Keeping the garden clean and polished requires a lot of hard work. However, what if I told you there is a device that will save you time and energy?
Enter the tow-behind sprayer, your one-stop-shop for the lawn’s essential and aesthetic needs. Let’s find out which ones stand out.
5 Best Tow-Behind Sprayers
NorthStar 12 Volt Tow-Behind Trailer Boom Broadcast and Spot Sprayer- Best Overall
Looking for the best tow-behind sprayer on the list? NorthStar has got you covered with its 21-gallon trailer broadcast and spot sprayer.
Let’s start with durability. This Northstar sprayer is for you if you live around the tropics or places with strong sunlight exposure.
“Why is that,” you may ask? The poly tank contains ultraviolet protection, shielding the sprayer, lawn tractor, and your eyes from potential damage.
It is also one of the best boom sprayers for resisting chemical residue brought about by pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers.
Now it’s time to segue to the performance. With the Northstar Boom Broadcast and Spot Sprayer, you get a sustainable tank capacity of up to 21 gallons.
Designed to provide excellent priming, the Northstar 12 volt pump consists of a 2.2 gallons per minute (GPM) rating and a 70 PSI velocity. These features help you complete the mowing duties in no time.
In terms of logistics, retractable boom arms let you neatly fold the Northstar sprayer to avoid cluttering around the closet.
Pros
- UV resistant
- High tank capacity of 21 gallons
- Withstands chemical particles
- Efficient pumping rate of 2.2 gallons per minute
- Superior 70 PSI velocity
Cons
- None
Agri-Fab 45-0292 White and Black Tow Sprayer – Best Value
Agri-Fab is no stranger to producing top-tier pull behind sprayers for lawn mowers and gardening enthusiasts. If you want the best value tow behind sprayer, try out the 45-0292 model.
For starters, the US-based sprayer garners a 15-gallon tank capacity. 15 gallons may not seem like a lot, but the 7-foot spray width makes up for the medium-sized tank storage.
Want to get the best out of the tow sprayer? A universal hitch ensures compatibility with the ATV, lawn tractor, and other gardening devices.
If you are more inclined to spot spraying, the hand-held wand offers maximum convenience and 30-foot spray coverage.
It also holds its own when it comes to longevity. An unbreakable steel frame and durable poly tank guarantee protection against rust, corrosion, and other impact types.
If you are worried about broken parts or not satisfied with the product, a 3-year limited warranty takes care of all these concerns.
Pros
- Wide 7-foot spray width
- Compatible with ATV and lawn tractor
- User-friendly hand-held wand
- Strong steel frame
- UV resistant
- 3-year limited warranty
Cons
- May be hard to assemble
Chapin International 97200B Herbicide and Pesticide Spot Sprayer – Best Budget Pick
Enter the Chapin 97200B Spot Sprayer, the best budget choice that offers the same results other premier pull behind sprayers provide.
As the name suggests, it involves storing and pumping various chemical gardening enhancers like fertilizers, weed killers, herbicides, and pesticides.
However, you won’t have to fret about leftover residue on the sprayer tank because the drain plugs and dual filtration system eliminate excess chemicals.
When it comes to the best pull behind and ATV sprayers, versatility is the name of the game. Luckily, a 12V diaphragm pump allows you to use multiple battery options.
The budget sprayer holds its own with the more expensive sprayer tanks with its 15-gallon capacity. Not bad for a cheaper alternative.
You also experience consistent results thanks to the constant 0.3 to 0.4 gallons per minute rating.
Do you still need more convincing? An additional 15-foot hose length produces a 30-foot vertical coverage and 18-foot horizontal coverage.
Pros
- Translucent tank for easy tracking
- Sufficient 15-gallon tank capacity
- Compatible with chemicals
- Dual filtration system eliminates leftover chemical waste
- Easy-to-use spray wand and 15-foot hose length
- Affordable price point
Cons
- Tends to drip despite the nozzle’s tight grip
Master SAO-H3-015B-MM Economy ATV Broadcast and Spot Sprayer-Everflo
Not to be outdone, Master is another elite manufacturer that comes with the best of the best.
Whether you are looking for a broadcast, spot, or boom sprayer, the Valley Industries brand caters to your spraying needs. An example of which is the SAO-H3-015B-MM variation.
Like most sprayer tanks, the Master tow-behind sprayer is translucent. It means you can partially see the contents of the tank’s interior.
There won’t be a need to guess whether the tank is half-empty or half-full. You may be asking yourself, “What else will I be getting out of this tow-behind sprayer?”
Another awesome feature is the spray gun nozzle, which can cover dimensions such as a 25-foot vertical coverage and 30-foot horizontal coverage.
You also have the ability to adjust the boom bracket according to your preference and garden’s measurements.
Furthermore, two mounting straps keep the tank sprayer intact and connected with the ATV vehicle. Chances of separation are minimal to non-existent.
Pros
- Translucent tank composition
- Spray gun nozzle offers wide coverage
- Adjustable boom bracket
- Superior rate of 2.2 gallons per minute
- Inseparable and sturdy mounting straps
Cons
- 20.8 pounds may be too heavy for some
Precision Products TCS25 Spot Sprayer
Precision Products is another staple brand that manufactures superior gardening tools such as tow sprayers.
If spot spraying is your primary niche, try out Precision Products’ TCS25 model.
The tank capacity stands out the most, boasting a 25-gallon capacity. You won’t have to think about running out of supply.
A 1.8 GPM rate and 60 PSI ensure uniform coverage and instant results. Expect to finish your mowing tasks in a jiffy.
The drain plug conveniently cleans the tank. Say goodbye to chemical waste and potential clogging.
You can easily mount and unmount the tow sprayer at the back end of tractors, ATVs, and other gardening vehicles.
Still not satisfied? Precision Products offers a 90-day warranty if you want to repair certain parts or get your money back.
Pros
- Abundant tank supply (25 gallons)
- Fast 1.8 GPM rating
- Drain plug eliminates chemical residue
- Easy to mount and unmount
- 90-day warranty
Cons
- None
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What Are the Benefits of a Tow-Behind Sprayer?
As seen in the tow-behind sprayer products, they offer numerous advantages for both the garden and its respective gardeners.
Indeed, these make it difficult for you to resist buying such sprayers. Here are some of the many benefits you should expect when purchasing the gardening device.
More Efficient Than Manual Sprayers
I am sure one of the reasons why you stumbled upon this article and other tow-behind sprayer reviews is because you are tired of doing the work yourself.
Luckily, you came to the right place. Unlike more traditional gardening items, these sprayers can double the work and area coverage for half the time.
You won’t have to worry about bruised joints because these lawn sprayers do all the work for you.
Are you a multitasker? The tow-behind sprayer fulfills two duties at once. It mows your lawn and sprays chemical components such as fertilizers. Not bad for a gardening tool, right?
Less Chemical Exposure
Besides efficiency and convenience, tow-behind sprayers ensure safety against toxic chemicals.
The problem with holding manual sprayers and doing the mowing with your bare hands is the high risk of chemical exposure.
These may creep towards your skin, or you may inhale chemical particles by accident. Whatever the case may be, you want to keep yourself safe and protected from hazardous chemicals.
Most tow-behind sprayer reviews claim that tank sprayers are non-hazardous, so it is safe to say that you are in good hands with these gardening devices.
Better Lawn Coverage and Spray Width
A gardener’s number one pet peeve is missed spots and out of coverage areas. Hand-held sprayers tend to miss the mark due to their small tank size and manual nature.
The tow-behind sprayers take care of all that and then some. For starters, you get constant speed when operating the pull behind sprayers.
With manual sprayers, your hands get easily tired, so the mowing rate is not uniform. That is not the case with tow-behind sprayers.
These devices save you time by mowing areas that manual sprayers can’t reach. Although tow-behind sprayers tend to be pricey, it is a solid investment if you need to mow the lawn daily.
What Should You Consider Before Buying a Tow-Behind Sprayer?
Buying the best tow behind sprayer is no walk in the park. Whether or not you are a gardening expert, you need to make sure you get a functional yard sprayer that does the job.
Thankfully, this part of the review gives you a list of things to consider before purchasing your very own tow-behind sprayer.
Material Type
The sprayer tank is pretty much the heart and soul of any tow-behind sprayer. When choosing a tow sprayer, make sure to go for the ones that are rust-resistant and impact-resistant.
Cost-efficient materials result in better performing tow-behind sprayers. Here are the different types of tank materials most manufacturers use.
Fiberglass
The fiberglass material incorporates durability and lightweight tank size. One feature that separates it from the rest is its ability to resist rust and corrosion.
Due to its lightweight composition, you can easily place it on top of the ATV whenever you start mowing the lawn.
However, one disadvantage of the fiberglass tank is it may explode if you put liquids that go for 0 degrees Celsius or lower.
Polyethylene
Polyethylene is another user-friendly tank material because of its longevity and lightweight features. It can resist various forms of impact, like scratches, falls, etc.
Among the three tank materials, the poly tank goes for the cheapest price point. Therefore, if you are operating on a low budget, this material is the one for you.
Furthermore, ultraviolet protection and extra layers make polyurethane tanks UV resistant. However, too much exposure under direct sunlight may damage the tank material.
Stainless Steel
If you want superior durability and high performance, make sure to go for the stainless steel tank material.
It boasts the highest resistance against rust, scratches, and strong impact. Because of its impeccable durability, it can withstand the most extreme weather conditions and environments.
The only downside to the premium material is its expensive price tag. Steel is a staple among most of the best tow-behind sprayers, so it is no surprise that it will cost you a large sum of money.
Tank Capacity
Another important factor to consider is tank capacity. To get the best out of your tow-behind sprayer, the first thing you need to do is measure the area of your lawn or vegetable garden.
Most markets and retailers sell sprayer tanks for as low as 13 gallons and as high as 25 gallons.
A 13-gallon tank size satisfies average households. Some pull behind sprayers even go for 100 gallons, but I strongly discourage you from buying tow sprayers with excessive capacity.
If you are the type that prefers simple spot spraying, alternatives such as the backpack sprayer should suffice.
Pressure Gauge
Whenever you are using a tow-behind sprayer, you need to make sure the pressure gauge is always by your side.
“Why?” you may ask. Well, it is because the measurement tool keeps track of the pressure levels in your sprayer.
You won’t know whether there is too much or too little pressure on the container without the pressure gauge.
Moreover, the pressure gauge can be adjusted based on the physical force to get high-quality spraying results.
Nozzle
Another overlooked, but important part of the tow-behind sprayer is the spray nozzle. It connects with the pressure gauge so that you get ample spray width.
However, it is not enough to pick a random nozzle. Make sure to pick one that complements the tank size and satisfies your garden’s needs.
Here are the different types of spray nozzles that are common among every tow behind sprayer.
Conventional Nozzle
For conventional nozzles, make sure to set pressure levels above 40 PSI. If they go lower than that, the spraying pattern loses its consistency.
Therefore, you might not get the results that you want.
Pre-orifice Nozzle
Unlike other nozzles, the pre-orifice nozzle gives you less drift at 40 psi. Unfortunately, there are some caveats.
If you go too low, you might lose the pattern’s uniformity and consistency.
Lo-pres Air Induced Nozzle
Unlike the first two nozzle types, the lo-pres air induced nozzle operates at 50-60 PSI. These numbers garner a clean spray pattern and consistent spray coverage.
Despite the high-pressure levels, you won’t have to worry about drifting tendencies.
High-pres Air Induced Nozzle
As the name suggests, the high-pres air induced nozzle is designed to provide higher pressure levels. Expect around 60-80 PSI averages.
Also, make sure not to operate this nozzle under low pressure for the patterns to remain intact.
Pneumatic Tires
A tow-behind sprayer is not complete without wheels. Without it, you won’t take out all the pressure inside the fully loaded tank.
Most gardening experts would recommend 10-inch pneumatic wheels so that you get the most optimized results.
For small backyards and terrains, the smaller sized pneumatic tires will do. However, for larger areas and 25-gallon tanks, I suggest upgrading the wheel size to at least 10 inches or higher.
Sprayer Booms
Want to have a gauge of the lawn coverage? That will depend entirely on the sprayer boom type.
Sprayer booms are in charge of supplying your plants with sufficient fertilizer amounts for a healthier garden. They come in three different variations.
Dripless Boom
First, we have the dripless boom, the most versatile of the three. Besides providing great coverage for your crops, they can be stored and transported to any location.
Dry Boom
Next up is the dry boom. These ensure much-needed support for the hose so that it doesn’t get separated from the turf. As a result, dry booms also provide good coverage.
Wet Boom
Unlike dripless and dry booms, wet booms transport liquids to the spray tip once you connect it to the tow-behind sprayer.
With wet booms, the directions of both the sprayer and nozzles are adjustable. You can choose to go up, down, left, right, or center. These result in wide and uniform area coverage.
With these options at your disposal, your choice should depend on the garden’s dimensions and total area. So choose wisely.
Price Tag and Warranty
Last but not least, do not forget about your budget. While some of the best tow-behind sprayers go for high price ranges, consider buying the ones that give you the best value for money.
When in doubt, contact your local store for the best deals and prices. I am certain they will be happy to help you get the essential items needed for that garden makeover.
How to Maintain Your Tow-Behind Sprayer?
The best tow-behind sprayers are those that can be maintained yearly. By doing so, you extend its lifespan and receive high-performance action in the long run.
Here are some practical tips and tricks with regards to maintaining your tow-behind sprayer.
Clean Your Tank
Even though cleaning the tank can be a hassle, it still needs to be done. The last thing you want is chemical residue harming your plants.
Here is a simple 7-step method that will make your tank look spotless.
- Rise the tank after the draining process.
- Fill up the sprayer tank with clean water.
- Insert a cleaning solution and combine it with the water.
- Let it rest for around 8 hours.
- Wash the nozzles, screens, and filter with a cleaning agent.
- Activate the pump to flush away the mixture.
- Carefully rinse all the parts to wash away residue from cleaning agents.
Indeed, these easy-to-follow steps are all it takes to make your tank look nice, clean, and good as new. Say goodbye to excess herbicides and fertilizers clumping together at the tank’s interior.
Tidy Up the Sprayer, Hoze, and Nozzles
Cleaning the tank alone is not enough. You also have to check whether the other parts of the sprayer are spotless and free from chemical residue after usage.
Why is this so? Even if these components are significantly smaller than the tank itself, leftover chemicals may cause clumping and clogging.
If the nozzles are left unattended, you may not receive consistent and reliable results due to the unnecessary chemicals.
After washing, give your tow-behind sprayer some sunlight exposure to avoid clogging from taking place.
How to Give Yourself the Best Tow-Behind Sprayer Experience?
As with any device, accidents and confusion are bound to happen if we are not careful and mindful of our surroundings.
Luckily, we have some tips and tricks to optimize your experience while maintaining a safe and conducive environment for all.
Whether you are a casual or passionate gardening fan, these pieces of advice apply to everyone.
Wear Comfortable and Protective Clothing
Mowing the lawn is not for the faint of heart. When you get your hands and feet on the field, expect to get down and dirty.
Therefore, I highly suggest you keep your Gucci shirts and Prada shoes in your closet. Instead, wear light-colored shirts, comfortable shorts, and sweatproof apparel.
For added protection against mud and chemicals, having gloves and googles will come in handy.
Drive Slowly and Carefully
While testing out those 10-inch pneumatic tires can be fun, we should not get carried away by our excitement.
Some homeowners and village leaders may have designated speed limits on certain neighborhoods. Therefore, we must follow such ordinances at all times.
After all, the last thing we want is to destroy our garden or other people’s property due to our carelessness.
Follow Health and Safety Protocols
I cannot stress this enough. Whether you are going for spot spraying or a stroll around the lawn with your ATV vehicle, please always practice proper health standards.
Do not go beyond the prescribed pressure and flow rates if it is not advised by the provider or gardening expert.
Also, please keep the tow-behind sprayer away from your children and pets. They are the most vulnerable to toxic and reactive chemicals.
If anything, keep these tools in a secret place where no one can find them. It’s for their own good and overall well-being.
Read Instructions and Additional Tow-Behind Sprayer Reviews
When in doubt, consult the best and most reliable sources. Most, if not all, store retailers provide a manual or instruction guide.
Even if you already have some experience operating a tow-behind sprayer, it still pays to read because the products differ from one another.
A spot sprayer with a 13-gallon capacity may have a different application rate from the 21-gallon broadcast sprayer.
If you are having a hard time making your pick, check out other reviews on the internet.
Google provides a ton of valuable resources and information online, so you might as well take full advantage of our unlimited access to the internet.
Conclusion
I hope you enjoyed going over the best tow-behind sprayers. I also hope you took the time to go through the considerations and tips to have a more enhanced user experience.
The choice is still yours, but may you buy the best tow-behind sprayer that provides you with everything you need for your garden to shine.
For more questions, concerns, or inquiries, please feel free to contact us.
