Looking for a honest Southland SRTT196E review? Read along to learn all about the company and its tillers.
About the Company
Southland Power Equipment has been in the outdoor power equipment game for over 100 years. They are consistently focused on bringing gasoline-powered outdoor equipment to the North American market. In fact, they pride themselves on producing EPA- and CARB-compliant two- and four-cycle engines.
Their current power tool lineup includes tillers, blowers, trimmers, brush cutters, and walk-behind edgers. While these products continue to entice customers around the country, Southland has promised to introduce a new lineup of outdoor power tools in 2019.
Southland’s tillers are engineered and manufactured by MAT Engine Technologies, LLC, a member of the MAT Holdings Inc. MAT Engine Technologies is located in Long Grove, Illinois.
Along with their tillers, MAT Engine Technologies produces earth augers, cultivators, and other two- and four-cycle soil preparation tools. MAT Engine Technologies also produces outdoor power equipment for the Powermate® brand.
Quality
Loncin is a large manufacturer based out of China. Southland tillers also have 18-inch tilling widths and 10-inch tilling depths. Not to mention, they can be driven in both forward and reverse.
All of the Southland soil management products are backed by 2-year limited warranties. On top of this, the machines boast 11-inch self-sharpening counter-rotating tines. As such, there is no need to remove nor replace the tines.
On top of this, the rear tine tillers feature heavy-duty agricultural tires with a 90-degree steel valve stems. With that said, Southland has definitely developed a power tool that is capable of handling rough, rocky terrain.
Assembly and Use
It is important to note that Southland tillers are not fully assembled at the time of purchase.
You’ll need to manually attach the handlebars, shaft, wheels, tines, and a few other parts before you can run it across any earth. Fortunately, there are plenty of easy-to-follow instructional videos, like this one, to guide you through the process.
You’ll also need to add oil and gas. On top of that, you’ll want to check and adjust the tire pressure before you get started. The entire process takes less than an hour and can be completed without help.
The Southland rear-tine tiller is super easy to get started. All you have to do is turn the power switch to the on position and give the manual starter a pull.
The engine should start turning immediately. Then, you can push it over the earth you intend to cultivate. While some situations may call for two or three passes, this machine makes land prep extremely easy and fast.
Price
Southland’s 18-inch four-cycle rear-tine tiller sells for roughly $580 to $600. Their products are highlighted by a long list of retailers, including Home Depot, Grainger, Tractor Supply Company, and TrueValue.
Meanwhile, the company’s 11-inch front-tine tiller sells for close to $360. While the smaller model is well-suited for raised beds and small gardens, the 18-inch machine is engineered to handle coarse, rocky soil without showing any signs of weakness.
Best Seller
Southland SRTT196E
The Southland SRTT196E is the company’s best-selling rear tine tiller. It offers 196 cubic centimeters of engine capacity and 9.6 foot pounds of torque.
On top of that, the Southland tiller has folding pistol-grip handles for better control and handling. It also has a generous till width (11 inches) and depth (10 inches).
Final Thoughts
Wondering how Southland’s rear-tine tiller stands up against the competition? Head on over to our review of the best rototillers for rocky soil to find out!