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Best Rear Tine Tiller: 4 Gas Picks for New Ground

Four gas rear-tine tillers with 127 to 212cc engines and 16 to 20 inch paths: tine rotation, depth, weight and warranty compared, plus who should skip each.

AcreMowerLab Editorial
By AcreMowerLab Editorial · 3 min read
Best Rear Tine Tiller: 4 Gas Picks for New Ground
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Top picks at a glance

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

  1. 1Earthquake Victory 39381Best OverallEarthquake Victory 393819.8/10View on Amazon
  2. 2Earthquake Pioneer 46059Best Dual-DirectionEarthquake Pioneer 460599.7/10View on Amazon
  3. 3NOVUS NV17DRTGBest for ControlNOVUS NV17DRTG9.7/10View on Amazon
  4. 4Pulsar PTG1120RBest Wide PathPulsar PTG1120R9.6/10View on Amazon
  5. 5Earthquake 20015 Versa 2-in-1 Tiller Cultivator with a 99ccEarthquake 20015 Versa 2-in-1 Tiller Cultivator with a 99ccView on Amazon
  6. 6SuperHandy Tiller CultivatorSuperHandy Tiller CultivatorView on Amazon
  7. 7IncwBo 12'' 15-AMP Electric Roto Tiller Cultivator forIncwBo 12'' 15-AMP Electric Roto Tiller Cultivator forView on Amazon
  8. 8TAZZ 35310 2-in-1 Front Tine Tiller/CultivatorTAZZ 35310 2-in-1 Front Tine Tiller/CultivatorView on Amazon

A rear-tine tiller is the machine for breaking new ground and working compacted clay, and it is a better fit than a front-tine model for a big garden or homestead plot. These four gas picks have 127 to 212cc engines, 16 to 20 inch tilling widths and counter-rotating or dual-direction tines. We give the engine, width, depth, weight and warranty from each listing and mark what it does not state.

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Quick picks

  • Best Overall Earthquake Victory 39381: Counter-rotating tines, 10 in depth and a 5-year warranty Check price on Amazon
  • Best Dual-Direction Earthquake Pioneer 46059: Up to 11 in deep with never-flat tires Check price on Amazon
  • Best for Control NOVUS NV17DRTG: Separate wheel and tine control on a 212cc engine Check price on Amazon
  • Best Wide Path Pulsar PTG1120R: 20 in path with counter-rotating tines Check price on Amazon

Our acreage picks

#ProductAcre ScoreBuy
1Earthquake Victory 39381 209cc Counter-Rotating Rear Tine TillerEarthquake Victory 39381 209cc Counter-Rotating Rear Tine Tiller9.8/10Buy on Amazon
2Earthquake Pioneer 46059 127cc Dual Direction Rear Tine TillerEarthquake Pioneer 46059 127cc Dual Direction Rear Tine Tiller9.7/10Buy on Amazon
3NOVUS NV17DRTG 212cc Dual Direction Rear Tine TillerNOVUS NV17DRTG 212cc Dual Direction Rear Tine Tiller9.7/10Buy on Amazon
4Pulsar PTG1120R 212cc 20 in Counter-Rotating Rear Tine TillerPulsar PTG1120R 212cc 20 in Counter-Rotating Rear Tine Tiller9.6/10Buy on Amazon
Earthquake Victory 39381 209cc Counter-Rotating Rear Tine Tiller

Earthquake Victory 39381 209cc Counter-Rotating Rear Tine Tiller

EARTHQUAKE9.8/10 Acre Score
i
The Acre Score (out of 100, shown as /10) weighs rated performance, build, value, safety listing and warranty. How we score

209cc counter-rotating rear tine tiller with a cast-iron bronze-gear transmission and a 5-year warranty.

Currently unavailableCheck price on Amazon

Who it's for: owners breaking new ground or working clay.

Who should skip it: anyone with a small plot who would rather have a lighter front-tine tiller.

Read the full review

The Victory 39381 has a 209cc 4-cycle Viper engine, counter-rotating tines that turn against the wheels, a cast-iron transmission with bronze gears, instant reverse and a 3-position handlebar. The listing states it tills a 16 in row up to 10 in deep, with side tine shields and a trailing rear shield, and a 5-year limited warranty. Weight is 154 lb.

Pros

  • Counter-rotating tines for clay and new ground
  • Cast-iron transmission with bronze gears
  • Instant reverse handle and a 3-position handlebar
  • 5-year limited warranty on the listing

Cons

  • Narrowest width of the 16 to 20 in group at 16 in
  • No safety standard is stated
  • Pneumatic tires can puncture
  • 154 lb is heavy to load without a ramp
Earthquake Pioneer 46059 127cc Dual Direction Rear Tine Tiller

Earthquake Pioneer 46059 127cc Dual Direction Rear Tine Tiller

EARTHQUAKE9.7/10 Acre Score
i
The Acre Score (out of 100, shown as /10) weighs rated performance, build, value, safety listing and warranty. How we score

127cc Briggs and Stratton dual-direction rear tine tiller, 17 in wide and up to 11 in deep, with airless tires.

Check price on Amazon

Who it's for: owners of gardens who want dual-direction tines and never-flat tires.

Who should skip it: anyone who wants a larger engine.

Read the full review

The Pioneer 46059 pairs a 127cc 4-cycle Briggs and Stratton engine with dual-direction tines, instant reverse and airless wheels. The listing states a 17 in tilling width, up to 11 in depth, a 5-year limited product warranty and a 2-year limited engine warranty. It gives 143 lb in the text and 165 lb in the specs table, so confirm the weight.

Pros

  • Deepest stated tilling depth here, up to 11 in
  • Dual direction: counter-rotating for new ground, standard for weeding
  • Airless tires that cannot go flat
  • Smallest engine, but the listing says it matches larger tillers

Cons

  • Listing gives two different weights, 143 lb and 165 lb
  • No safety standard is stated
  • 127cc is the smallest engine here
  • Engine warranty is shorter than the product warranty
NOVUS NV17DRTG 212cc Dual Direction Rear Tine Tiller

NOVUS NV17DRTG 212cc Dual Direction Rear Tine Tiller

NOVUS9.7/10 Acre Score
i
The Acre Score (out of 100, shown as /10) weighs rated performance, build, value, safety listing and warranty. How we score

212cc dual-direction rear tine tiller with 16 tines, a 17 in path and 14 in flat-free wheels.

Check price on Amazon

Who it's for: owners who want independent control of wheels and tines.

Who should skip it: anyone who needs 10 in or more of depth.

Read the full review

The NV17DRTG has a 212cc 4-cycle engine, 16 steel tines, a 17 in path and a stated depth of up to 8 in, with dual-direction tines, one forward, one neutral and one reverse gear and 14 in flat-free wheels. The listing gives a 2-year warranty and lifetime technical support. Weight is 175 lb.

Pros

  • 212cc engine with a 17 in path
  • Separate wheel drive and tine control
  • 14 in flat-free wheels
  • 2-year warranty and lifetime technical support

Cons

  • Heaviest here at 175 lb
  • Up to 8 in depth, less than the Earthquakes
  • No safety standard is stated
  • Support terms in the listing refer to local regulations
Pulsar PTG1120R 212cc 20 in Counter-Rotating Rear Tine Tiller

Pulsar PTG1120R 212cc 20 in Counter-Rotating Rear Tine Tiller

Pulsar9.6/10 Acre Score
i
The Acre Score (out of 100, shown as /10) weighs rated performance, build, value, safety listing and warranty. How we score

212cc counter-rotating rear tine tiller with a 20 in path, 6.5 in depth and 13.5 in tractor-style wheels.

Currently unavailableCheck price on Amazon

Who it's for: owners who want the widest path in a lighter machine.

Who should skip it: anyone who needs deeper tilling or a stated warranty.

Read the full review

The Pulsar PTG1120R has a 212cc OHV 4-cycle engine, four 13 in counter-rotating tines for a 20 in path and up to 6.5 in depth, a depth regulator, 13.5 in tractor-style wheels and forward and reverse controls. It ships with gear oil and engine oil. Weight is 154 lb. The listing does not state a warranty term or transmission details.

Pros

  • Widest path of the four at 20 in
  • Counter-rotating tines
  • Built-in depth regulator
  • Includes 85W140 gear oil and 10W-30 engine oil

Cons

  • Shallowest depth at up to 6.5 in
  • No warranty term is stated
  • No safety standard is stated
  • Little detail on the transmission

Other machines to compare

Side-by-side specs

Model Acre Score Type Tilling width Depth Tine rotation Engine Warranty
Earthquake Victory 39381 9.8/10 Rear tine 16 in Up to 10 in Counter-rotating 209cc 5 years limited
Earthquake Pioneer 46059 9.7/10 Rear tine 17 in Up to 11 in Dual direction 127cc Briggs and Stratton 5 years (engine 2)
NOVUS NV17DRTG 9.7/10 Rear tine 17 in Up to 8 in Dual 212cc 2 years
Pulsar PTG1120R 9.6/10 Rear tine 20 in Up to 6.5 in Counter-rotating 212cc OHV Not stated

Specifications are manufacturer rated as listed, collected 6 October 2026.

Acreage and terrain fit

Earthquake Victory 39381

Acreage fitUnder 11-22-55-1010+
Terrain fitRough ground

Earthquake Pioneer 46059

Acreage fitUnder 11-22-55-1010+
Terrain fitRough ground

NOVUS NV17DRTG

Acreage fitUnder 11-22-55-1010+
Terrain fitRough ground

Pulsar PTG1120R

Acreage fitUnder 11-22-55-1010+
Terrain fitRough ground

Buying guide: choosing a rear-tine tiller

Rear-tine vs front-tine

A rear-tine tiller has tines behind the wheels and the engine drives the wheels, so it pulls itself and handles hard ground better. A front-tine tiller has its tines in front and is lighter for small beds. For new ground, compacted clay or a large garden, a rear-tine tiller is the usual choice.

Tine rotation: forward, counter or dual

Counter-rotating tines turn against the wheels and break hard soil. The Earthquake Victory and the Pulsar list counter-rotating tines, and the Earthquake Pioneer and NOVUS list dual direction, with a standard mode for weeding and an aggressive mode for new ground.

Tilling width and depth

Stated widths and depths are 16 in and up to 10 in (Victory), 17 in and 11 in (Pioneer), 17 in and 8 in (NOVUS) and 20 in and 6.5 in (Pulsar). A wider path covers more per pass, and more depth helps when breaking sod or clay.

Engine and transmission

The Victory has a 209cc Viper engine and a cast-iron transmission with bronze gears, the Pioneer a 127cc Briggs and Stratton engine, and the NOVUS and Pulsar 212cc engines. Instant reverse is listed on the Victory, Pioneer and NOVUS, and forward and reverse controls on the Pulsar.

Breaking new ground vs cultivating

For the first pass in sod or hard clay, use counter-rotation and go slowly in several shallow passes. For seasonal cultivating, standard rotation leaves a finer seedbed. Call 811 before you dig on new ground so buried lines are marked.

Weight and handling

The Pioneer listing says 143 lb in the text and 165 lb in the specs table, so confirm it with the seller. The Victory and Pulsar are 154 lb and the NOVUS is 175 lb. A heavier tiller digs better but is harder to turn, and some owners find a lighter machine easier to handle in a tight bed.

Tiller safety

Buried utility lines are a real risk: in the US, call 811 a few days before you dig or till new ground. Wear eye protection and sturdy boots, keep feet and hands away from the tines, and start on clear, rock-free soil. Refuel only with the engine off and cool. Read our Safety Disclaimer.

The Acre Score explained

The Acre Score weighs five factors: performance (engine, tilling width and depth, tine action), build quality (transmission, wheels, shields), value (specs for the money), safety (a stated safety standard or guard) and warranty (years and coverage). A factor the listing does not state scores zero, so none of these four earns safety points.

Product Acre Score Perf. /35 Build /25 Value /25 Safety /10 Warranty /5
Earthquake Victory 39381 9.8 33 22 20 n/a 4
Earthquake Pioneer 46059 9.7 32 22 20 n/a 4
NOVUS NV17DRTG 9.7 32 20 20 n/a 3
Pulsar PTG1120R 9.6 30 20 20 n/a 0

Scores run from 9.2 to 9.8: each product’s point total is placed on that range, so more points always means a higher score. Safety counts only for powered gear or where the listing states safety features; where it does not apply, the score is taken over the remaining 90 points.

FAQ: mowing large lots

Rear tine or front tine for new ground?

Rear tine. It pulls itself and its tines work behind the wheels, which suits sod and compacted soil better than a front-tine tiller.

How deep does a rear tine tiller dig?

The listings here state up to 6.5 in (Pulsar), 8 in (NOVUS), 10 in (Victory) and 11 in (Pioneer). Reach the full depth in several passes rather than one.

Counter-rotating or forward?

Counter-rotating tines break hard ground and clay. Forward or standard rotation is for loose soil and weeding.

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