Nelson RainTrain Traveling Sprinkler (818653-1001) Review (2026)
By The DIYPicks Team · Updated July 2026
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- Very large lawns
- Hands off watering
- Odd shaped yards
A self-propelled 'tractor' sprinkler for big lawns: it drives along your laid-out hose, covering up to 13,500 sq ft in one run and shutting itself off at the end. The cast-iron body and three speeds are built for serious acreage. Pricey and heavy, and you must route the hose each time, but nothing else waters a large yard this hands-off.
Pros
- Follows the hose like a tractor to water a whole large lawn from one faucet with no moving
- Automatic shutoff ramp stops the water when it finishes, so it won't run all day
- Heavy cast-iron build and three speeds handle big or oddly shaped yards
Cons
- Expensive and heavy compared with a simple sprinkler you reposition by hand
- You have to lay the hose out along the exact path you want it to travel each time
- Overkill (and hard to steer) for small or tightly landscaped yards
Specifications
| Coverage | Up to 13,500 sq ft; travels up to 200 ft along the hose |
|---|---|
| Spray | 15-55 ft diameter, adjustable aluminum arms |
| Speed | 3 speeds (about 21-37 ft/hr) |
| Body | Cast iron with chip-resistant powder coat |
| Hose | 5/8 in recommended; automatic shutoff at end of run |