PTO Tiller Questions

[mo1]

We've decided to hold off on a planter, but still want to expand the garden. The only tiller we have is a very small weed-eater style. I've rented a rear-tine when needed.

I want to buy one, but want to go with a PTO tiller since I have tractors. I'll probably run it with my JD 5105 (45hp). I'm in CO (dry) with sandy soil, no rocks.

One of my questions is on width. Does it need to be as wide as the rear tires? I know that would be ideal, but these have gotten very pricey over the past couple of years. I think the tractor would run a forward rotation 6' or 7', but I see 5' ones for sale once in a while.

My other question is about brands. I know some are built really heavy, but I don't need super heavy duty at this point. I know the mantra is buy once, cry once, but $4k is out of my budget. Any recommended budget-friendly brands? Anything to stay away from?

Ideally you would want a tiller that is at least as wide as your tires, which would likely mean a 7' wide tiller. I run a 6' forward rotation unit behind a 5075E which is probably a smidge wider than your 5105 and the tiller is a few inches narrower on each side than the tractor. That is not a big deal, but if I didn't have the tiller before I got that tractor, I would have gotten a larger one. If you can find a 6'er for short money but would have to pay a lot more for a 7'er, I would get the 6'er. You will have plenty of power for a 7'er though as your tractor makes a touch over 40 PTO HP.

The tiller I run is a King Kutter and it has been fine. My soil has a large number of rocks and root balls and such as it was a somewhat neglected pasture I plowed under last fall and put a garden in this year. The tiller handled it just fine.

I will say that running a tiller behind a utility tractor does a lot of work in a hurry but you do need a decent amount of space to maneuver it in and a decent sized garden to make it worthwhile to use. I would not want to use my tractor in a garden less than about 75-100' long or with less than about 30' to turn around in on each end, or you will spend more time turning and backing than tilling.

 

[oldballs]

What mo1 said...................

cheers,
Mike

 

[blackd]

Ideally you would want a tiller that is at least as wide as your tires, which would likely mean a 7' wide tiller. I run a 6' forward rotation unit behind a 5075E which is probably a smidge wider than your 5105 and the tiller is a few inches narrower on each side than the tractor. That is not a big deal, but if I didn't have the tiller before I got that tractor, I would have gotten a larger one. If you can find a 6'er for short money but would have to pay a lot more for a 7'er, I would get the 6'er. You will have plenty of power for a 7'er though as your tractor makes a touch over 40 PTO HP.

The tiller I run is a King Kutter and it has been fine. My soil has a large number of rocks and root balls and such as it was a somewhat neglected pasture I plowed under last fall and put a garden in this year. The tiller handled it just fine.

I will say that running a tiller behind a utility tractor does a lot of work in a hurry but you do need a decent amount of space to maneuver it in and a decent sized garden to make it worthwhile to use. I would not want to use my tractor in a garden less than about 75-100' long or with less than about 30' to turn around in on each end, or you will spend more time turning and backing than tilling.

I have a MF GC2400 pulling a 4' Caroni, just slightly wider than the tires, used in a 40' square fenced garden and a slightly smaller food plot for deer. I till the garden twice annually, Spring and Late Summer/Fall. I take down the 7' deer fence on each end to till close to each end where the fence was. With fence down there is plenty of room to turn. The total process takes ~1/2 to 1 hour.

This is the 1st year I've had to adjust the slip clutch after finding a large rock in my deer food plot.

BTW, I'm 78 YO with a quad by-pass, and wouldn't even have a large garden without it.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

WHY all the turning?? Your tractor has reverse, doesn't it??

In tight quarters, I lift the tiller, shut it off and back up to start my next pass where I want it.

For tight turns, that's what the individual brakes are for, making tight turns.

SR

 

[BryceSteiner]

My other question is about brands. I know some are built really heavy, but I don't need super heavy duty at this point. I know the mantra is buy once, cry once, but $4k is out of my budget. Any recommended budget-friendly brands? Anything to stay away from?

I too have been debating this question of getting one and the price has driven me to instead rent. It's $50 for a day rental at my local ACE rental. They put it on my trailer and my tractor takes it off. I use it for the half hour to an hour, maybe do a couple of gardens for neighbors and put it back on. I don't have to maintain or store then. For using it once or twice a year, I think this works best for me at this point. Maybe that's an option for you.