I just have my own pile of mixed salt/sand, I go through alot of it. It's snowing up a storm here right now!
Most are as you describe Andy, both the units I've had. Some are hydraulic though usually just on the bigger stuff, sometimes in pick-up sized units though. My old one had a battery on it, my new one starts off of one of the truck batteries, my new Western is way better of a unit than the stainless salt dogg I used to have.