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Guide to Buying Used Fertilizer Spreaders

Everything farmers and operators need to know about selecting, inspecting, and investing in a reliable used fertilizer spreader, featuring what to check, price breakdowns, technology milestones and more, from Koenig Equipment.

Shopping for a used Fertilizer Spreaders to help you prepare your fields? This guide highlights what to check, common wear factors, important features, pricing ranges, and how Koenig Equipment ensures you get lasting value out of your next fertilizer spreader.

What to Check For and Common Wear Factors in a Used Fertilizer Spreaders

  • Hopper Condition: Inspect for rust, cracks, or punctures, especially along seams and welds. Check for clean and smooth interior surfaces, which help ensure consistent material flow.

  • Spinner/Distributor System: Verify even rotation and tight mounting. Worn spinner fins or wobbly assemblies cause streaky coverage and uneven nutrient distribution.

  • Apron/Chain and Conveyor Belts: Look for worn edges, uneven tension, broken links, and slow or irregular movement. Check for proper tracking and lubrication of chains and belts in both pull-type and floater units.

  • Calibration Components: Test rate controllers, gate actuators, and drive electronics, digital or mechanical. Faulty meters and sensors reduce precision.

  • Frame, Axle & Wheels: Inspect for rust, bends, broken welds, and tire/hub/bearing health. Heavier spreaders carry more payload; check for structural integrity and smooth transport in the field.

  • Hydraulic & Electrical Systems: Confirm leak-free operation of hydraulics. Ensure wiring, sensors, and monitors are not frayed, chewed, or damaged.

  • General Function Test: Run unit with material if possible to check for bridging, coverage uniformity, and smooth mechanical operation.

Important Model Year Milestones for Fertilizer Spreaders

  • Pre-2015: Most units feature mechanical rate controls and basic ground-drive or PTO setups. Stainless steel hoppers grow in popularity for longer life and less corrosion.

  • 2015-2020: Precision upgrades become more readily available, digital rate monitoring, spinner speed sensors, and improved conveyor calibrations. GVM, BBI, New Leader, and Chandler introduce section control and MultApplier™ options for variable-rate technology.

  • 2021+ Innovations: Advanced GPS rate control, 16-section swath width management, boundary spreading, and real-time calibration on spreaders from New Leader, Salford, GVM, and John Deere units. Wider hoppers (up to 10+ tons) and multi-bin setups dominate in custom application fleets.

Common Costs and Value Factors in Used Fertilizer Spreaders

Factors like age, hours, brand, and condition all influence resale value of used disks. Below is a general guide to price ranges for fertilizer spreaders, prices below or above these ranges do not mean the product is improperly priced, as this is just a general guide.

  • Smaller Fertilizer Spreader (up to 1.5 tons of carrying weight): Typical price range for smaller sized fertilizer spreaders is between $1,500 to $5,000 for older models and between $5,000 to $12,000 for newer, well conditioned models that have technology features and capabilities. These smaller spreaders are used for small operations and specialty crop fields.
  • Medium Fertilizer Spreader (2 - 5 tons of carrying weight): Typical price range for medium sized fertilizer spreaders is between $8,000 to $20,000 for older models and between $20,000 to $38,000 for newer, well conditioned models that have technology features and capabilities. These medium spreaders are common for most operations that use a spreader, especially those that also have livestock.
  • Large Fertilizer Spreader (5 - 10+ tons of carrying weight): Typical price range for large sized fertilizer spreaders is between $32,000 to $75,000+ for older models and between $75,000 to $120,000+ for newer, well conditioned models that have technology features and capabilities. These large spreaders are most used in conjunction with larger livestock operations, were fertilizer supply is readily available.
  • Initial and Wear Maintenance Costs: If you are buying a used fertilizer spreader that has not been service, budget between $500 to $4,000 to replace wear parts such as the spinners, chains, belts, sensors, and tires.

Why Buy Used Fertilizer Spreaders from Koenig?

  • Quality Inspections: Koenig technicians review all critical wear points, hopper integrity, conveyor performance, and calibration electronics for reliability in different field conditions.

  • Regional Expertise: Setup guidance tailored to local crops, rates, and field sizes. Advice on ideal spreader types for row crop and custom application scenarios.

  • Smart Investments: Dealer-backed units ensure confidence, lower risk, and better long-term value compared to off-brand or auction-only purchases.

Next Steps to Buying a Used Fertilizer Spreader

Browse our current used Fertilizer Spreaders inventory or contact Koenig Equipment to find the right machine for your operation.