The Orbit 58322 Traveling Sprinkler is the best traveling sprinkler based on the value it provides.

Watering your lawn can be a tough task.

It’s back-breaking work when you have to carry a heavy hose and water a large area. That’s where a sprinkler system helps you. Just install it and you’re good to go.

But there’s another problem.

How many sprinklers will you have to install for your big lawn? Won’t it cost a lot of money?

Yes, it would. But a genius invention to solve this problem is a traveling sprinkler that moves around the lawn.

Let’s take a look at the best traveling sprinkler that can help you save time and effort for watering your lawn and keeping it happy.

Product Rating Price
Orbit 58322 Traveling Sprinkler 1
Watex WX044 Traveling Sprinkler 2
Antonki Walking Sprinkler 3
Melnor 4501 Traveling Sprinkler 4
Rain Train Traveling Sprinkler 5

What is a traveling sprinkler?

A traveling sprinkler is the fastest and easiest way to water a large area of lawn. The machine is a sprinkler set upon wheels that can drive across your lawn without the use of gasoline or electric power.

Traveling sprinklers use water pressure to work. Water from the hose is used to turn a number of gears that are connected to the axle, which in turn allows the wheels on the sprinkler to move.

The typical traveling sprinkler comes with two wheels and two sprinklers on top of it. The length of the hose attached to the sprinkler accounts for the amount of yard space that the machine can travel. When the end of the hose has been reached, the sprinkler uses its automatic shut-off system to turn off.

Bigger models require more propulsion and power in order to handle larger areas of lawn.

What are the different types of sprinklers?

The oscillating sprinkler is a model that works by rotating back and forth.  This type of sprinkler works best for rectangular areas of no more than 4,000 square feet. If your lawn has any sort of curve to it, this may not be the best sprinkler to get the job done.

The pulsating sprinkler is best used for a circular area of lawn as it works by pulsating a jet of water. While this type of sprinkler is noisier than others on the market, it can cover a very large area of a lawn of up to 10,000 square feet.

The stationary sprinkler is specifically designed for smaller areas. This is the quintessential sprinkler that kids enjoy running through in the summer months.

The traveling sprinkler can cover a greater span of lawn without added labor on your part.

Do you need a traveling sprinkler?

The quick way to determine if a traveling sprinkler would best suit your lawn watering needs is to answer one question: do you have a lot of lawn that needs watering? If you answered yes, the traveling sprinkler may be a good investment for you.

Traveling sprinklers offer customers the ability to efficiently and easily care for their lawn with very little assembly required and virtually no maintenance.

This type of sprinkler works best for private homes with large lawns as well as for commercial use. Some models also feature wider rear tires that allow for traveling over rough terrain and rocky inclines.

How to choose the best traveling sprinkler

Not all traveling sprinklers are created equal. When selecting which model is right for your needs, it is important to keep several things in mind.

What are you watering?

Each plant and type of grass has different needs when it comes to the amount of water they require to remain healthy and how often they need to be watered. While some plants may be perfectly happy with very little water, others may need to be watered on a daily basis.

It’s important to keep in mind the watering requirements of your plants when picking out your traveling sprinkler. This will determine the amount of work you need your sprinkler to perform, and how durable it should be.

Lawn size

Some traveling sprinklers can travel farther than others and have different watering capacities. So it’s important to know the square footage of your yard prior to your purchase.

Sprinkler Quality

The traveling sprinkler needs to be durable to last you for a long time. You need to understand the material that is used to build the sprinkler as well as it’s parts.

The top sprinklers on the market today are made from a combination of metal and plastic. When looking at the type of metal used, be sure to purchase one made from cast iron.

Budget

There are many brands of traveling sprinklers available on the market. Some are cheap and some expensive.

You need to pick one based on your budget and the amount of work it’s going to have to do. If you’re using it for heavy-duty watering, it’s best to pick a durable, high-quality one even if it costs a bit more. It will save you time and effort for maintaining it or buying a new one if it breaks down.

Warranty and Maintenance

In terms of the warranty, you should consider at least a one or two year warranty when purchasing a traveling sprinkler.

It is highly suggested that the sprinkler you purchase not require much maintenance along with it. This way you do not have to spend your time cleaning parts or tightening nuts and bolts.

Precautions when using a traveling sprinkler

According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s National Electronic Injury Surveillance System, it is estimated that over 2,000 cases of children under the age of 18 were treated in hospitals around the United States for injuries related to garden hoses and sprinklers.

Traveling sprinklers move at an average rate of 60 feet per hour and are machines with moving parts. That’s why it’s important to keep children and pets out of the way.

You need to careful yourself around the machine as you could trip over the hose and end up with an injury like a sprained ankle.

How to use a traveling sprinkler

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQh2LSnJuXo

Begin by attaching your water hose to a spout, and then lay the hose out in whatever path you would like your sprinkler to follow.

The sprinkler will follow the exact path of the hose, as it is laid out by you. Think of it as the sprinkler is a train and the hose its track. Any curves made to the path should be broad and smooth to allow the sprinkler to remain on the track.

When you are finished setting up the pathway, the end of the hose can be attached to the sprinkler with a three-foot loop at the end to help prevent any kinking.

The “shut-off” ramp can be snapped onto the hose at whatever point you would like the sprinkler to stop, so long as there are at least five feet of hose on either side of this point. The sprinkler will roll over the ramp, pushing the stopper into place in the bottom of the sprinkler.

The sprinkler itself should be placed on top of the hose with the front wheel directly on the hose and the back wheels on either side of it. The sprinkler can be set to “high,” “low,” or “neutral,” with “neutral” watering meaning the sprinkler will stop in place and water one spot.

To begin watering, pull the stopper out of the bottom of the sprinkler and turn on the faucet. Be sure to turn the water off when the sprinkler has finished its job.

Maintaining your traveling sprinkler

In order to gain the longest life from your traveling sprinkler and make sure it functions properly, be sure to oil all moving joints and rotating bearing surfaces at least once a month with any standard lubricating oil. Automotive water pump grease is highly recommended as this type of lubricant tends to stand up better to water.

If well water is used with your device, a hose washer with a filter screen should be installed in order to prevent sand from entering and building up inside the sprinkler’s nozzle.

For winter storage purposes, the sprinkler will need to be drained. To do this, hold the device with its front wheel up. This will allow any water trapped inside to drain out through the rear hose. Serious damage to the sprinkler can occur if any water were to freeze inside of it.

Make sure the sprinkler is not dropped from a height at it can damage its contents.

Reviews

Last update on 2024-03-29 // Source: Amazon Affiliates

Known for its simple styling, waterproof cast iron body, and powder-proof dark green paint, this traveling sprinkler is not only easy to use but also requires very little maintenance. Because it is made from rustproof cast iron, the sprinkler is considered to be durable and weather resistant and should last for many years of use.

The self-propelled sprinkler offers three-position speed control and features adjustable spray arms for use between 15 and 50 feet in diameter. In addition, it can travel along any hose path you lay out.

It can cover up to 13,500 square feet of space while traveling along 200 feet of hose. This means you can use it to water a large lawn without any problems.

Activated in high gear, the sprinkler will move about 37 feet per hour, applying 1/4 inch of water. In low gear the device moves 21 feet per hour, applying about 1/2 inch of water.

Pros Cons
  • 3-position speed control
  • Covers up to 13,500 square feet
  • Automatic shut-off
  • Adjustable rotary spray
  • Cast iron construction makes it durable
  • Heavy
  • May have trouble with turns


Watex WX044 Traveling Sprinkler
  • Ranked #1 Sprinkler by ezvid
  • New Model - Durable construction, Ideal for extra large lawns; Self-Propelled,Superior water distribution,Automatic shut-off
  • Recommended Water Pressure- 20 to 120 PSI

Last update on 2024-03-29 // Source: Amazon Affiliates

The Watex is highly suggested for use on extra large lawn areas. Constructed from a heavy duty cast iron, it is considered to be very durable.

The self-propelled sprinkler features a two-speed gearbox. It is recommended that a 5/8″ hose is used along with the sprinkler. While a 1/2″ hose will work, the smaller diameter may not be as stable.

The system can travel up to 200 feet of hose and water an area of up to 11,900 square feet in diameter, from 15 feet up to 45 feet. It is recommended that the water pressure used with this sprinkler be between 20 and 120 PSI.

Pros Cons
  • Durable cast iron construction
  • Automatic shut-off
  • 2-speed gearbox
  • Can water up to 11,900 square feet
  • Weave hose for different patterns
  • Can get stuck in a wet spot
  • Heavy


Antonki Walking Sprinkler
  • Cast Iron Walking Sprinkler, very heavy, very solid
  • Weighs 30 lbs.
  • Adjustable speed and width of spray

Last update on 2024-03-29 // Source: Amazon Affiliates

The Antonki Walking Sprinkler is entirely made of solid cast iron and comes in at a total weight of 30 pounds. The device is able to work on several speed levels and it is recommended that the water pressure used to be at least 40 PSI.

This model is one traveling sprinkler that does not feature an automatic shut off.  So you must check how far up the hose the sprinkler has traveled before you turn the device off. Placing a timer on the faucet is another suggestion for handling this issue.

Extension wheels and mud wheels are also available to purchase as additional add-ons for this model. These wheels would come in handy for someone using the sprinkler on the sandy soil as well as with clay soil, where the wheels may become caked with mud and unable to move properly along the hose.

Pros Cons
  • Durable cast iron construction
  • Adjustable speed and spray width
  • Made in Canada
  • Extension wheels available
  • Gears are made of metal
  • Heavy
  • Expensive
  • Needs frequent oiling
  • No automatic shut-off


Sale
Melnor 4501 Traveling Sprinkler
  • Self-propelled sprinkler follows a path you create using your existing garden hose and automatically shuts off when finished
  • Super large coverage area – up to 13, 500 sq. Ft.
  • Change the water spray with high or low speed control or set it at neutral for stationary watering

Last update on 2024-03-29 // Source: Amazon Affiliates

The Melnor Traveling Sprinkler is made from heavy-duty, durable cast iron that will last for years. It is also backed by a Melnor Lifetime Limited Warranty.

This traveling sprinkler covers an expanse of 13,500 square feet and features an automatic shut-off to stop the sprinkler when the job is complete. The water spray can be set at high, low, or neutral for any stationary watering needs. In addition, the spray arms adjust for a diameter of between 15 feet and 50 feet.

The wheels are meant for high traction areas, which allows them to resist any slipping, including when on slopes.

A portion of each purchase of one of these sprinklers is donated by the company to the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation.

Pros Cons
  • Automatic shut-off
  • Covers area up to 13,500 square feet
  • High or low speed control
  • High traction wheels
  • Limited lifetime warranty
  • Heavy


Rain Train Traveling Sprinkler
  • Watering Equipment Rain Train Cast Iron Traveling Lawn Sprinkler Tractor w Auto ShutOff#0040/18

Last update on 2024-03-29 // Source: Amazon Affiliates

This sprinkler is made from rust-proof cast iron. No installation is required for this model, which weighs a total of 18 pounds.

While it is capable of handling areas up to 13,500 square feet, it is suggested that users limit the ground covered to 11,900 square feet in order to ensure a good performance.

The sprinkler arms can be adjusted to achieve a variety of patterns and arcs, allowing water to reach a diameter between 15 and 56 feet. The sprinkler can run on a 5/8″ hose of up to 200 feet in length.

The sprinkler has the option to run on two different speeds – high or low. When on high, 1/4″ of water is applied at a rate of 37 feet per hour, compared to 1/2″ of water on the low setting at a rate of 21 feet per hour.

Pros Cons
  • Made from durable cast iron
  • Can water up to 13,500 square feet
  • Adjustable sprinkler arms for patterns
  • 2-speed control
  • Automatic shut-off
  • May have problems when used on hillsides


Conclusion

The best traveling sprinkler you can buy is the Orbit 58322 Traveling Sprinkler. It has shown itself to be a very durable sprinkler which is sure to last many years of use, so long as you properly care for it and give it regular maintenance.

With a rust-proof, cast iron body and sprinkler arms capable of reaching up to 50 feet in diameter, it is a value for money traveling sprinkler suitable for your regular lawn watering needs.


Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.