Tractor Sizing six foot bushog for an L3800

[LD1]

Stick with the 5 footer.

A larger bushhog doesnt necessarialy mean it will cut faster. It takes more HP to run and usually means a slower ground speed. Especially in thicker stuff.

It has been said several times that it is PTO HP that determines how fast you can cut, NOT cutter size. A smaller one will take a smaller bite, but can sustain a faster ground speed.

Its kinda like comparing my 14 HP JD 240 garden tractor to a 20+ HP zero turn. The ZTR can mow at a faster ground speed cause it has the HP to back it up.

And I am not sure how hilly or flat your 5 acres is, but a 6' cutter on a light tractor like that isnt fun on hills. Leaving the FEL on is almost a must. But then you give up manuverability. Not to mention, there IS a pretty good price jump.

 

[bigbull338]

ok im gonna say it an i do not mean this in an offensive way.only a greenhorn would want a bigger heavier shredder than his tractor needs.the dealer set you up with a 5ft shredder because he felt it was the best for the tractor.yes your tractor would pull a 6ft but itll also be heavier.i called my dealer yesterday to buy a new 3pt tiller,an to ask him some qs about tillers.he knows what tractor will pull it so he says ive got a 62in bushhogg tiller in stock.but your tractor will pull a 72in tiller no sweat,but i dont have 1 in stock.so i says will the 62in work good.he goes yeah just not till in your tracks i go fine.ill take it as soon as you can deliver it.they are bringing it this morning.

 

[TripleR]

I just bought a new Kubota L3800 and they sent me home with a 5 foot bush hog. I have about 5 acres of field (few trees, level to gentle slope) to mow and I am wondering if I should return the 5 foot and get a 6 foot. I have a few questions. Can my tractor handle the 6 foot without wearing on the tractor? How much time will the 6 foot versus 5 foot save me? How much more will the 6 foot cost? Is it worth getting a 5 1/2 foot?

Thanks for any advice you can give me.

This is all often confusing to the new owner. Width is not the only consideration. Many manufacturers make light, medium and heavy duty cutters/shredders, so you have to consider not only width, but weight, material to cut, how much and to some extent terrain.

We use 4', 5', 6', 10' and 10'6" cutters, 3-point and pull type with several different tractors.

Without knowing your situation completely, my inclination would be to keep the 5'. Certain circumstances may dictate a cutter outside your "average" parameters, but what you have "seems" about right to me.

Good luck and enjoy your tractor.

 

[MarkV]

With all due respect to the other posters that recommend a 5' mower I would still go 6' with close to 30 PTO hp. Having the mower outside your rear tires sure does help when trying to mow next to a fence line or trees. The OP says he has an established 5 acre pasture with gentle slopes and a few trees. He isn't mowing power lines or clearing land. His tractor can handle the weight of a light or medium duty 6' rotary mower and he has enough HP to cut pasture if it is done often enough.

MarkV

 

[city slicker]

Not sure if I should post another thread for this, but the dealer suggested that I could get a 7' finish mower for the same tractor. Is a finish mower so much lighter that it can be so much larger than the bush hog or is it just easier on the PTO? Or both?

 

[Code54]

I run a 5" hog on my L3700 and it can pretty much shred anything I can stuff under it. I currently have a 72" finish mower that works very well. I could run bigger I am sure but I can run any reasonable speed and both cut great so I see no reason to go larger. Plus sometimes being a bit smaller I can tuck the mower in places a larger one would not fit.

 

[RoyJackson]

Not sure if I should post another thread for this, but the dealer suggested that I could get a 7' finish mower for the same tractor. Is a finish mower so much lighter that it can be so much larger than the bush hog or is it just easier on the PTO? Or both?

Finish mowers do require less HP for a given size. The steel used on the decking is thinner (since it's not expected you'll be hitting stumps, rocks and other neat things that rotary cutters can handle).
That isn't to say a 7' finishing mower is light...they're about 650 lbs.
Also, when you engage the PTO on a cutter, you're turning two big heavy blades that are directly connected to the gearbox (might have a stump jumper pan too). There's a lot of inertia in both starting and stopping a cutter (my cutter blades take a minute or a bit more to spin down). A finishing mower uses lighter blades which are belt driven...those belts provide some cushion when starting.

I have a 7' finishing mower. I'd actually prefer to have a 6' unit. This is because I can barely fit it into my garage. If you go for that 7' mower and you intend to park it in a building, make sure the door is wide enough.

 

[TripleR]

Not sure if I should post another thread for this, but the dealer suggested that I could get a 7' finish mower for the same tractor. Is a finish mower so much lighter that it can be so much larger than the bush hog or is it just easier on the PTO? Or both?

Roy pretty much covered it and the finish mower weight is closer to the tractor; less leverage, so it handles the weight better.

Since leonz hasn't showed up I have to throw in a flail mower as an option. I don't have one, but after looking them, if I was starting from scratch I would give one serious consideration.

As to MarkV's point, a good case can be made for wider as well as narrower. For some mowing, I like to know that if my wheels clear an obstacle my mower will too.

Do you have any pictures of your tractor and mower?

 

[MarkV]

Roy pretty much covered it and the finish mower

Since leonz hasn't showed up I have to throw in a flail mower as an option.

:thumbsup:

MarkV

 

[prjones]

I just bought a L3800 and was wondering about Bushhog size also. I was going to use an old Woods 6 foot pull behind type, not 3 point hitch. have about 50 acres of rolling pasture.
Any advantage or disadvantage to this type of mower?