6 Best Pull Behind Rakes for Lawn Mowers of 2025

This heavy-duty dethatcher means business from the moment you hitch it to your mower. With a commanding 60-inch working width and 24 heat-treated steel tines, the VEVOR Tow Behind Dethatcher slices through thick layers of thatch, pine needles, and matted debris like a hot knife through butter. The lift handle mechanism is a game-changer—it lets you raise the tines off the ground when turning or transporting, drastically reducing wear and protecting both lawn and equipment. If you’re tired of spending hours raking by hand or using underpowered tools that barely scratch the surface, this is the lawn revitalizer that turns a grueling chore into a smooth, efficient pass.

In real-world testing across mixed grass types and moderate thatch buildup, the VEVOR dethatcher delivered deep, consistent cleaning without bogging down even on damp terrain. The inflatable tires provide excellent shock absorption, letting it glide over uneven lawns and slight bumps without bouncing or skipping. While it excels at dethatching and leaf collection, it’s less effective on rocky or extremely uneven ground where tine flex can occur. At 66.6 lbs, it’s not the lightest pull-behind tool, but the weight actually helps the tines dig in just enough for optimal performance—especially when you add ballast if needed.

Compared to narrower or flimsier models like the budget GarveeLIfe drag harrow, the VEVOR stands out as a premium workhorse built for serious lawn rehab. It’s not as focused on debris collection as the YITAMOTOR sweeper, but where it wins is in aggressive thatch removal and soil aeration—making it ideal for homeowners with established lawns overdue for rejuvenation. It’s the go-to choice if you want professional-level results without hiring a service. When stacked against similar-width rakes, it offers better tine durability and user control than most in its class, striking a smart balance between power and practicality.

Don’t let its low price fool you—this budget-smart drag harrow punches way above its weight when it comes to grading gravel driveways and leveling uneven terrain. The 6-foot chain paired with a 4-foot steel frame gives it serious dragging power, spreading gravel, smoothing ruts, and breaking up clumpy soil with minimal effort. Designed for tow-behind simplicity, it attaches in seconds to ATVs, UTVs, or mowers via a standard hitch, making it a favorite for property owners managing large driveways or open fields. If your pain point is a bumpy, washed-out gravel path or a yard that needs flattening after heavy rain, this driveway savior delivers fast, no-nonsense results.

During field use, the GarveeLIfe harrow proved remarkably efficient on loose surfaces like sand, gravel, and packed dirt. The chain links do the heavy work of breaking up clumps and redistributing material, while the rigid frame ensures consistent contact across the width. It glides smoothly behind a riding mower at moderate speeds, though it can dig too deep on soft, wet soil if not monitored. Unlike tine-based rakes, it doesn’t aerate or dethatch—so it’s not ideal for lawn care beyond surface smoothing. But for grading and land prep, it’s impressively capable for its size and cost.

When compared to the sturdier VEVOR drag harrow or the specialized YITAMOTOR sweeper, this model lacks refined features like adjustable bars or debris collection—but that’s not its job. It’s built for one purpose: dragging and leveling, and it does it well. It’s the perfect pick for small to mid-size property owners who need an affordable, durable tool for seasonal maintenance without overengineering. In terms of bang for the buck, it outperforms pricier alternatives when the task is raw terrain shaping rather than fine lawn grooming.

When leaf cleanup season hits, the YITAMOTOR 42” Lawn Sweeper transforms your mower into a high-efficiency debris vacuum with its massive 12 cubic foot hopper and four high-speed nylon brushes. These power-spinning brushes aggressively lift and funnel leaves, twigs, and pine needles into the large-capacity basket, drastically cutting down on raking and bagging time. The adjustable sweeping height ensures optimal contact across short turf or taller grass, while the dumping rope design lets you empty the hopper from the driver’s seat—no dismounting required. For homeowners with sprawling yards full of trees, this is the time-saving powerhouse that makes fall cleanup feel effortless.

In real-world use, the sweeper excelled on dry, scattered leaves and light debris across flat to gently rolling lawns. The non-slip wheels maintain steady brush rotation even at lower speeds, and the hopper fills quickly without clogging. However, it struggles in wet conditions or when faced with matted leaves and heavy thatch—tasks better suited for a dethatcher. At 42 inches wide, it’s narrower than some pull-behind rakes, meaning more passes on very large properties. Still, the ease of dumping and hitch compatibility with zero-turn mowers makes it a joy to operate day after day.

Against the Yard Tuff Pine Straw Rake or the VEVOR dethatcher, the YITAMOTOR stands out not for soil prep or dethatching, but for pure debris collection efficiency. It’s not a substitute for aeration tools, but if your priority is fast, clean leaf pickup, it outshines most competitors. Ideal for suburban homeowners with medium to large yards, it strikes a smart balance between capacity and maneuverability. When compared to other sweepers, it offers superior dumping convenience and brush performance for the investment.

The Yard Tuff Pine Straw Rake is built like a commercial workhorse, engineered for serious debris cleanup in pine forests, orchards, and large properties. With a 60-inch span and 24 spring steel tines, it effortlessly gathers pine needles, leaves, and light garden debris in a single pass, making it the ultimate collector for stubborn, slippery debris that standard sweepers miss. The 12-inch pneumatic wheels roll smoothly over rough, uneven terrain—from sandy soil to gravel paths—without damaging turf or getting stuck. Add in the lift handle for instant dumping, and you’ve got a tool that combines rugged durability with smart ergonomics, eliminating the need to stop and manually clear the rake.

Field testing revealed its exceptional performance on pine straw and dry needles, where its flexible tines combed through thick layers without clogging. It also handled light thatch and scattered twigs with ease, though it’s not designed for deep dethatching like a powered unit. On wet, muddy lawns, the tines can clump debris and require occasional clearing. At nearly $290, it’s the most expensive option in this lineup, but you’re paying for long-term resilience and unmatched coverage. The pin hitch system ensures quick attachment to ATVs or tractors, making it a favorite among landscapers who need reliability across acres of land.

Compared to the YITAMOTOR sweeper, the Yard Tuff lacks a hopper but wins in low-maintenance raking over rough terrain. Unlike the VEVOR dethatcher, it doesn’t aerate but excels in surface debris collection without power dependency. It’s the top pick for farmers, orchard owners, or rural property managers dealing with large volumes of organic litter. When weighed against other pull-behind rakes, it delivers the best combo of width, durability, and dump convenience for non-powered debris removal.

Compact but mighty in performance, this 40-inch dethatcher is tailor-made for smaller lawns and compact tractors that need serious thatch control without the bulk. Its 20 heat-treated, rust-proof tines dig deep into turf to pull up dead grass and improve soil airflow, reviving lawns that look tired or patchy. The 70 lb weight tray is a standout feature—add sand or plates to increase tine penetration, letting you customize aggressiveness based on lawn condition. If you’ve got a riding mower or small tractor and want to boost its lawn care power, this affordable rejuvenator turns basic equipment into a dethatching dynamo.

In practice, it performed exceptionally well on moderate thatch layers and cool-season grasses, pulling up debris cleanly without scalping the lawn when properly adjusted. The 40-inch width makes it ideal for navigating tight spaces or narrower yards where wider rakes would be cumbersome. It’s lightweight enough for easy storage, but the flip side is that it lacks the mass to penetrate heavily compacted turf without added weight. On rocky or uneven ground, the tines can deflect, reducing effectiveness—so it’s best suited for well-maintained, relatively flat lawns.

Stacked against the VEVOR 60-inch model, it sacrifices width and raw power but wins in maneuverability and value. It’s not as versatile as the GarveeLIfe drag harrow for grading, nor does it collect debris like a sweeper—but for pure thatch removal on small to mid-size lawns, it’s hard to beat. It’s the ideal tool for homeowners with compact mowers who want professional lawn health benefits without overspending. For its size and price, it offers exceptional tine durability and customization compared to entry-level alternatives.

The VEVOR Drag Harrow is a versatile land shaper that shines in grading, leveling, and soil prep across lawns, driveways, and fields. Its 4-foot width and 72-inch adjustable chain give you full control over how aggressively it breaks up soil or spreads gravel, making it a smart mid-range upgrade from basic drag mats. The thickened angle iron frame and powder-coated finish resist rust and bending, even after repeated use on rocky terrain. Whether you’re flattening a bumpy backyard, prepping a seedbed, or maintaining a gravel driveway, this tow-behind terrain tamer streamlines jobs that would otherwise take hours by hand.

In real use, the drag harrow leveled uneven grass patches and loose gravel with impressive consistency, especially when crossbars were added for extra weight. The adjustable chain length lets you fine-tune aggressiveness—shorter for light grooming, longer for heavy dragging. It attaches quickly to most mowers or ATVs via chain hitch, though it lacks a quick-pin system for ultra-fast setup. While it doesn’t collect debris or dethatch, it excels at surface smoothing and aeration through agitation, making it a strong companion to dedicated sweepers or dethatchers.

Compared to the GarveeLIfe model, it offers better build quality and adjustable performance, while undercutting the Yard Tuff in price despite similar width. It’s not a substitute for a tine rake or sweeper, but for property owners who need reliable, multi-use grading, it hits the sweet spot. Ideal for suburban lots, small farms, or seasonal maintenance crews, it delivers professional results without pro-level cost. Against other mid-priced drag harrows, it offers superior adjustability and rust resistance for long-term outdoor use.