We're going to make our garden a little larger this year and put in another at the FIL's old farm across the river. I have an older but nice Troy-Bilt Kohler-powered rear tine that cuts 22". It certainly is less work than any front-tine model, but I'm thinking about picking up a used 16-20 horse hydrostat garden tractor with a 36" rear-mounted PTO-driven tiller.
I've never used a tractor-driven one before, but my bad back is only going to get worse, and to top things off, I was just diagnosed with emphysema .
Do these tractor mounted tillers work well? Please chime in if you have any experience with them. I'd like to continue to have a garden in the future, but would like to make it easy on myself given the health problems.
Jim

Cant help you with the tiller question. The only ones I've used are a 17" troy-bilt and big ones that go on 50+ hp tractors.

Sorry to hear about the health problem.

Prayers sent your way.

My dad's neighbor has one with a tractor and tiller in about the same size range as yours. It works very well keeping a couple of good sized garden plots tilled up. Both plots have been in use for several years, and were already plowed up before the tiller was used.

You can use the tiller to break new ground, but it takes time and patience. Especially if you have hard clay soil like we have around here. Just don't try to take too big of a bite at a time.

I've been using the same 10hp Simplicity tractor w/tiller for 30 years (Rebuilt twice).
Works super, the only bad part is if you have to manually lift the tiller (large lever on side of tractor). It could be tough on a bad back, you'll be doing a lot of pulling that lever to rotor-till a regular size vegetable garden.
Other than that, it's a heck of a lot nicer than being shook to death with a walk behind. Ours still does a super job.

I love mine.. It's a bit bigger (60")..



When I'm using this, the soil out the back looks like sugar.. But it will also depend on how fast you set your forward speed...I'm running quite slowly.. This tractor has 3 ranges. I'm in low range and usually 2nd gear.. That translates to about a .25 mile/hour..

I have a normal, walk-behind rear-tine tiller also, but use it only for inter-row weed control...

thanks for the input- I've found an older Allis Chalmers hydrostat with an 18hp Briggs that runs a Simplicity 36" tiller off a PTO; guy wants $700 for it (with a 48" three-blade mower deck thrown in). Seems to be built like bridge iron and everything is AOK mechanically.
Just looking for a little easier way to have a decent garden in the future with a little less exertion.
Redneck- love that Deere setup!

Sounds like quite a bargain.. Just take the time to check all the bearings on the deck and on the tiller.. Also check the teeth to ensure they're not all bent up.. Replacing those can cost a mint..

Sounds like a good deal. Around you could pay that much for a decent used tiller all by itself.