Buying A Tiller: Rear Tine or Front Tine? (loan, landscaping) - Charlotte - North Carolina (NC) - City-Data Forum

rtmitche · 10-16-2010, 08:11 AM

The community garden I help run wants to get a tiller. All the dirt in the garden has been worked and tilled before. Each person has 100 square feet, there are 15 of us, each person would be responsible for tilling their own area.

Do people have any suggestions on weather to get a rear tine or a front tine tiller? The rear tine is about $300 more.

southbound_295 · 10-16-2010, 08:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rtmitche

The community garden I help run wants to get a tiller. All the dirt in the garden has been worked and tilled before. Each person has 100 square feet, there are 15 of us, each person would be responsible for tilling their own area.

Do people have any suggestions on weather to get a rear tine or a front tine tiller? The rear tine is about $300 more.

lumbollo discussed tillers in this thread earlier in the year. He hasn't been posting for a while, so you might want to check this out. //www.city-data.com/forum/charl...otte-area.html

Sylbeth · 10-17-2010, 01:55 AM

You may want to consider paying the extra three hundred (just $20 extra when divided by 15), as I understand from my husband that the front tine tiller just about beats you to death.....and that the rear tine works more smoothly. Yes, it would be an investment.....hopefully, everyone who used it would take care of it, and return it clean for the next part owner.
My husband loaned his out several times....and sometimes it would come back in less than clean condition....he wasn't too happy about that...and just stopped loaning it out. Hopefully, your group will have some kind of mutual agreement that it will be returned in a clean state...and anything broken will be repaired. If you test run it when it comes back....you'll know that it will be okay for the next person to use it.

Robhu · 10-17-2010, 04:22 AM

Definitely rear tine tillers are easier to operate especialy for people who haven't operated a tiller before. And much less manhandling is required.
I've used frt tines for years and as I get older I always have sore arms and shoulders after using them.
My Mom's neighbor was sick when he wanted to till his garden this year. So I voluntered to do it for him. He has a rear tine tiller. After using it I ask myself why in the world didn't I spend the extra money and buy a rear tine tiller. All I had to do pretty much was walk behind it and steer it. Didn't have to fight it like you do frt tine tillers.