w/ Metal Gears – Quality tow-behinds use protected metal gears – not plastic – to ensure you get many seasons of use.
• Pneumatic Wheels – Large and wide pneumatic wheels prevent the spreader from tipping over and make for a smoother ride over bumpy terrain.
• Rustproof Parts – Look for stainless steel components and poly hoppers to avoid corrosion.

Below, you’ll find a helpful chart that lists the key specs for each of our top picks to give you an idea of which model(s) is right for your lawn.

Top 5 Pull-Behind Broadcast Spreaders

Tow-Behind Broadcast Spreader Reviews

Now that you have an idea of what’s available, let’s take a closer look at each of the models to make sure you land on the right one. Under each review, you’ll find helpful pros & cons to consider.

#1) Agri-Fab 45-0463 130 lb. Tow-Behind Broadcast Spreader

It’s hard to go wrong with American-made Agri-Fab lawn & garden equipment. Agri-Fab’s spreaders are made in the USA, with the exception of the wheels being made in China. Though, we appreciate Agri-Fab’s transparency when it comes to disclosing where it sources its parts and manufactures its equipment.

The key highlights of this spreader are the rustproof poly hopper, professional-style enclosed gearbox with tapered gears, and large pneumatic tires for enhanced maneuverability. Additionally, you get precise control over your spread settings with this model and up to 1/2-acre of coverage from the 130-lb hopper.

The steel direct rod flow allows you to turn the spreader on/off from the seat of your tractor or mower. Plus, there are optional accessories including a rain cover, hopper deflector to narrow the spread pattern, and grate accessory for improved flow. Comparatively, other models in this guide do include a rain cover, so be sure to consider how important that is to you. Finally, Agri-Fab provides the longest warranty of 3 years.

Pros

Cons

#2) Brinly BS-36BH 175 lb. Tow-Behind Broadcast Spreader

Next, we have Brinly’s 175 lb. spreader with a 3.5 cu ft hopper that’s our top pick for large yards. Homeowners will find great value here as this model is large & heavy-duty enough for light commercial use. Brinly’s spreaders offer several unique features you won’t find on budget models.

Several of our favorite features are the patented directional spread pattern control for evener distribution, quick & easy calibration controls, and Brinly’s trademark AutoFlow that stops product flow when you stop your tractor or mower. Also, ZTR owners will find value here since this spreader is compatible with most zero-turn mowers.

One final consideration regards the gears. Instead of metal gears, Brinly uses glass-filled nylon gears encased in a nylon box. Though, the spreader does feature a stainless steel spinner shaft, agitator, and hardware. Be sure to consider this feature if you prefer a spreader with metal gears.

Pros

Cons

#3) Precision Products 6-Series 130 lb. Tow-Behind Broadcast Spreader w/ Rain Cover

Now, let’s see what Precision Products has to offer. The first feature you’ll be glad to see come back is the metal gears. Next, this spreader offers larger tires than Brinly and Agri-Fab at 15″, and if you give the three models a quick look, you’ll see that this model has a wide wheelbase. So, if you’re concerned about the Brinly model being top-heavy when riding over hills, this model by Precision is worth a look.

Next, this spreader is built for commercial use, meaning you won’t find any cheap plastic parts. The 1″ powder-coated steel tube frame is sturdy and resistant to corrosion. A couple of additional features we like offered by this model are the included rain cover and the hopper design. Compared to Brinly and Agri-Fab, the hopper is less flat at the bottom for better emptying of product.

The only real drawback of this model is the short 90-day limited warranty that’s far from what other brands offer and the shortest in this guide. Considering this isn’t a small investment, we’d like to see a longer warranty.

Pros

Cons

#4) Yard Commander YTL-002-179 125 lb. Tow-Behind Spreader

For fans of no-frills, get-the-job-done lawn care equipment, Yard Commander’s pull-behind broadcast spreader is a solid option. At the time of this writing, it’s more affordable than the first three models and gives you 125-lb capacity for taking care of 1/2 acre lawns.

The base package includes a rain cover and screen to get rolling right out of the box. Next, we like the shape of the hopper for better emptying. The wheelbase is wide enough to avoid top-heaviness. Also, you get metal gears (aluminum) for a comparable price to spreaders with plastic gears.

A couple of design features to be aware of when selecting this model are the smaller 12″ wheels, and the lever is shorter than other models. If you have a tractor or mower with a high seat, you may find that it’s harder to reach the handle. Overall, this is a good bang-for-your-buck broadcast spreader.

Pros

Cons

#5) Craftsman CMXGZBF7124571 110 lb. Tow Broadcast Spreader

The final model is our top budget pick for smaller lawns. Similar to the Yard Commander model above, this Craftsman spreader features metal gears rather than plastic. The only difference is that Craftsman uses steel gears, while Yard Commander features aluminum. Both models have exposed gears, which is important to consider if you prefer a model with a gearbox to eliminate exposure to the elements.

One design feature to consider is that this model has a hopper with a flatter bottom, similar to the shape of the Agri-Fab hopper. Comparatively, Yard Commander’s hopper is shaped more like a funnel. Plus, Craftsman’s spreader has the smallest tires in this guide at 10″. Ideal candidates for this spreader are people with small, mostly-flat lawns.

Several final considerations are the long warranty period offered by Craftsman that matches Agri-Fab, it’s made in the USA with global materials, and the handle is longer than the Yard Commander spreader. All things considered, this is one of the better budget broadcast spreaders on the market.

Pros

Cons

Bottom Line

When selecting the best tow-behind broadcast spreader, always match your lawn’s needs to the spreader’s features. By doing this, you avoid buying more tool than you need or wishing you’d bought a larger or heavier-duty model. If you plan to use your spreader for every season from spreading seed to spreading salt for melting ice, it’s wise to choose a model with an enclosed gearbox. This way, you get the most seasons of use.

Lastly, if you’re still undecided, go back over the pros & cons under each review to get an idea of the problems you may face. For example, if you want a hopper that empties fully, skip over models with flat bottoms.

Jump to Top 5 Table