Rotary Cutter Rotary cutter.....bush hog....need advice...again.

   / Rotary cutter.....bush hog....need advice...again. #1  

lmgray

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Aug 4, 2005
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I would like some opinions about rotary cutters. I have been using a Rhino TW96 and I love it but it's not mine. I have just purchased some land and will be doing SOME clearing. Probably about 5 acres and it is mostly brush, at most about 1 - 1.5 inch diameter. There is another appx. 50 acres cleared, well kept, and in good shape. I am looking to buy either a Bush Hog, Rhino, or Land Pride. Are these mowers worth the extra cost? I want something tough so I won't have to worry about what I mow but I also want at least a 8 ft. cutter..... I don't mind spending money (within reason), but only if the product is worth the extra money. I have looked at the Bush Hog 3008 - new for $3500 and the Rhino TW 96 for $4700 - (Rhino seems too expensive). Both appear to be similar quality.

Please tell me your opinion ...anyone...

Thank You
 
   / Rotary cutter.....bush hog....need advice...again. #2  
I don't know what kind of tractor you have, but Soundguy likes his 10' heavy duty Howse, which he purchased for less than $2500. I have a friend who just bought one of these 10' cutters, and he loves it. Here's the Howse web site.
 
   / Rotary cutter.....bush hog....need advice...again. #3  
I read you have a Kubota M9000. With 50 acres, I would start looking into a 15' flexwing mower. Your tractor will handle it easily, and you will cut down on your mowing time vs a 96" model.

Rhino is an excellent brand of mowers -- if you buy one, you will probably never have to buy another mower again. I have a Rhino FL15 and it has over 6000 hours of use.
 
   / Rotary cutter.....bush hog....need advice...again. #4  
50 acres will take (at approx 4.5 MPH) about 13 to 15 hours to mow with an 8' mower. (Factoring in some for overlap, some more time for turns.... No accounting for rest stops/fueling/ect..) If you mow it every 2 weeks during the growing season, you're looking at the most, 310 hours... (WOW... Lot's of fun!)

In all likelyhood, you'll end up mowing FAR LESS than that. Probably less than half that....

If you know it's clean ground, (no rocks/stumps/car parts/ect...) You could likely get away with most any GOOD mid-duty mower. I'd stay away from the cheaper ones with that much acreage, but a name brand, medium duty mower will suffice, I'd bet.

If you can afford a top-of-the-line, name brand, extra heavy duty model, more power to ya! But if you're like 90% of us, you need the money elsewhere.

You can't hardly go wrong with Bush Hog, Rhino, Woods (Stay away from their folding "bat-wing" mowers though), Landpride, or a host of others.
 
   / Rotary cutter.....bush hog....need advice...again. #5  
I have had a bush hog for over 12 yrs. I have had to replace the stump jumper disk a few times, but the gear box has held up well. I do a lot of mowing on rough ground and pretty much mow what the tractor will push over. Before I put the mower into action I reinforced the deck around the underneath with 3/16 plate where the blade tips will hit the deck. Also did the sides and back with 3/8 plate. I use the blades that are bent so the back sides hit the deck before the leading edge has a chance to dig into the deck. I realize I do what might be explained as extreme mowing, but the unit looks almost like new as far as the tinware. Did fabricate a skidpan for the tractor. It sure takes the worry out of ripping the wiring, hoses and linkages from the underbelly.
 
   / Rotary cutter.....bush hog....need advice...again.
  • Thread Starter
#6  
Thank you all very much for taking the time to reply to my question. I feel I can get honest advice here as opposed to someone that sells equipment - not to say all sales people are dishonest, just that a lot of times money can sway an opinion. Even as a buyer "you want how much for that"..... then I start a desperate search for reasons to justify the cheaper model.
Anyway, I guess 8 ft. is a little narrow for cutting 50 acres. I currently lease a 345 acre farm (128 acres pasture) and it does seem as if all I do is mow, spray, etc. (remember I am using a Rhino TW96 - 8ft.),I will be glad to get moved into my own place. I tried to bail all this pasture by myself, in spare time (I am a dentist so don't work long hours), my wife and I got about 75 acres cut, fluffed, raked, baled (square bales), and put up...that was ENOUGH. I am just cutting it now. Baling hay sucks!!! especially trying to do it all between a husband and wife. But then again so does BUYING it (hay)!!!
There was a 15ft Land Pride flexwing here but the owner moved it to a different farm. That mower saved a lot of time and was tough. They are just SOOOOO expensive.

Thanks again folks
 
   / Rotary cutter.....bush hog....need advice...again. #7  
Who said farming was easy. You can make it somewhat easier with a cab tractor and implements dedicated to saving you time. All that time savings does cost some money. A 15' flex wing cutter would save you mega time.
 
   / Rotary cutter.....bush hog....need advice...again. #8  
</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Who said farming was easy. )</font>

It's NOT?????

I spent the better part of the day (so far) raking hay I cut thursday evening. While cruising around in relative comfort, in an air-conditioned cab, I was recalling raking hay for my dad back when I was a teen. I rode around on an old Massey Ferguson 50, with an antique New Idea rake he had then. The running boards would get so hot, I'd have my feet hanging over the front edge, to keep them from cooking. The old seats were not exactly a thing of comfort. No power steering..... And no matter how much I got done in a day, dad would always say, "Is that all you did"?

I'm headed out after while to take the baler to where I just raked. I'll use the round baler. (Vermeer 5400 "Rebel") I'll sit in the same air conditioned cab while baling. Afterwards, I'll haul all the bales to a storage shed, all the while, in that same cool cab. I'll never actually touch a single leaf or stem.

While raking, I was watching a mother deer with her youngin'. Later, I watched the biggest tom turkey I've ever seen wander across the hayfield.

It's not the easiest life on this planet, but it's sure easier than "the good old days".

And what an "office"!
 
   / Rotary cutter.....bush hog....need advice...again. #9  
</font><font color="blue" class="small">( ....I'll never actually touch a single leaf or stem....
)</font>

Rotary cutter will touch and cut them. We are touching on the irons, steels, plastics, etc which control rotary cutters. instead of touching those leaves, stems, flowers, etc. We are developed?
 
   / Rotary cutter.....bush hog....need advice...again. #10  
</font><font color="blue" class="small">( but Soundguy likes his 10' heavy duty Howse, which he purchased for less than $2500 )</font>

Yes i do. Just mowed with it again this weekend.

If the fellow has 50 ac to mow.. I sure wouldn't go lower than 10'.

Here's an interesting development. I emailed howse about batwing mowers.. and they said they were int he process of building a 15' mower. Another member mentioned that it was probably a copy of a 15' flexwing style...

Soundguy
 
 
 
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