Buying a Tow Behind Rototillers
If you’ve decided to put in a big new vegetable garden, or if you’ve recently bought a lawn tractor or all-terrain vehicle and you want to make your regular tilling work more efficient, buying a tow-behind rototiller can be an excellent investment. With 36 inches or more of tilling width on a single pass, there isn’t a more efficient tilling machine out there short of a full farming tractor. Many heavy-duty yard equipment manufacturers sell tow-behind rototillers, including Craftsman, Agri-Fab, King Kutter, and DR Power Equipment, among others. Before buying a particular model, consider the following important features.
Hitch Mechanism
Nothing could be worse than getting your machinery home and finding that you aren’t able to pull it. If you already have a towing vehicle, it’s important that you buy a tow-behind rototiller that has a matching hitch mechanism. Many manufacturers outfit their tow-behind rototillers with a universal-type pin hitch that fits the majority of towing vehicles. However, some manufacturers may have specialty hitches or proprietary connectors that require you to buy additional equipment for your towing vehicle.
Tilling Tines
While shopping for your tow-behind rototiller, pay close attention to the construction of the tilling tines. A durable tilling tine is one fashioned from a single piece of 7-gauge steel, attached to the rototiller’s tilling rod at its center point. For adequate tilling depth, look for tines 11 inches in diameter or more. Additionally, the machinery should allow for tilling depth adjustment so that you can make progressively deeper tilling passes when breaking up especially hard soils, thereby avoiding damage to your tines.
The Engine
Tow-behind rototillers feature an on-board engine to power the tilling tines. Most major manufacturers outfit their machines with Briggs & Stratton engines featuring excellent torque and power. Make sure you buy a model with a five horsepower engine or larger, which is sufficiently powerful to turn the toughest soils. Take a look at the engine warranty terms before buying.
Adding this piece of efficient equipment to your garden machinery is a decision you won't regret.
