Front or reartine Tillers ??

[coobie]

The wife wants to start a big garden next year.We have a small mantis tiller to work the ground,but she wants something larger.I am going to plow up or peel the top layer of sod off with my front end loader with my tractor.What type tiller do you folks suggest,front or rear tine?What brands are quality made & heavy duty?Thanks for any information.I wanted to add to this post,has anyone owned or operated a Barreto hydro walk behind rear tine tiller.coobie

 

[wushaw]

Since you have a tractor I would recommend a 3pt tiller, Here are my reasons.

1. Cost new is real close to same.
2. No engine to keep up with.
3. Time to till is much faster with 3pt tiller.
4. No extra tires to keep up with.
5. Tractor seat much more comfortable than shaking handle bars.

I just want to point out I have never owned a walk behind so I am just guessing on the handle bars shaking.

I spent 1200.00 on a Agric 45" 3pt shipped.

 

[coobie]

Since you have a tractor I would recommend a 3pt tiller, Here are my reasons.

1. Cost new is real close to same.
2. No engine to keep up with.
3. Time to till is much faster with 3pt tiller.
4. No extra tires to keep up with.
5. Tractor seat much more comfortable than shaking handle bars.

I just want to point out I have never owned a walk behind so I am just guessing on the handle bars shaking.

I spent 1200.00 on a Agric 45" 3pt shipped.

After some thinking and speaking with my wife today you are correct,I am getting to old to battle a walk behind tiller(LOL) I just posted a question in the attachment section of this board on 3 point tiller.Thanks,coobie.

 

[bontai_Joe]

I'd DEFINITELY go with a rear tine tiller. The front tine machines are back killers, do any decent sized garden and you will feel like you wrestled a 500 pound gorrila and lost. I like Troy-Bilt Horse rear tine tillers and have owned on for more than 25 years, but I agree with the above post that you can get a PTo driven tiller for your tractor new for less money than a new troy-Bilt and get the job done faster, easier and have the bonus of sitting down while doing it.

 

[Mickey_Fx]

You say "big garden" but not sure how big that is.

I have 4 different sized tillers and I use 3 of them on my garden. I use the largest 3pt on the Yanmar for do the heavy work. I follow this up with the smaller tractor mounted one on the Bolens GT just before planting and a few times after planting in the melon patch for weed control before they get too many runners. For general weeding/tilling chores I use a walk behind tiller.

Don't know what the weed control issue is in your area but here ,running the tiller between the rows is almost a weekly chore. Unless your row spacing can handle a tractor mounted tiller, you're left using a walk behind model or doing the weeding by hand.

Don't know your budget but decent used tillers are available. Probably could find a used tractor mounted tiller and a walk behind model for the same or lower price than a new good rear tine model. My 3pt tiller is the newest in age, it's likely 20 yrs old. The GT mounted tiller is getting close to 40 and the front tine walk behind tiller is almost as old. I did replace the engine on it 3 yrs ago.

For many yrs I used the tiller on the Bolens and the walk behind tiller for everything. When the kids were growing up our garden was about 45 x 100.

 

[nmu98]

I'd DEFINITELY go with a rear tine tiller. The front tine machines are back killers, do any decent sized garden and you will feel like you wrestled a 500 pound gorrila and lost. I like Troy-Bilt Horse rear tine tillers and have owned on for more than 25 years, but I agree with the above post that you can get a PTo driven tiller for your tractor new for less money than a new troy-Bilt and get the job done faster, easier and have the bonus of sitting down while doing it.

I agree, three point all the way.

I have a rear tine in addition to my JD 673. Its a Troy Bilt Pony. It is simply too light, and it is a PITA. It likes to lift the front end and run. I would trade it for a front tine any day. If you get a rear tine, get a heavy one.

 

[coobie]

You say "big garden" but not sure how big that is.

I have 4 different sized tillers and I use 3 of them on my garden. I use the largest 3pt on the Yanmar for do the heavy work. I follow this up with the smaller tractor mounted one on the Bolens GT just before planting and a few times after planting in the melon patch for weed control before they get too many runners. For general weeding/tilling chores I use a walk behind tiller.

Don't know what the weed control issue is in your area but here ,running the tiller between the rows is almost a weekly chore. Unless your row spacing can handle a tractor mounted tiller, you're left using a walk behind model or doing the weeding by hand.

Don't know your budget but decent used tillers are available. Probably could find a used tractor mounted tiller and a walk behind model for the same or lower price than a new good rear tine model. My 3pt tiller is the newest in age, it's likely 20 yrs old. The GT mounted tiller is getting close to 40 and the front tine walk behind tiller is almost as old. I did replace the engine on it 3 yrs ago.

For many yrs I used the tiller on the Bolens and the walk behind tiller for everything. When the kids were growing up our garden was about 45 x 100.

About the same size 130X70 or so.I am looking at a new befco 50 or 60 inch tiller 3 point tiller after talking with my wife today.coobie

 

[Drexel]

Not sure why they even make front tine tillers anymore, they'll work you to death. If your going to go with a walkbehind tiller get the rear tine. If you want to make the job even easier make sure it has reversible turning tines. With the tiller going forward and the tines going backward, keeping it from trying to run away on you, even a small woman could handle it well.

 

[2manyrocks]

The tractor mounted tiller will be great for preparing the soil in the Spring, but how are you going to cultivate between your rows after your plants start growing? Those Mantis tillers are nice in smaller areas, but do you intend to cultivate a 130 x 70 garden with one?

 

[froggy]

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