3pt side mount bushhog

   / 3pt side mount bushhog #1  

Mallard1

Silver Member
Joined
Jun 24, 2015
Messages
236
Location
Arkansas
Tractor
John Deere 4320
I have been thinking about how to clean up the sides of our roads at my deer camp. We have a couple miles of roads. After a clear cut most are replanted in plantation pine so after 8 years or so they start to bush out into the road so I would like to trim them back a little to keep the roads open. I looked at the bushhog sm60 and thought it might work. It has a 5' cut and if it was 18" off the ground that is 6.5' up in the air. Anybody use one for this or have any thoughts?
 
   / 3pt side mount bushhog #2  
I'm not at all familiar with sickle bars but I think someone here mentioned that some are capable of operating in the vertical position.
 
   / 3pt side mount bushhog #5  
Those roadside cutters are very nice, but also very expensive! Also, the ones I've seen (with an exception I'll write about in a bit) require a full sized utility tractor...and the horsepower that goes along with those larger tractors.
Now, there was one I read about on TBN quite a while back, that was designed for a CUT. IIRC, it was just under $7K and was manufactured in the UK.

I've never used a sickle bar mower, but I've looked into them a bit for some embankments I have on my property. They can be had with angling anywhere from 45 degrees down to about 90 degrees up. Quite a bit less expensive then those offset cutters too.

That MK Axis looks pretty interesting though!
 
   / 3pt side mount bushhog
  • Thread Starter
#6  
I've committed to buy a used one now for $1,500.00 this weekend not a bad price I don't think. I'm planning to hook it to a Belarus 570. The specs says min lift capacity of 3200 lbs, I have 4350 lbs. Specs say min tractor weight of 6,000 lbs, I have 8,500 lbs plus wheel weights. I figure if it doesn't work out I should be able to sell it and get my money back out of it.

This just seems much better for trimming back the sides of the road vs using a pole saw like the past
 
   / 3pt side mount bushhog #7  
I have a Befco 7' sickle mower that can operate anywhere between a 45 degree down angle to a 90 degree upright angle. It is very good for what the OP had in mind--trimming brush vertically on the sides of trails, etc. When you add the 7' reach of the cutting bar and the fact that the cutting bar is about 1' off the ground or more in the upright position, you get 8' or more trimmed very well and very quickly. If I recall correctly the mower is rated to cut up to 1" material. I also use it to mow part of a pond bank where the slope isn't severe. Works very well.
 
   / 3pt side mount bushhog
  • Thread Starter
#8  
Well I picked up the mower this afternoon, everything works on it. It is set up for 1000 rpm pto so I've got to switch mine over before I hook it to my tractor. I also have to change the quick attach fittings to match. Only damage to it is the kick stand leg is bent, an hour with a torch, press, and welder and it will be good as new. I'll post some pictures after I get it hooked up and show some before and after pictures of the sides of the roads

Here is a picture of the one I bought.

image.jpgimage.jpegimage.jpg
 
 
 
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