Nelson RainTrain Traveling Sprinkler (818653-1001) Review (2026)
By Nate Sawyer, Editor · Updated July 2026
DIYPicks is reader-supported. As an Amazon Associate and affiliate of home-improvement retailers, we may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site — at no extra cost to you. This never affects our recommendations.
- 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 |
Frequently Asked Questions
- How does a traveling sprinkler work?
- It drives itself along the hose like a tractor, watering as it goes, covering up to 13,500 sq ft and traveling up to 200 ft. An automatic shutoff ramp stops the water at the end of the run so it cannot flood the lawn.
- Do you have to set it up each time?
- Yes — you lay the hose along the exact path you want it to travel. That planning step is the real work, and it is why the tool suits large open lawns more than tightly landscaped yards.
- Is it worth $90 over a regular sprinkler?
- On a big or oddly shaped lawn, yes, because it replaces repeatedly moving a sprinkler by hand. It is heavy cast iron and expensive, and genuinely hard to steer in small yards.