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Craftsman 5.0 hp Front Tine Tiller vs. The Mantis
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Posted by julia_123 zone5/Indiana (My Page) on Fri, Apr 8, 05 at 19:05
| Just wanted to get an opinion on this since I can't decide which to get. Wanted to post in the midwest forum as well as tools forum since you guys would know what kind of soil I'm dealing with (a little rocky, dry).
Prices are about the same ($300). I won't be *farming* or anything with this tiller, but I do want to break up previously untilled ground for a large herb garden, with the option to expand. :) The Mantis has gotten rave reviews but I'm concerned that it might not be good on untilled ground and might mainly be good for small, previously tilled gardens. My only concern with the Craftsman is that it weighs 100 pounds and I'm not sure how I would lift it. :) I'd find a way if it's the better deal. Any advice would be great. Thanks!!! |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Craftsman 5.0 hp Front Tine Tiller vs. The Mantis
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| We sold our tiller years ago when we realized that we always used the Mantis instead of dragging out the heavy equipment! I definitely vote for the Mantis. |
RE: Craftsman 5.0 hp Front Tine Tiller vs. The Mantis
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| For "previously untilled ground for a large herb garden" I don't think I'd recommend either one. My experience with a front end tiller is sorta limited, but what little I did use one I would think it would beat you to death in the soil conditions you describe. Even a good rear end tiller such as a Troy-Bilt or similar, the task would be an endeavor you probably wouldn't forget in a while. I do have a Mantis which I use a lot, but I always spade up the soil prior to using the Mantis - which does a great job within it's capabilities. |
RE: Craftsman 5.0 hp Front Tine Tiller vs. The Mantis
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| In similar conditions, I hired someone to till the bed the 1st time. It beat the hell out of his 8 horse rear tine tiller. I have an old (way old) 5 horse front tine I use in the Spring to till in the compost & scraps b4 planting. The Mantis is a cultivator. If thats what you need, great. The Craftsman is a tiller (a bit more heavy duty). Neither is a sod & rock buster. If you decide on a tiller, look around for used ones. Like snowblowers in many areas, they get used only a few times a year & a 10 year old unit doesn't have many actual hours on it. |
RE: Craftsman 5.0 hp Front Tine Tiller vs. The Mantis
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| I break sod with a front tine tiller every year when I plant new beds, simply because it's the only tiller available to me. I also like to wrestle the bull I would say. Anyways font tines are not as bad as most people think. Once you know how to use one properly they are quite easy to handle and operate. A rear tine doesn't bounce as much as the fronts but I don't think spending $300 more for one is worth it to me. Course I borrow the tillers I use and well don;t pay anything for them. You can get your garden tilled for $25 easily by someone else. I have a guy who did mine at another residence for $25 for a 40'x30' garden. Took 1 hour and he was done. |
RE: Craftsman 5.0 hp Front Tine Tiller vs. The Mantis
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| We were looking at those models too and just wished we could "test drive" them before buying---well we can---we just saw that the Home Depot in our area rents both the Mantis and the Honda for $30-$40/day (obviously less for 1/2 day)--this will give us the chance to test them and see which would be better for our soil. Considering the cost of each, it is worth it to us to ensure we buy the right one.... |
RE: Craftsman 5.0 hp Front Tine Tiller vs. The Mantis
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| Renting is a great idea for trying out new equipment - and in the long run - sometimes cheaper too. |
RE: Craftsman 5.0 hp Front Tine Tiller vs. The Mantis
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We have a Mantis and love it
Would;nt be without it eieter
Janice the Brit |
RE: Craftsman 5.0 hp Front Tine Tiller vs. The Mantis
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| IF I were to rent something for tilling our ground, I'd be renting something incredibly heavy duty...something professional grade because I would worry about breaking a part off the darn thing and that could get expensive. I'd probably pay someone to dig that patch by hand or by machine myself. |
RE: Craftsman 5.0 hp Front Tine Tiller vs. The Mantis
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| I bought the Mantis!!! Now if only I can get it put together properly...AND the nice weather holds... :) |
RE: Craftsman 5.0 hp Front Tine Tiller vs. The Mantis
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I have the same question. Does anyone here have the 5.5 HP Craftsman? How does it compare to the Mantis or the Red Ox?
-Doug |
RE: Craftsman 5.0 hp Front Tine Tiller vs. The Mantis
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Julia,
How is your Mantis performing? Anyone here use the Red Ox or the Craftsman 5.5 HP Front Tine?
-Doug |
RE: Craftsman 5.0 hp Front Tine Tiller vs. The Mantis
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| To be honest, I already had my yard dug up by the time I got the mantis halfway put together...but I'm anxious to have it for next year! It is very lightweight and seems like it will be easy to maneuver... :) |
RE: Craftsman 5.0 hp Front Tine Tiller vs. The Mantis
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| I have a Mantis. I just used it recently to till a border a foot wide next to my sidewalk. My sidewalk is curved too. It worked very well. It takes some getting used to but I found it easier when I tilled pulling it backwards. It didn't jump then. Kind of going back and forth. It was easy to put together once I watched the video that came with it. I also used the edger, it too worked well when I got the hang of it. It's very light and easy, easy to start. Remember to do it the way the video says to. Read all the instructions and you'll be fine. I'm very petite so I need something light and easy to handle. The mantis does the job but boy was I tired. I paid for it by the easy 4 monthly payments. Oh, the bed I just tilled was one I had done before but was dormant last year. Had some grass grown over it. Hope this helps. Do wear gloves. Shakes you like all tillers but not as much. |
RE: Craftsman 5.0 hp Front Tine Tiller vs. The Mantis
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| Seems a little late to answer since you've already got the Mantis...We lived in southern TN for 17 months. Nothing but the hardest clay and huge rock. The mantis did a better job of tilling than the "pro" one I rented to do some work out front. My yard was all "virgin". Never been tilled, used to be somewhat of a timber area. So some parts were so easy to till, while others...lol. You should always pull the tiller back, let it go forward and pull it back again. Was also told to let the tiller do it's thing, don't try and control it. Meaning, if it hops, let it. You'll do more harm to yourself than trying to control it. It has a warranty, not sure now how long, but I did break a tine on a rock, got it replaced free. Mine came together, so can't help you there. Terry |
RE: Craftsman 5.0 hp Front Tine Tiller vs. The Mantis
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| I have used the Mantis and Craftsman 5.0hp tillers, but not the Red Ox. The Mantis has smaller and finer tines so it slices the soil up into smaller chunks in the first pass. I think most people say that the Mantis does a much better job than the bigger tillers because the smaller chunks give the appearance of better tillage. The Craftsman 5.0hp will break the soil into small chucks too if you go a couple of passes over the same area. However, the Mantis does not till as deep as the Craftsman. I would say that the Craftsman has better tilling and compost mixing performance. And, the Mantis is a better cultivator (easier to maneuver around plants) and easier to store. There is an aftermarket attachment designed to convert the Craftsman tiller into a sod buster. I am the designer of the attachment so I will not comment its performance, but invite you to view the attachment at the link below. |
Here is a link that might be useful: Sod buster and aerator attachment for Craftsman tiller
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