Rotary rough cut or flail for ATV?

   / Rotary rough cut or flail for ATV? #1  

BetterOnTwo

New member
Joined
Jun 17, 2012
Messages
2
Location
Fauquier County, VA
Tractor
ATV :-P
Hey all :)

I know it's not for a tractor, but I'm coming up empty in my searches. We've got about seven acres in virginia, some is just yard, the rest is horse pasture. We're not in a position to buy a full on tractor, relying on a prairie 700 to do a lot of the gruntwork so far. To be honest--due to some of the sizes of gates, hills/slopes, etc. the atv seems to meet every need in the short term.

One thing we need is a better way to cut the pasture. Between hills, rocks, and thick foliage the mower we use for the yard isn't going to make it happen. I've been looking at either a slef powered rough cut or a self powered flail to pull behind the atv. Any recommendations on which one would be better? Terrain it would be used on is hilly, rocky in some places, not a lot of flat spots overall.

I'd like to start looking for a "gently loved" piece of equipment, but I keep talking myself from one side of the fence to the other. Any input would be a huge, huge help!
 
   / Rotary rough cut or flail for ATV? #2  
I have a a swisher rough cut and a Polaris atv.

I was in your shoes years ago had the 4 wheeler and then bought the swisher.

Do you have a 4 wheeler already?

If so does it have a differential in the rear?

Mine has a solid axle and is a bear to steer with the mower attached.

If you have to buy a 4 wheeler by a 1/2 decent garden tractor instead you will be better off.

If you search you could get an 8n and brush hog for the price of a good for new 4 wheeler (I wish I had done this)

Im now looking for a brush hog for my bx 23 now.

tom
 
   / Rotary rough cut or flail for ATV? #3  
   / Rotary rough cut or flail for ATV? #4  
I have a swisher rough cut mower that i pull behind my arctic cat 700h1. The mower weights in about 900 pounds, i pull it around all day in low gear and not an issue. If i can run it over with the atv it will cut it. I can take up to 2inch sapplings if i take it slow. It will got a lot of places that i cant with my oliver 1650 or farmall 806 just because they are so big. My machine has a full locker in the rear and i can lock the front diff when i chose to. How ever with a good set of tires most of the time i have no problem pulling in 2wd. When i get in the hills i will put it in 4x4 just for the added security.

Also one nice thing about having that little rough cut and the atv it sips gas compared to a tractor. I can go out and mow for several hours on just a single gallon of gas on the mower. The atv gets really good milage as well. I dont know if i would want to pull the mower with an atv that has a slip and grip clutch how ever. Just make sure you run in low you should be all right.
 
   / Rotary rough cut or flail for ATV?
  • Thread Starter
#5  
Thanks for the responses all, much appreciated. To answer a few questions:

Yep, already have the ATV, '05 Kawasaki Prairie 700 (a few asked, it has a diff lock). That's the reason I was trying to make due w/ what we already have. I already use it for hauling, dragging, etc. and it works extremely well. And the big points for me--sips gas (which someone pointed out), size makes it easier to work in the space we've got, and it's already paid for. Bought it dirt cheap from a friend who was moving, otherwise I would have saved the $$$ for part of a tractor buy. So far it's been worth its weight in gold. Plus I can work on this a **** of a lot easier :)

We've also got a Husqavarna YTH 2148. Rebuilding the deck (my wife thought she could cut big rocks) but the lawn tractor itself runs great. Only problem is it gets a little sluggish in the pasture. 21HP and well kept, but it still gets a little sluggish up the hills. I'm a little leary of that pulling a heavy hog or flail around when it is time to go up one of the bigger hills.

If we had the room & funds right now I'd get into a tractor & big 3pt hog or flail...but then that means I have to spend money to build somewhere to put it (can't tie up the front end of the barn), more tools to work on it, etc. Right now I've got everything I need to keep that atv running until the world ends.
 
 
 
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