Aeration is a process that requires heavy machines to dig soil cores from the ground. Some of these machines can only operate when pulled by a lawn tractor.
This creates the challenge of transporting them, whether you’re just moving them from your lawn to the garage or renting them out.
It is possible to hire a lawn care company and skip the renting and transportation bit. However, if you intend to aerate your lawn yourself, you can hire a hauling trailer or use your car to tow the lawn aerator.
However, If you don’t want to pay extra for hauling a rented lawn aerator, here is everything you need to know about how to transport a lawn aerator.
Contents
How to Transport a Lawn Aerator
Lawn aerators can be a bit heavy since they require a lot of weight to push the tines into the ground.
If you don’t know how to handle them, they can be a big problem to move around.
Lawn aerators can easily be transported in a pickup or a haul trailer. However, most of these services usually cost extra. If you don’t want to pay for transportation, you’ll be forced to use your car.
Whether you’re just renting an aerator or you just bought a new lawn aerator, you want to follow these steps when transporting your aerator.
1. Take out the weights
Aerators usually come with weights that enable the tines to dig into the ground when pulling them across your lawn.
For most types of aerators, these weights are removable and constitute the heaviest parts of the aerator.
If you own a truck or a pickup, you’ll likely need an extra set of hands to help you load the aerator on your truck.
However, if it’s a commercial-grade core aerator, you can easily tow it behind the pickup with the tines removed.
2. Build or Buy a Trailer
If you’re looking to get into the aeration business or want to rent out your aerator, then the best long-term solution to transporting your core aerator is to build a platform for it.
Some aerators are too big to fit inside cars, so a metal frame platform for carrying it is an excellent way to go.
Go to your local welder or metal shop and give them the specifications of your lawnmower, citing exactly how heavy it is and how you’d like to transport it.
A platform with wheels will make it easier to move your aerator around.
Alternatively, you can also buy a ready-made hauling trailer for your lawn aerator. These come in different shapes and sizes and can carry most farm tools.
So you can easily use it to transport your aerator, lawnmower, or even fertilizer.
Just remember to secure the lawn aerator to the trailer firmly before driving off.
Haul trailers can easily be attached to the hitch of your car, so they make for the easiest way to transport an aerator.
However, if you plan to transport it over a long distance, it would be best to hire a professional to transport the aerator for you.
3. Get Ramps
Ramps make work easier. A ramp can help you load your lawn aerator onto the back of your trailer or pick-up easily. In fact, foldable ramps are quite affordable and don’t take that much space.
Considering this is a one-time investment, it is a huge lifesaver for homeowners.
Also read: What are the top stand on aerators?
Things to Remember When Transporting a Lawn Aerator
1. Safety First
Before uploading your aerator to your vehicle, you should go through the manufacturer’s manual.
Some types of lawn aerators, mostly spike aerators, contain sharp bits that can poke holes in almost anything.
You wouldn’t want to load the aerator onto your car unless the spikes are well secured.
Aerator shoes may look small, but if handled incorrectly, they can leave you with a scratch or two.
Safely secure the spikes in a closed box before putting the shoes in your trunk.
Some aerators may also have small moving parts that are likely to come off as you tow or transport home.
Check and make sure all the bolts and nuts are snug before driving off.
Also read: Top-rated walk-behind lawn aerators
2. Clean the Tines
Before loading the aerator, you must ensure all the soil cores are out of the tines and the aerator machine is clean and ready for transport.
While aerating, some soil cores get stuck in the tines and require extra work to get them out.
If you’re not careful, you might miss these cores and then have them fall off inside your car or truck.
FAQs on How to Transport a Lawn Aerator
How Much Does a Lawn Aerator Weigh?
Aerators are quite heavy on their own, and with the added weights, they can weigh more than 200 pounds.
Aerators need to be heavy to dig into the soil.
However, towing a heavy lawn aerator can be difficult work.
To reduce the effort used when aerating your lawn, make sure to properly water your lawns so that the soil is well moisturized.
Moisturized soil is easier to dig than dry soil; thus, you won’t need as many weights, making your work easier.
Can an Aerator Fit in a Car?
Most small manual aerators can fit into the back of your mid-sized vehicle.
However, commercial grade aerators such as gas-powered core aerators may need larger vehicles for transporting them.
Depending on the need, you may have to hire a hauling truck to transport your aerator to your lawn.
Even if you manage to fit an aerator into the back of your SUV, you still risk getting scratches on your car or knocking off your bumper.
You will need help loading it onto and off of the back of your car, and it may hinder your rearview mirror while driving.
Best plug aerators
The hardest part about renting a lawn aerator for the first time is hauling it back to your place.
While some renters offer to transport it for you, they will often charge you for it.
If you are a homeowner, then investing in an excellent hauling trailer is the best way to go.
It is handy equipment that will serve you for a while.
