Cab-Forward Truck Bed Mounted Material Spreader

A material spreader adapted to be mounted to a vehicle, said vehicle having a bed portion with a laterally extending front and rear portion, said spreader comprising:

• a hopper having spaced apart front and rear end walls, side walls and a base for receiving and containing material to be spread, said hopper having a hopper outlet positioned in said rear end wall for discharging material to be spread, said hopper being adapted to mount upon the bed portion with said hopper outlet being spaced from said rear portion of said vehicle bed;
• said front end wall of said hopper being positioned adjacent said front portion of said vehicle bed, wherein said hopper is positioned forward of the rear portion of said vehicle bed and adjacent the front portion of the vehicle bed;
• a spinner assembly spaced from said hopper outlet and adjacent the rear portion of the vehicle bed;
• a material conveyor extending from said hopper outlet to said spinner assembly, said material conveyor adapted to convey material from said hopper to said spinner assembly;
• an extension assembly for extending the distance between said hopper and said spinner assembly, said extension assembly extending longitudinally between said hopper outlet and said spinner assembly, said material conveyor being housed within said extension assembly;
• whereby, said hopper is adapted to be positioned upon the vehicle such that said front end wall is positioned forward adjacent the front portion of the vehicle bed, said rear end wall is positioned forward of said rear portion of said vehicle bed, such that the material within said hopper is substantially positioned forward of the rear portion of said vehicle bed, said material conveyor being adapted to convey material to said spinner and said spinner distribute said material received from said material conveyor.