Tow behind lawn sweepers require attachment to a powered machine, such as a riding lawn mower or lawn tractor.
They cannot be operated manually. They are larger than push sweepers and can handle a higher volume of lawn debris.
Push sweepers are not necessarily complete solutions for lawn sweeping (rakes, leaf blowers and wheelbarrows may still be needed), whereas tow behind types are more complete due to their power.
On this page we will look mostly focus on advantages of tow behind vs push lawn sweepers.
Advantage #1: Save More Time
The main advantage with a tow behind lawn sweeper is that it will sweep up more in a shorter period of time, due to being towed by a powered vehicle and thus going faster.
Riding a tractor or lawn mower while towing a lawn sweeper results in covering more of your lawn, in a shorter period of time, than you would on foot.
A tow behind also picks up more debris because the sweeping action works faster and the collection hopper is larger, therefore not requiring constant emptying.
Advantage #2: Pick Up More Lawn Debris
The sweeping mechanism of the tow behind lawn sweeper is more powerful than that of the push lawn sweeper. It can handle a larger variety of debris, including difficult items such as sticks and sometimes even rocks.
This sweeping mechanism is built on stronger and more powerful brushes that toss the debris into the hopper.
Advantage #3: Requires No Physical Effort
Because tow behind lawn sweepers are pulled by machinery (such as riding mowers and lawn tractors), there is no need to exert physical effort when operating them.
All you have to do is sit back on your tractor seat and enjoy riding around, while the lawn sweeper picks up the leaves, grass clippings, and other material from your lawn.
On most tow behind sweepers, even emptying the hopper can be done by just pulling on a rope without leaving your tractor seat.
Advantage #4: Easier To Operate On Inclines
Push lawn sweepers are hard to operate on hills or lawns with dips and corners to manoeuvre, because they require a lot of muscle effort. Tow behind sweepers do not have this problem, as they are pulled by machine power.
If you have a large hilly lawn (without abrupt shifts in incline angle), a tow behind sweeper is better for you. See our tow behind lawn sweeper reviews to explore the options on the market.
Advantage #5: Better For Taller Grass
Tow behind sweepers roll easily over taller grass compared to push sweepers, which can get stuck due to the manual effort required to move them.
When NOT To Purchase A Tow Behind Lawn Sweeper
If your lawn is hilly with a lot of curves and abrupt angle changes, a larger lawn sweeper will not work well because the sweeper width will be too large to stay snug to the ground.
Also, if your lawn is really small and you can never imagine needing a riding lawn mower or tractor, then a tow behind lawn sweeper would be overkill. You would be better off with a push lawn sweeper (see our push lawn sweeper reviews).
Price Range
Tow behind lawn sweepers typically cost in the $200-$400 range. They are more expensive than push lawn sweepers but cheaper than lawn vacuums.
Assembly
The assembly of tow behind lawn sweepers can take hours and confuse people without DIY experience.
One option to solve the assembly obstacle is to order the product online and request assembly at the store. This is available with some large home and garden retailers such as Home Depot.
If you are OK assembling it yourself, you can order shipment directly to your address.