Although there are many things to consider when shopping around for Mantis Rototillers or Cultivators, there are a few things you should know before you commit to buying one of these handy small garden tillers.
Most people first think about the price when they consider purchasing a garden rototiller. While I know that price is important, it is not the only thing to think about.
No matter what you pay for a cultivator, once you get it home and out into the yard, you need to be comfortable with it. Otherwise, you will use it once and either ship it back, or put it into the garden shed and never look at it again until you put it out at your next yard sale.
Let's look at a couple of important things to consider about Mantis Rototillers and Cultivators right here, before you buy.
Weight: Lighter or Heavier?
Most people who are considering a small garden tiller are already aware that the Mantis is lightweight. The 2-cycle model only weighs about 20 pounds.
Lightweight is good for most people and for most home use. But, bear in mind that this is a SMALL garden tiller, and as such, being small and lightweight may not be rugged enough if you are planning a 2 acre garden.
The good part about the 2-cycle Mantis being so light is that people of all ages can use it with relative ease. But again, if you are planning an extensive garden and are about to break through years of solid lawn, you may want to consider renting a large machine (or hire a landscaper) for the initial layout. Or, you could investigate the Mantis XP, which is one of the newest tillers being offered by Mantis.
The new and large Mantis XP 16-inch Rototiller, is more powerful than the smaller 2-cycle model. It also has a 35cc four-cycle engine by Honda. Keep in mind that since it has a larger engine and 7 more inches of tilling width, this new model XP is going to be heavier than the 2-cycle.
The Mantis XP 16-inch Rototiller weighs in at approximately 34 pounds, which is 10 pounds heavier than the 2-cycle unit. A 10-pound difference may not be much, but over the course of an hour or two of working in the garden, you might notice the difference! Again, this is just something to keep in mind as you make your choice.
But, no matter which model you choose, once a large garden is dug for the first time, even the smaller Mantis can keep it up without difficulty.
Fuel: Gas/Oil Mix or Gas?
Another important thing to consider about Mantis Rototillers and Cultivators is the fuel mix. Many people do not think about this when they are first purchasing a tiller, but smaller engines often take a mixture of fuel and oil.
In the case of the 2-cycle Mantis, it is critical to remember NOT to put straight gasoline into the tank. The Mantis 2-cycle Tiller takes a mixture of gasoline AND oil. This is not difficult at all; however, it is just important that you know this before taking your new Mantis out for a spin in the garden.
None of the other Mantis Rototillers take a gas/oil mix. The other, larger Mantis Tillers take gasoline only (that is, the Mantis 4-cycle Tiller and the Mantis XP 16-inch Tiller).
There is also an electric model, the Mantis Electric Tiller which has a 115 volt, double insulated, 3/4 horsepower engine, with a 540 watt circuit breaker.
Those are a few of the more important points to remember when shopping for small garden tillers. This way there won't be any surprises when you make your decision on which model to buy.
