Second thoughts

[GaryE]

Ok,

Tomorrow I will be picking up my new trailer, my new 60” Kuhn tiller and my new 60” Woods bush hog. I am now having second thoughts about the bush hog. I have a Kubota L3710 GST with about 31.5 PTO HP. The conventional wisdom here seems to be 5hp / bush hog foot. 5 foot is at the low of the scale. Do I stick with the 5 footer or go for the 6 footer? My rear wheels are set at 6’.

Most of my work will be tall grass and small saplings. Should I stay conservative or go for the six footer?

I hate when I have second thoughts
/forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

Thanks in advance

Gary

 

[txdon]

Gary, the Kubota 3130, pto hp 24, is rated for up to a 72" rotary mower, so, I would think that you would be fine power wise. I would without hesitation get the 6'. I'm sure someone here will figure out your payoff in time and diesel saved for the break even point on the extra $ spent. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

 

[GaryE]

Don,

I am leaning to the 6’footer… The difference in price is only a few hundred bucks. Although I will be picking it up in the truck which means I won’t have the dog to protect me from the irate dealer
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They have been real good about my flip flopping on this issue, so far.

Thanks,

Gary

 

[Nik]

Get the 6 footer. My brother has a L3710 kubota HST with the WOODS medium duty 6 foot brushhog. The L3710 does extremely well with this cutter, We have used the cutter in some thick brush with saplings about 2" in diameter and large multifloral rose bushes. The tractor has had plenty of power and does not bog down with the cutter. Before the WOODS we used a 5 foot light duty JD cutter which seemed too small for the tractor and not as wide as the tractor tracks. We really like the WOODS cutter and have had no problem with it in over 2 years of heavy use.

 

[GaryE]

Nik,

I think you are right…. I am going to sleep on it, but I think I will be going for the 6 footer….. Thanks for the input.

Gary

 

[RonR]

I view it this way: If the weeds are tall and heavy, you can always take less than a full width cut.

But if the grass/weeds are short, and you have the 5', you can't take a bigger swath.

I'd go with bigger.

ron

 

[jrabb5]

I have a L3400, and a 5' mower and it is hard to mow close to things. I think you will find it hard to get close to anything with the 6" narrower track of your mower. I wish I would have bought the 6' now. I have to take off the loader or lift it high to mow down a fence line.

James

 

[scott_vt]

Mornin Gary,
My vote is with everyone else on this one, you will do fine with the 6ft. My tractor could run a 6ft in most situations, and when you have those days were your broiling out in the field, youll be happy you have that extra width of cut. My Massey 1040 is 32hp with 28 at the pto and the only time I slow it up is pulling some steep grades in thick grasses /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

scotty

 

[Soundguy]

Go 6' My NH 1920 was very similar in hp to your kub... it would tote a 6' mower... Besides.. you can always take a 5' cut with a 6' mower.. can't take a 6' cut with a 5' mower.. etc.

Soundguy

 

[Farmwithjunk]

When "sizing" a bush hog, two things come in to play. What are you cutting, and how much weight can you handle.

1st, the "what are you cutting"? If you were planning on mowing 5' tall heavy weeds, brush, and small trees costantly, then you'd need to deal with a MUCH heavier PTO load. I'd say go small. By the sounds of things, you'll be more or less, maintaining property. That means mowing a couple times a year at least. (Maybe quite a bit more often?) The demand for power won't be as significant. (Although, HEALTHY growing grass can be as tough, or even tougher than tall weeds.) My take on what you're going o do with your mower says you can probably handle the extra foot.

Weight? There's a step up in weight from 5' to 6'. (A HUGE increase when you go to 7') The thing is, MOST 6' mowers are still well below the lift rating on MOST compacts and small utility tractors. If you have adaquate front weight, go for it. Get the 6'er.

A long-time mechanic at a Massey Ferguson dealer I frequent told me a few days ago that a 1000 lb. bush hog is like lifting 2000lbs right at the ends of the lower links. You've got to consider the "bouncing effect" you get with a long implement when you're on the move.

Still in all, I think you can handle the 6'er.