Root Ranger Nozzles: 3 Types, Which One Should You Be Running?

You’re staring at a camera-view of your jetter’s nozzle in the line. You see the branch-line that you want the nozzle to enter but you can’t get it to track into it. The customer is watching as well, waiting for you to proceed. If only you had a cutter-nozzle that you could “steer” into that branch... 

But wait a minute – I thought this read was about root-cutting nozzles?

There’s a line of nozzles that were designed both for cutting-action and “steer-ability”: the Root Ranger series by Mustang nozzles.

Many jetting pros are aware of the classic “single-barrel” Root Ranger nozzle but some don’t realize that Root Ranger also offers two other larger, more powerful nozzles in the “RR” lineup, offering you three tools built for different purposes and jobs: the “Single-Barrel”, the “Double-Ended”, and the “Double-Barrel”. This guide breaks down what each one of the three Root Ranger types actually can do for you, and the minimum GPM and pressure each requires to work effectively. This can help you select which one – or which ones -- belong in your toolbox of nozzles. That’s nozzle logic for intentional jetting work..

Nozzle Logic: Directable Turbine Cutting-Jet Action

All three Root Ranger nozzles run on the same 2 core ideas: (1) ceramic helix-turbine rotating-action that turns raw pump flow into high-velocity spinning cutting-cone jets, and (2) an “offset” body-design that not only allows the nozzle to be steered into branch lines, it helps operators direct its aggressive cutting-cone jets toward stubborn buildup, taproots, and other obstructions.

All of these Root-Rangers excel when running 3000-4000 PSI, yet many operators get results with jetters running “only” around 2000-2500 PSI. And if you’re running 5000-PSI they can handle that as well.

However, your jetter’s GPM flow capability will be a big factor in deciding which is best for you, so let’s dive into the differences:

1. Single-Barrel Root Ranger: Root-Cutting & Pipe Wall Scouring Action for Lower-GPM Portable Jetters

The Single Barrel “standard” models were designed for lower-flow jetters running 4-GPM and larger, with a sweet-spot of around 5-6 GPM. They are usable with higher flow jetters as well, maxing out at about 10 GPM.

Key Features

• Single Ceramic Turbine Coring Jet. Concentrates 100% of pump output into one off-center spinning jet with great coring-action, without splitting your jetter’s flow into multiple jets. 
• Excellent Pulling-Power. Facing backwards, this powerful single jet also creates great hose-pulling power.
• Streamlined Torpedo Profiling. A smooth body that minimizes friction against scale and root snags on the way in, with a nose shaped to punch through obstructions.
• Offset Pressure Bend. Angles the jet to attack vertical root intrusion at pipe joints.

Where It Earns Its Keep

Once the line is open, the Single Barrel finishes the job. It can clear remaining taproots, grease, and light wall scale, and it shaves roots flush to the pipe wall instead of just punching a hole through the middle. Because it puts all of the flow into one jet, it reaches full cutting power with smaller portable jetters, such as 5 GPM at 3000 PSI machines, without needing a bigger machine behind it.

PRO TIP: If you’re running a smaller portable jetter and need real wall-scouring power, the Single Barrel is built to get the most out of that flow. For maximum force to attack roots and tough grease, don’t dilute your GPM with a nozzle that splits your flow into multiple smaller jets.

The single-barrel does offer an optional forward stream-jet but it takes some of the GPM away from the cutting-cone jet so most users go without the forward-jet, using the nozzle’s pulling-power to punch though blockages with blunt-force and then clearing the obstruction with the single’s powerful rear cone-jet. But if forward-cutting action is what you’re looking for, this next Root-ranger model is for you…

2. Double-Ended Root Ranger: Head-On Penetration

The Double-Ended Root-Range nozzle is a different animal. It’s built with a second turbine-style cone-jet facing forward, enabling it to attack a total blockage head-on.

Key Features

• Dual Independent Turbines; Front and Back. One forward-facing helix jet for forward-cutting, and one rear-facing cutting jet for hose-pulling power and rear-cutting action. This nozzle is commonly used in a back-and-forth action allowing both cutting-cones to work together to chew up obstructions.
• Balanced Internal Flow-Splitter. Divides jetter flow correctly into both turbine chambers for optimal performance.
• Heavy-Duty Core-Boring Geometry. Keeps the head stable while it drills through dense material. Besides roots and grease, this nozzle is also known for breaking up cured mortar and cement slurries as well.

Where It Earns Its Keep

This nozzle operates like a hydraulic saw, drilling straight through solid, compacted root masses and other obstructions blocking the entire pipe. This nozzle is designed for jetters 6-GPM and larger, and excels with jetters that can do 9-12 GPM at 3000-4000 PSI. Better yet, if you have an 18 or 20 GPM heavy-commercial jetter this Double-Ended Root Ranger becomes an industrial coring tool: the extra volume maximizes the flow-split intense jetting impact, so it can blast through calcified blockages in larger 6 to 12 inch mainlines as well.

IMPORTANT: The flow-splitter divides your jetter’s GPM-output between two turbines. If your jetter is running less than 6-GPM choose the Single-Barrel model instead because the flow-split of the Double-Turbine Jets will rob the front coring-jet of the volume it needs to be effective. Match the right Root Ranger nozzle to your machine’s actual GPM flow when purchasing.

3. Double Barrel Root Ranger: Wide-Footprint Flushing

The Double Barrel Root Ranger models trade out the forward-cutting action of the popular Double-Ended models for a double rear-facing design, placing two turbine-jets side-by-side which doubles the pipe-coverage and debris-moving capability when jetting larger lines. It’s built to clear debris fast across a wide, high-volume path, with fantastic hose-pulling power.

Key Features

• Parallel Dual-Turbine Layout. Two spinning cone-jets are mounted side-by-side, firing at once and overlapping into a wide-angled rotating blast-pattern to lift and move debris, with fantastic hose-pulling power for long runs.
• Heavyweight Bladed Nose. A sculpted metal nose works as a wedge to fracture deposits on entry. The extreme pulling-power of this Double-Barrel design allows for supreme “ram-rodding” capability to literally break up obstructions; just pull the hose back from the stoppage and let it go. 
• Low-Angle Rear Jetting Action. Twin 20-degree cone-jets generate strong tractive pull on the way back, plus their cutting-action literally can dredge up settled silt and earth from the pipe-bottom. This enables the Double-Barrel RR to lift settled buildup that other “floor cleaner” nozzles skim over, all while blasting away rocks, gravel, etc.

Where It Earns Its Keep

The bladed nose splits loose blockages going in, and on the pullback, the dual-helix pattern covers twice the wall and floor pipe-surfaces versus a single nozzle, delivering a 360 degree cleaning envelope for flushing sand, silt, rocks and grease out of 4 to 12 inch lines. This nozzle is designed for jetters 6-GPM and larger, and excels with jetters that can do 9-12 GPM at 3000+ PSI.  Better yet, if you have an 18 GPM or larger heavy-commercial jetter this Double-Ended Root Ranger becomes an impressive debris-mover. With dual-barrels launching 2 cone-jets side-by-side at 18 to 25 GPM of combined flow, you’ve got the power to clear larger storm lines and culverts, as well as long-run 8 to 15 inch municipal sanitary sewer mains.

NOTE: In its high-flow setup, the Double Barrel can handle larger storm lines, culverts, and municipal-sewer mainline flushing without stepping up to a 40+GPM large trailer-jet or truck-mounted combo unit. Re-consider your jetter’s GPM-capability before you assume you need bigger equipment.

Quick Reference: Matching Your Machine to the Right Root Ranger

Here’s the whole lineup side by side. Match your jetter’s flow profile to the row that fits, then check the pipe range against the job.

And remember that all 3 Root Rangers have a unique “steerable” capability: 

Their offset design allows you to “steer” their jets toward buildup or root-rems by simply twisting the jetting-hose, or potentially direct the entire nozzle into a branch line that a typical nozzle would pass on by.

Get Jetting: Choosing the Right Root Ranger for the Job

Designed individually with different capabilities in mind to do various jobs for you, none of these 3 Root Ranger nozzle types replace the other two: the Single Barrel opens root-cutting capability to smaller jetters. The Double-Ended has forward cone-cutting action to attack blockages plus a rear-cone to clear the rems. The Double Barrel clears and dredges debris in larger lines and can attack buildup. Consider each; the one you don’t have on hand might be the one that could have prevented a stall on your next call. 

Back to selection: Running a nozzle that doesn’t match your jetter’s GPM/PSI output is like running in shoes that don’t fit; you might be able to run the race but not near your peak efficiency. Each of these 3 “RR” types only spins its cone-jets correctly when the jetter-GPM behind it matches what it’s built for. Feed it too little and it stalls. Feed it right and it cuts clean and pulls well into the line. Our nozzle-sizing menus with simple drop-down selections make it easy to match each nozzle to common GPM/PSI jetter specs. And don’t worry if your jetter’s specs are not listed – just reach out to our pros online or by phone – we have dozens of various orifice-kits in stock, enabling us to match any of these 3 Root Rangers to any service-jetter’s specs from 4-GPM up to 25-GPM.

Get equipped, and get jetting! Visit our online store to find the Root Ranger that matches your rig, or give us a call and we’ll help you pick the right one.

JETTERS NORTHWEST is a 20+ year-old product line of Seattle Pump & Equipment Co., a service and sales center for jetters for over 50 years