Tell me about your Mantis tiller

I am considering purchasing a Mantis tiller and the majority of the information and opinions that I can find on it is very positive. If you own one, what do you like about it? What do you dislike about it? Would you recommend it? Any information would be greatly appreciated! I will be using it to till up new gardens where the sod has been removed and the soil is quite compacted. Can it really handle hard ground? In general, it will be used to prepare gardens and flower beds for spring planting. I've seen write-ups on the internet touting how wonderful it is, but I don't know how much of that is really advertising. I would like to get opinions from the real users out there. Thanks for any input that anyone can give to me!

I have both a Mantis tiller and a regular size tiller.

The Mantis is great for flower beds that are already established and for getting closer to fences, sidewalks, etc. However, it's fairly lightweight - -which is good for the small jobs. But it's really too lightweight for putting in a new large bed or an area that is really hard.

Because it is so lightweight, it has a little more "kick" or "bounce" than a regular tiller. But it's great for areas that it would be difficult to maneuver with a full size tiller. If the sod has already been removed, it probably could handle the job with more sweeps than using a regular tiller. Also, it doesn't get down as deep as a regular tiller - - so we till, rake dirt to one side, till again and so on.

We have a heavy clay base here, and with a little effort, it does the job. I have used it to put in beds where the sod has not been removed - - so it can be done. But if you have ever used a regular tiller, it cannot be compared. Nat

This message was edited Monday, Jun 16th 1:47 PM

This message was edited Monday, Jun 16th 4:09 PM

I bought one last year.

The ground here is hard, heavy clay. The Mantis handles it almost as well as a big tiller, but with many more passes. However, the Mantis itself is so much easier to deal with, that it's worth it, to me. I'm much more likely to just go grab the Mantis and get started (which leads to getting finished) than I am to haul out a big tiller.

On hard ground, the thing bounces, unlike in the commercials. If you are planning to do big areas, this might not be what you need. But it's great for maintenance, and re-doing existing beds.

Good Luck to you.
Cheri'

I had one, I didn't like it at all. I sold it and got a medium sized one.

nathalyn, sundry & Lenjo,

Thanks for your input. Now I'm not sure; I need more input, please!

I love mine..it's "me size" and it actually starts for me which the @#$#@!@ mower does not...therefore I tractor and dh mows. LOL Really..I do love it. It's always done for me what I've wanted. The only thing I don't like about it is going backward instead of foreward. But if I can till the garden all by myself no problem. :-))

Love mine too! In fact on my 2nd, 1st one lasted 10 years without a single problem. Believe me, I wore the thing plum out with my rocky, clay junk. The best thing I love is that I no longer dig holes! I stick my Mantis into the spot pulling out the dirt in a circle, then add my good stuff and the best of the dirt, leaving the rocks and hard junk on the edges. After the first died, I couldn't believe how much I missed it--lasted one month before ordering another.

Also, I love the furrows it leaves, a trench to throw the good stuff in and then mix it! It is WORK but easier than a dang shovel! Just brace yourself and hold on tight!

NMAX, I am on my third Mantis. Wore one out, took 10 years of lots of use. I still have the second gas motor one but with my arthritic hands and wrists, it is hard for me to start. So this spring bought an electric one. Love it, it starts every time!!! I also have a BCS 10 horse, battery electric start, and it is great for large areas. But i prefer the electric one. it is so quiet and does a great job. i do have to contend with rocks, but no clay soil. I don't think you would regret getting one. Donna

i love mine but i wore the tines off in one gardening season!
i have to order a new set!!!

I got one recently and just love it. It is lightweight, has started easy every time, and is much easier for me to use than the regular size tiller. Weighs about 20 lb.(I think).It is great for small jobs and digging holes. An edger attachment came with it. I tried the edger out last week and it did great with edging a large flower bed. Sure would have been nice tho if the kickstand had come with it. All in all, I am very pleased with my Mantis.
Jean

I have very rocky hard clay soil in my yard, I don't use my Mantis on the hard stuff ( I'm afraid I'll wear the tines down to quarters when I'm done ) So I use a Troy Built tiller for the hard stuff, But, I love to use the Mantis in my beds. I prefere doing mostly 'raised beds' here, And when it comes to mixing in compost and/or peatmoss and such, The Mantis is a great tool to have!!! The lightweight and ease of handling
in the beds, makes it a 'Must Have' for me! If it ever broke, I would definately get another one!

I absolutely love my mantis. I wanted one so bad, so DH got a demo one from a local dealer last year. We used it for a weekend and he went in and bought one the following Monday morning. We use it for lots of things.

Just last week, DH said that Mantis is the best garden tool we have bought yet. We are in the process of moving all our topsoil back around the new house. We scraped it all off and piled it prior to construction. DH was moving the topsoil back and piling it around the yard. I started trying to move it with a rake and shovel, but finally decided to heck with that and went and got the Mantis. That little baby will move a pile of soil in no time at all and I don't have the backache from shoveling either. I just ran it to the top of the pile and kept bringing it out until it was spread and level. I could do a tractor bucketload in about 10 minutes. That little tiller has paid for itself over and over again around here.

I do not have one yet. A friend tells me her kids (13 year old girl, 10 year old boy) argue about who gets to do the tilling with the mantis. They say it is very easy to use in our sandy soils here.

I thought you might like to hear this.

Thanks for all of the input! It sounds like the general concensus is that it is good. I really need something to make my life easier. It used to be that I didn't mind the heavy outside work so much, but now I just want to get the ground ready quick and have fun planting. I'm only 30-something, but I'm ready to work a little more smarter and a little less hard.

This has definitely moved me closer to buying one. The bad news is my truck broke down last night and I don't know the damage ($) yet. Maybe I can find an ebay bargain!

:

I love mine. I never have to ask DH to till me a spot anymore or even crank it. One of the great things of the Mantis is use it for a year and if you are not happy, you can return it. Brenda

Take a look at the Honda Mini-Tiller. I looked at the Mantis and the Honda, I bought the Honda 5 years ago and love it. It has wheels to move it around (Mantis doesn't)
Its a 4 stroke no oil to mix with the gas.

Paul

Thanks for the input everyone! I am afraid I will have to put this purchase on hold. My truck is going to the auto graveyard:( Unfortunately, transportation takes precedence over garden tools.

I sure know that decision well. :

Me too!

I'm sorry you're going to have to delay, nmax :( I bought one this spring and love it. It's the smaller one. Here's another thread we had going earlier this spring about it:

http://davesgarden.com/t/371484/