Tiller extensions can be used to turn a piece of power equipment that wasn't originally designated to plow soil into a tiller for the garden or field. The most common types of extensions are those that were created for tractors, but they have also been made for riding lawnmowers, ATVs, and skid steers, and lighter-duty tiller extensions can be found for weed eaters. The ability to plow soil with a tiller attached to an existing piece of equipment is a viable and often cheaper option.
One of the less widely known tiller extensions is for a skid steer. The bucket on the front must be removed, and the tiller extension will attach in its place and use the same hydraulic system. These tiller extensions are bidirectional, meaning they can be used in forward or reverse. The motor can be reversed simply by the positioning of auxiliary controls. The other, lesser-known tiller extension is the small attachment created for weed eaters. These were created for lighter tilling jobs. The weed eater must be attachment capable.
The different types of tiller extensions for lawn or garden tractors and riding lawnmowers are more common. They are mounted on the rear and use the same hydraulic system as the mower blades. Owing to this, the tiller will typically work going forward or in reverse. Extensions for garden tractors and lawnmowers may be brand specific. For example, if a lawnmower is a John Deere, the tiller extension must be a John Deere product as well. Although the tiller extension will usually attach to the rear of the garden tractor via brackets under the transaxle and a shoulder bolt on the tractor’s frame, manufacturers may vary from this and prefer to create a hydraulic system that is unique to them.
Tiller extensions can also be purchased for ATVs. Typically a tiller attachment for an ATV is mounted on the front axle and winch with chains and straps. The tiller is raised and lowered using the winch. The winch is something that may need to be purchased separately. There is usually a switch that will need to be installed in the vicinity of the handle bars on the ATV. Once the tiller has been lowered, the switch will need to be turned on in order to till. One difference that often occurs in the operation of a tiller extension for an ATV is that the driver moves the ATV in reverse because it facilitates repositioning and makes for a more secure working condition.