5 Best Rear Tine Tiller Under $1000 of 2022 – Top Picks, Reviews & Buying Guide

If you have the right gears in your hand, every work is easy. I have been a passionate gardener for a long time. And I know what exactly I want, it’s all mapped in my head but finding the right machines can be a bugger at times. Especially, in this modern era of virtuality, it is a risky process to look for gardening tools and verifying their efficiency.

To solve this problem, we have listed several best rear tine tillers under $1000 so you know what to choose and stay in the budget at the same time. Also, the inclusion of a detailed buying guide is done for your better understanding of the features you should be looking for in your rear tine tiller. I hope the garden tiller reviews and buying guide will help to choose the best.

Best Pick
Southland SRTT196E Rear Tine Tiller with OHV Engine
Southland SRTT196E Rear Tine Tiller with OHV Engine
10
Editor’s Choice
Craftsman 14-Inch Gas Powered Tiller
Craftsman 14-Inch Gas Powered Tiller
10
Budget Pick
Troy-Bilt Bronco Counter Rotating Rear Tine Tiller
Troy-Bilt Bronco Counter Rotating Rear Tine Tiller
10

Best Rear Tine Tiller Under $1000 Review

1. Southland SRTT196E Rear Tine Tiller with 196cc, OHV Engine – Best Pick 

Southland SRTT196E Rear Tine Tiller

The Southland SRTT196E is a powerful beast to plough your land. It helps to turn over the hardest soil and mix and churn them to create a land perfect for gardening. The machine digs deep into the soil and aerating it throughout. You can gain guaranteed satisfaction with minimal effort.

TILLING WIDTH AND DEPTH

The tilling width of the counter-rotating tines is 18 inches and the tilling depth is adjustable up to 10 inches. With such adjustable width and depth, you can dig deeper as necessary and till the largest yard.

HEAVY-DUTY WHEELS

The heavy-duty pneumatic wheels are 13 inches making them good for any rough, rocky and sandy terrain. They allow easy maneuverability over the terrains and make the transport easy as well.

ROBUST ENGINE

It has a four-stroke engine with an efficient 196cc Over Head Valve. This powerful motor allows heavy-duty work done in less time with less effort. The engine is what drives enough power to the whole system.

GEAR-DRIVE SYSTEM

It is a gas-powered system where you are allowed to do both reverse and forward tilling. The inclusion of a reverse and forward lever is what makes it possible.

SPEED CONTROL

It moves with a constant speed so it can render equal work and effort to the whole ground. Smooth movement across the land is hence made possible with no necessity of changing gears.

Pro Tip: You will need to take off the cotter pin from the spindle of wheels to unlock it since it lacks neutral mode

Pros
  • Easy starting due to manual recoil start
  • Hassle-free tine maintenance
  • Easy assembly
  • Ease of portability and cleanliness
  • Good user control
  • Strong and sturdy design
  • Comfortable usage
Cons
  • The vines can get tangled to the machine or its tines
  • It can sometimes take greater effort to carry the machine or move it around

2. Poulan Pro PPCRT17 Counter Rotating Rear-Tine Tiller

Poulan Pro PPCRT17

Now, why is the Poulan Pro considered the best rear tine tiller for the money? It is not only efficient but also fast in working through your garden, may it be soft or hard clay! And due to the forward and reverse drive system, you know you are in total control of the machine.

Efficient tines

The gadget comes with 13 inches tine offering good work over tough or sandy soil. The tines are also counter-rotating, so you can expect a thorough breaking up, digging and tilling of heavy terrain in less time.

Sturdy engine

A powerful motor of 208cc runs the whole system with good potential. This allows great work over tough uncultivated soil within a jiffy.

Power reverse system

The power reverse system allows both forward and reverses drive transmission. Hence, you can operate it in both directions ensuring the better result of your tilled land.

Easy handling

The machine is designed in a way so that you not only can get effortless tine movement in the forward direction but also easy transport backward. It comes with an adjustable handle that allows operating the machine one-handedly and adjusts the height according to user preference.

Pro Tip: For guaranteed efficiency, you will need to clean and remove the tangled vines from time to time.

Pros
  • Heavy-duty machine
  • Easy to operate
  • Speed control
  • Effortless transportability
  • Good for any type of soil
Cons
  • The handle may break at some point

3. Craftsman 14-Inch Gas Powered Rear Counter Rotating Tine Tiller – Editor’s Choice 

 ​Craftsman Gas Powered Rear Counter Rotating Tine Tiller

It is one of the best rated rear tine tillers. If you are looking for the best rear tine tillers under $1000, this is indeed a great option. It digs deep into even the hardest soil and makes sure you have your large gardening space ready for planting and cultivation.

POWERFUL GAS ENGINE

Equipped with a gas-driven engine with a power of 208cc. It also comes with an easy recoil start so the maneuverability becomes easy on your part.

REAR TINES FOR DIGGING DEEPER

The 10 inches reliable rear tines are made of quality steel material with a counter-rotating feature that allows good performance in large uncultivated areas. Even though new grounds can be a tough nut to break, this machine even offers to dig deeper into it without heavy effort!

TILLING WIDTH AND DEPTH

It can till up to 14 inches in width in a single pass through the land and dig up to 6 inches in hard soil.

GEAR-DRIVE TRANSMISSION

The gear-drive transmission is encased within a sturdy aluminum case that offers durability and longevity. This also allows easy tackling of any heavy-duty work.

ADDITIONAL FEATURE

The tines are protected with a tine shield. This ensures the protection from more dust and debris so that the cleaning process does not turn into a mess.

Pro Tip: It is a good idea to clean the tines after every use to ensure better output and longevity of the machine.

Pros
  • Powerful
  • Premium performance
  • Good for large areas
  • Easy start
  • Light-weight
  • Easy operation
Cons
  • The machine lacks reverse gear
  • Tines are self-propelling only in the forward direction

4. ​​Husqvarna TR317D, 208cc Rear Tine Tiller

​​Husqvarna TR317D

It is one of the few yard machine rear tine tillers that are both efficient as a cultivator and a counter-rotating tiller. The main attraction of the tiller is its powerful engine which is capable of dealing with all kinds of relevant cultivation processes. And the best part you get all of these advantages within your budget!

SEALED TRANSMISSION

The drive transmission system is sealed that offers longevity of the system.

TILLING WIDTH AND DEPTH

It offers a cultivating width of up to 17 inches and a satisfactory depth of about 6.5 inches that is driven through a powerful easy start engine. Hence you can comprehend what an efficient machine we are talking about here!

GEAR SYSTEM

The gear system offers easy maneuverability in both forward and reverses direction. So you can easily work it up on tough terrains.

TRACTION MAINTENANCE

The tire treads are engineered in the best way to ensure traction maintenance. Superior traction thus allows for ease of transport across the land.

Pro Tip: Cleaning the machine after every use can optimize its regular performance.

Pros
  • Strong and powerful
  • Durable
  • Superior traction maintenance
  • Ensured longevity
  • Ensured maneuverability
Cons
  • As the machine is equipped with a powerful engine, it is comparatively heavier and takes up more space to store
  • May vibrate a lot

5. ​​​Troy-Bilt Bronco Counter Rotating Gas Powered Rear Tine Tiller – Budget Pick  

 ​​​Troy-Bilt Bronco Counter

Looking for the best rear tine tiller for a home garden? This is probably the best choice for you. Regardless of the advantage of easy maintenance and portability, it is a highly efficient machine that has well-built tines to dig deep and deliver well-tilled and aerated soil in a single go.

RELIABLE ENGINE PERFORMANCE

One of the reasons for including this machine among the best rear tillers is how well-built and reliable its engine is. The machine equipped with a 208cc powerful 40-cycle engine offers uniform performance from day one.

WELL-BUILT TINES

The 10 inches tines are made of high-quality carbon steel materials ensuring their efficiency and long life. Hence, you can get remarkable output even in challenging conditions.

GEAR TRANSMISSION

The bronze gear-transmission encased in cast-iron allows smooth performance in rugged terrain and durability of the system as well.

TILLING-WDITH DEPTH

The tilling width and depth are 14 inches and 6 inches respectively offering a fairly good extent for ground digging and tilling.

POWER-REVERSE FUNCTION

As a bonus feature, it comes with a power-reverse function that lets you bring the machine out of congested spaces with ease.

Pro Tip: It is specifically designed for smaller yards, hence it is recommended to use it in home gardens or smaller areas.

Pros
  • Perfect for home garden
  • Easy operability
  • Ease of cleanliness
  • High-quality material
  • Durable
  • Easy storage
Cons
  • It might take more effort for moving and pushing through hard ground

Things to Consider When Buying Rear Tine Tillers Under $1000

Whether you are looking for the tiller with a good budget in mind or in low-budget, you’d always want to find the best for your work. Being machinery, it is important for all parts of the tiller to be equally active and efficient in their respective sectors.

Although I hope the yard machine rear tine tiller reviews given above will help you, yet this buying guide will help you decide your preferences and get an answer to what is the best rear tine tiller to buy for me?

Well-built motor

For gardening work, you will have to do a variety of jobs with your tiller. So, it is necessary to choose a powerful machine that will deliver better results while gardening. Power comes from an efficient motor. In this case, you need to consider the ‘cc’ measuring of the motor. For average or extensive workload, motors with 180cc or more would be great!

While tilling, the user might have to face several obstructions including hard soil and rocks. A powerful machine can hence overcome the barriers and ensure a smooth tilling experience.

Quality and feature of the tines

The tines play the major role in entitling a tiller as one of the top-rated rear tine tillers. The engine ensures power and strength while the quality of tines ensures the efficiency and productivity of the machine.

In choosing tillers, special attention is to be given to the quality of tines. If you are staying on low-budget, you might find machines with fairly good enough tines to carry out basic tasks; But when you want to operate the machine on rough terrain, you might need to pay some extra bill for your purchase and it’s worth it. High-quality heavy-duty tines will do your work smoothly but you also need to maintain and clean them from time to time to ensure longevity.

Electric or gas run tiller

The choice is up to you if you would prefer an electric tiller or a gas run tiller. Now let me explain in brief the advantages and disadvantages of both.

The gas-run tillers are usually more powerful which is very obvious, they work well even in rough and rocky terrains. Also, you do not face the hassle of chords or recharging them as in electric tillers. However, they are heavier and will take more effort to control.

Firstly, electric tillers are light-weighted. So, you have better control over them with less effort. You do not need to worry about gas refills. However, the hassle of chords and wires might be a pain sometimes.

Tilling WIDTH AND DEPTH

More width and depth is mostly a good thing. However, you should know the bigger the machine, the harder to maneuvre it. Hence, a considerably good tilling depth and width will do the work for you.

It is again your preference and the condition of the land and its surroundings in case of this factor. Normally rear tine tiller users operate them on larger lands, hence you can invest more for the greater width and depth for your convenience.

Ease of use

Ease of use is determined by a few factors like- easy recoil start, adjustable handles and light-weight of the machine.

Some tillers that start in the first pull are always good to work with. Two-stroke engines usually get started on the first or second pulls and are more convenient than the four-stroke engines.

An adjustable handle rather than a fixed one is preferred by the majority. You can adjust the handle according to your convenience and move the machine with flexibility. Again, light-weighted machines are easy to maintain and move. Hence, all this ensure the ease of operability of your tiller.

Some Frequently Asked Questions

Is the cultivating depth adjustable?

Yes, the cultivating depth is adjustable. When gardening, you would have to do several tilling tasks. The more adjustable depth options you have the more control you have over the gadget. It can range from three to ten options. More control means, you can do your work with precision.

Are self-propelling models better?

When you have a larger area to till or hard ground, you will need extra force while pushing the tiller. Self-propelling tillers can come in handy for sure.  With less effort, you would be able to work more and ultimately deliver better gardening land. Nevertheless, when the budget is in consideration, you might need to think once again about the necessity of this feature for you.

What do you mean by counter-rotating tines?

The wheels in these tillers pull the machine forward while the rear tines rotate counterclockwise. Now you might ask what is its advantage? Well, they can easily dig through hard soil and clay with mild vibration. They are particularly useful for creating newer garden beds.

Is weight a considerable factor while buying the machine?

Assume on a hot summer day, you are fatigued and drained but you need to keep your gardening work going. Pushing the heavyweight tillers thoroughly across the ground can be a pain at times. So if the machine is light-weighted it’d be easy to operate and move. Hence, you can do more work with less effort.

Final Thoughts

So are you up for turning your yard mess to your dream garden? You can choose your preferences among all the mentioned best rear tine tillers under $1000. Comparing with other models and deciding on what are your requirements will help to choose the best and getting the handy machine in the best value!

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