DR Tow Behind Brush Cutter Question

[Burple_X]

Has anyone on here ever used the tow behind version of DR's Field and Brush Cutter?

I have 50+ acres in Virginia that I just bought. It was select cut several years ago and now over run with briars and locust tree saplings. The land is mountainous and rocky with lots of decaying stumps and limbs. I have a JD 4120 tractor and bush hog, but most of what I need to clear is more than I feel comfortable trying to clear with the tractor. I had a guy with a mulcher look at it last fall and there were too many rock for his taste.

What I am trying to do is keep the roads the loggers cut clear and clear out the briars in the thinly wooded areas. We have been clearing by hand, but I won't live long enough to clear what I want cleared this way. Any input would be appreciated.

 

[petroskie]

I have one and use a ATV to pull it and it eats everything. i have the big model with the breakaway blades and the kawasakie motor. we have 20 acres of mountain terain with rocks and trees and have cleared alot of land. i started using it to start my own field mowing comapany. i can mow a level acre in 1 hour.

 

[Burple_X]

Thanks for the info petroskie. I found a lightly used one down is lower SC last week and bought it. Bought it off a widower. She said her husband didn't use it more than one or two times and it looks brand new. Been sitting for the last 18 months so I need to go thru it and make sure the fuel didn't evaporate and leave varnish in the carb, tank or fuel lines. Looking forward to trying it out real soon.

Have you had any problems with the hitch set up on steep grades? Doesn't look like it will "hinge" up and down much.

 

[Big Bri]

i got one you can have for free. . . needs some work . . . a lot of work as it hasn't been used in 8 years but most every thing is there. i just loaded on the truck, will be going to the scrap yard next month and it going to go. (wife has me getting rid of "crap"

 

[two_bit_score]

Controlled burn?

 

[Burple_X]

Controlled burn?

We've done a little burning, but I had a fire almost get out of hand. I got it under control just as the fire truck was pulling up. Once it got started in the dried limbs and brush, it was hard to stop... and I don't have a well or electricity yet. That's why I'm looking for something to cut it all up instead of burning.

 

[Burple_X]

i got one you can have for free. . . needs some work . . . a lot of work as it hasn't been used in 8 years but most every thing is there. i just loaded on the truck, will be going to the scrap yard next month and it going to go. (wife has me getting rid of "crap"

Wish I lived closer Big. I'd take you up on it. I got an idea for mounting one on my front forks.

 

[hivolt]

i got one you can have for free. . . needs some work . . . a lot of work as it hasn't been used in 8 years but most every thing is there. i just loaded on the truck, will be going to the scrap yard next month and it going to go. (wife has me getting rid of "crap"

I'm interested in getting it off your hands if it's still available. I'm from the Lafayette area.

 

[Big Bri]

I'm interested in getting it off your hands if it's still available. I'm from the Lafayette area.

yes its still on the truck, just so you know i haven't used this thing in years, at least 8 and it has been stored out side. i'll take a pic if you want and you can decide if you want it. . . and its still free.

 

[hivolt]

yes its still on the truck, just so you know i haven't used this thing in years, at least 8 and it has been stored out side. i'll take a pic if you want and you can decide if you want it. . . and its still free.

yes, I would like to see a picture. thanks

 

[Big Bri]

yes, I would like to see a picture. thanks

i posted some pic in the photo sections for you to look at. after taking the pic's i see that it isn't a Dr mow but a Swisher. any way its still free if you want it.
thanks
Brian

 

[jack wesley]

i started using it to start my own field mowing comapany. i can mow a level acre in 1 hour.

I guess you charge so much an acre or so much an hour; how much would you need to make the job worth your time? I am just curious, most guys in my area can't make it pay, they prefer to finish mow lawns on a weekly contract. jack

 

[Ken45101]

i got one you can have for free. . . needs some work . . . a lot of work as it hasn't been used in 8 years but most every thing is there. i just loaded on the truck, will be going to the scrap yard next month and it going to go. (wife has me getting rid of "crap"

It is NOT a DR if it's been around for 8 years. They only brought it out 2-3 years ago. (edit: I see you corrected your message and yours is a Swisher).

I've had a walk behind DR mower. Great machine. I bought the DR tow behind and it's been a great DISAPPOINTMENT. A brush hog would do a much better job at a lower cost (of course, you are offering yours for free, so cost is not an issue).

 

[Big Bri]

It is NOT a DR if it's been around for 8 years. They only brought it out 2-3 years ago. (edit: I see you corrected your message and yours is a Swisher).

I've had a walk behind DR mower. Great machine. I bought the DR tow behind and it's been a great DISAPPOINTMENT. A brush hog would do a much better job at a lower cost (of course, you are offering yours for free, so cost is not an issue).

My math shows that a bush hog would be a whole lot more money. . . Ya still got to buy the tractor
I bought the swisher used years ago to keep up a 3 acre lot i had. . . there were too many trees for it to work right so i never really used it. it just sat behind the shed.

Buy the way its gone, a fellow TBN'r picked it up

 

[Ken45101]

My math shows that a bush hog would be a whole lot more money. . . Ya still got to buy the tractor
I bought the swisher used years ago to keep up a 3 acre lot i had. . . there were too many trees for it to work right so i never really used it. it just sat behind the shed.

Well you need to have something to pull the "tow behind". If you have dry, flat ground, a 4 wheeler will work. But if it's not flat and dry.... I got stuck the first time I tried my DR tow behind out on a trail and needed a second 4 wheeler to pull it out of the woods. Now I have a Kubota RTV 900 that will pull it. But if you are going to use a tractor to pull it, a bush hog would be a lot cheaper and more effective.

IMO, my purchase of the DR Tow Behind was one of my worst purchasing decisions.

Ken

 

[jenkinsph]

Has anyone on here ever used the tow behind version of DR's Field and Brush Cutter?

I have 50+ acres in Virginia that I just bought. It was select cut several years ago and now over run with briars and locust tree saplings. The land is mountainous and rocky with lots of decaying stumps and limbs. I have a JD 4120 tractor and bush hog, but most of what I need to clear is more than I feel comfortable trying to clear with the tractor. I had a guy with a mulcher look at it last fall and there were too many rock for his taste.

What I am trying to do is keep the roads the loggers cut clear and clear out the briars in the thinly wooded areas. We have been clearing by hand, but I won't live long enough to clear what I want cleared this way. Any input would be appreciated.

I would get a super heavy duty 6' brush hog with a slip clutch and slowly back into the briars and small saplings, avoid the big rocks keep bystanders away. I would not waste time and money on the DR unit, it isn't tough enough to do this job.

The biggest concern I would have is small saplings with points on them can damage or ruin tires, I once cut a bunch of these with a bush hook with a downward swing stroke and later poked a huge hole in the tractor tire.

While it will take some time and will be a pain in the neck literally the cost of a heavy duty brushhog about $3000+ works out to about $60 an acre if it was worthless when done. I have an MX6 and it is rated for up to 2" softwoods, their are other models rated up to 4" . The sooner you deal with the problem the smaller these saplings will be.