Tractor Mounted Boom Mowers

[Northern Specialties]

Hey all,
I'm in a position that a tractor mounted boom mower might be advantagouse for some township work I'd like to bid. The work consists of about 160 miles of roadway ditch that has everything from grass up to about 2-3" brush. I've been looking at whats out there but I'm trying to narrow it down. Looking for opinions on what brands (tiger, alamo, etc) people have had experience with and what to look for. Figureing out these mowers first and their capabilities is where I'm at, then figureing out a tractor 2nd.
Any sugestions on places to start/continue my research?

 

[RickB]

We have sold a couple Twose and a few Ferri boom mowers. Ferri parts seem to be more available when needed.

Twose

Boom Mowers | Ferri America

 

[Eagleview]

Hey all,
I'm in a position that a tractor mounted boom mower might be advantagouse for some township work I'd like to bid. The work consists of about 160 miles of roadway ditch that has everything from grass up to about 2-3" brush. I've been looking at whats out there but I'm trying to narrow it down. Looking for opinions on what brands (tiger, alamo, etc) people have had experience with and what to look for. Figureing out these mowers first and their capabilities is where I'm at, then figureing out a tractor 2nd.
Any sugestions on places to start/continue my research?

I don't have any knowledge of the brands of mowers but I would suggest you buy a tractor with front linkage and front PTO . A front mount flail mower and a rear mounted reach mower with flail head is the way to go . A 100hp + 4X4 tractor with CVT or hydrostatic transmission and glass protection is preferable .

 

[sandman2234]

I have a Bomford/Turner that center mounts behind a Ford 7710 4x4 with duals, and 1300 pounds of weight on the front end. I can extend the mower rearward and pick up the front of the tractor, so you can imagine the stress on the axles when the boom is stretched to the side. Previous owner broke at least one axle. The boom will stretch about 25 feet behind the tractor or to the sides. With the hammer blades that it has, the mower will take care of the trees/brush that you mentioned. I have tackled trees and brush much heavier than your talking about, on a limited basis, and only left a pile of chips.
David from jax

 

[leonz]

A couple of things;


Insurance is first and usually they require a million or two in liability and comp and a blanket rider of X dollars in the event of an accident and bodily injury or property damage.

When you stated the milage are saying 160 lane miles or 320 lane miles of shoulder to mow?, thats number one.

For 320 lane miles of seasonal mowing you would be better off with a used unimog and a new front mounted flail mower and boom mounted flail mower
which discharges to the front of the mower and where you could cover ground quickly at a fixed cost rate per hour.

with 160 lane miles you would be spendinng 53 hours mowing or 107 hours with 3 MPH mowing speed not counting transit time

you may be ahead of the game if you have an airport you could mow for on a seasonal basis where youy could mow for the airport and the town BUUUT


Issues and must haves

personal liability insurance
workmans compensation
umbrella liability rider
fuel source yours or thiers?
DBA
sales tax number ID
contract length- if you cannot get a 5-10 year contract its worthless to you period.



How can you mow and save them money when they only mow on a seasonal basis?

AND THEY HAVE NO LIABILITY BECAUSE THEY ARE GOD as they are municipality.



what about break downs?

They buy machinery at a reduced cost due to competitive bidding and huge purchases.

A mowing tractor has less advantages than even a used Unimog with boom mowers.

slower travel speed, less visibility, poor fuel economy its easier to recover with a unimog when in a ditch as the tractor will be top heavy and may roll over or slide into the ditches.

The Unimog will climb in and out of ditches with attachments with huge traction available, the tractor is limited to its ability to gain traction period if the ground is not good or its steep if stuck or in a shallow ditch that would not allow easy egress.



another issue is time periods- you could mow anytime with enough lighting providing you do not blind traffic in both directions.



daylight mowing versus night time mowing and the state regulations affecting the condition of the road shoulders.



You also need mowing signs to notify the public along the mowing route and you must remove them and move them to the next location-

Mowing road work signs with large flags and stands (mowing ahead) are done at the starting point on the right side and placed at the next intersection on the left side for on coming traffic to warn them you are mowing below and they will be stolen if left and forgotten!!!

 

[mooseracing]

Tiger and Alamo is what we ran at the road commis.

The weight of this one actually cracked the rim, and we made a custom HD one for it.

That was our big mower used for steep or knocking out overhanging tree bracnches.

The other mowers we ran just a pivoting side mount, not on the boom. Check in the contracts you are looking at to see if to meet requirments that you need a brush hog or flail.

Some of the contractors they hired around us use flail, and avoid any brush, they do a worthless job. The whole point of them in our county is to mow at least 5-6ft off the road, or larger for primaries. Not to go around little sticks.

 

[woodlandfarms]

I talked to on of our local road guys about this, as stated, the weight breaks tractors so they put the mower on a track hoe.

Carl

 

[beenthere]

Our county was running big NewHollands but now running Deere. I suspect both do the job and it is a matter of low bid. They pull large rotary cutter with a wing that lifts.

The maintenance, regardless of brand, has to be the big item here. Be prepared to cover all the cost of new equipment every year, and then hope it isn't that expensive.

 

[gwjd]

is all 160 miles step banks that require a boom mower? cause a rear mount is good but if you need a hog on the back it get in the way

 

[transam1979]

i have the same problem, where did you get that wheel made at?