Choosing a Tow-Behind Leaf and Lawn Vacuum
If you’re here, it means you’ve had it with the drudgery of raking and blowing leaves. When you’re already spending time riding on your mower, being able to accomplish all your leaf clean-up as you mow is a modern miracle. It’s time to kiss that rake goodbye!
The DR Tow-Behind Leaf and Lawn Vacuum is our favorite solution to this chore. The DR takes the leaves, twigs, grass, and pinecones from under your mower and shreds them using a steel impeller, then deposits them in a large collector. To unload, just drive to your chosen spot to dump up to 450 gallons at once.
Its year-round versatility adds a ton of benefits. Bring your spring yard back to life by sucking up all the sticks, matted leaves, and acorns, or for normal mowing in summer, attach the DR and use it as a high-capacity grass bagger.
Storage is easy: the cloth collector collapses to a compact bundle and the engine rolls away on its own built-in trolley. A utility trailer remains for hauling all sorts of materials around your property: fertilizer, feed bags, wood, tools, you name it!
All DR Leaf and Lawn Vacuums function in the same way, as they feature the most powerful engines on any consumer leaf vacuuming system. With only minor variations between models, it can be tricky to figure out which is best for you.
To help you decide on a DR Vacuum, we’ve broken down the key differences:
Let’s start with the PILOT 200 model
DR’s most budget-friendly option, the PILOT is perfect for small-to-medium properties with intricate landscaping or inclines. Its compact size makes it the ideal choice for lawns with tight turns, narrow fencing, hills, small bridges, or other obstacles.
The PILOT gives you amazing suction power with a simpler unloading method than any vacuum near this price. Just unbuckle the back and lift!
With the collector removed, the underlying frame can also be used as a flatbed trailer rather than the cart-style found on the other models. It’s perfect for hauling all sorts of loads around your property, particularly stackable and tie-down items.
What’s different about the PREMIER 240 model?
Step up to the PREMIER model for the convenience of the clamshell collector. Opening the collector only requires 1 hand and the steep 60-degree dump angle ensures that unloading is fast, easy, and thorough.
The clamshell design also comes with a cart-style trailer that can haul up to 500 pounds of soil, feed bags, wood, plants, and much more!
Why upgrade to the PRO 330 model?
The next highest level is ideal for medium-to-large flat properties with heavier lawn clean-up. Featuring a capacity of 330 gallons, the collector holds 65% more material than the PILOT and 37% more than the PREMIER. Greater capacity means more time collecting leaves and less time driving to your dumping spot!
The PRO model uses a 9.2 HP engine. The combination of the extra power and capacity makes it a great choice for larger properties or lots of foliage.
The PRO has the same easy-opening clamshell collector and backless cart as the PREMIER model, but with a hauling capacity of up to 800 pounds. Consider upgrading to the PRO if you plan on using your Leaf and Lawn Vacuum to transport very heavy materials.
Do I need the more powerful PRO XL330 model?
The PRO XL330 Leaf and Lawn Vacuum combines a big collector with the most powerful engine to give demanding conditions extra muscle. The 11.7 HP engine provides a reservoir of power so you can work longer with less likelihood of bogging down, and the steel impeller creates tremendous airflow that mulches all the leaves you can throw at it.
For a small property, 200 gallons (PILOT) or 240 gallons (PREMIER) may be more than sufficient. But if you have acres of land to clear with heavy foliage, the PRO XL is a significant step up. When deciding on a size, consider your acreage and number of trees. The goal is to minimize traipsing to your dumping pile!
The Top-of-the-Line PRO MAX450!
The PRO MAX450, with its 450-gallon capacity, is not only the largest of the DR Leaf Vacuums, it offers the highest capacity available in ANY non-commercial machine. The PRO MAX is able to handle the extra weight through the use of a powerful actuator that gives you push-button unloading. The smaller PREMIER and PRO models make use of gas springs to assist the operator in unloading, but with the PRO MAX the actuator does ALL the work. Just push a button to unload, then push it again to return the emptied collector back to its original position.
More Options!
For anyone who mows with a riding mower, a DR Tow-Behind Vacuum is the obvious choice. You can even mow and collect leaves at the same time! But we also offer walk-behind leaf vacuums that don't require a mower and which can give you added maneuverability in tightly landscaped areas. We will continue to offer the best in fall cleanup tools so check back with us soon! And before you go, take a moment to sign up for email alerts and we will deliver news of the latest products and articles right to your inbox!
Last updated: 8/25/2022