Rear finish or MMM

[Dougw133]

Caught a change up in my buying scenario. Was about to acquire a home on 8 sloping and wooded acres. Was set on the 72" MMM of a B2920. NOW. That deal fell through but moving quick another on 20 level mixed wooded acres. There are tow long football field style lenghts of grass probably about 8-10 acres. The previous owner is moving to England and I noticed a nice sized TYM tractor in the garage. He had a smaller MMM and a Zero turn for the smaller areas. The area's that would be mowed are long and level. There is ALOT of grass. With going from 8 to now almost 21 acres I am feeling I might step up to the B3030. The are around the house will still need either a push mower a small rider. With big open grass what would be better. MMM or Rear finish? I want to get as much done in the least amount of time while remaining cost friendly. Is there a nice compromise where I'd be in the middle? There are some trees but they are sporadic and spaced out. Recommendations?

 

[TripleR]

I would hate to mow that much every week, so personally I would see if someone wants to hay it or go with a rotary cutter or flail mower and mow it less often.

If pressed, I would choose a RFM, we have used them for years in addition to MMM and the RFM is much easier to dismount and will in all likelihood be much cheaper.

 

[whistlepig]

I mow about that much yard and it does get old mowing grass 5 to 6 hours a week. I have always used RFM mowers and prefer them. Mostly because all the dust and dirt is blowing up behind me instead of underneath me.

 

[sal64]

Caught a change up in my buying scenario. Was about to acquire a home on 8 sloping and wooded acres. Was set on the 72" MMM of a B2920. NOW. That deal fell through but moving quick another on 20 level mixed wooded acres. There are tow long football field style lenghts of grass probably about 8-10 acres. The previous owner is moving to England and I noticed a nice sized TYM tractor in the garage. He had a smaller MMM and a Zero turn for the smaller areas. The area's that would be mowed are long and level. There is ALOT of grass. With going from 8 to now almost 21 acres I am feeling I might step up to the B3030. The are around the house will still need either a push mower a small rider. With big open grass what would be better. MMM or Rear finish? I want to get as much done in the least amount of time while remaining cost friendly. Is there a nice compromise where I'd be in the middle? There are some trees but they are sporadic and spaced out. Recommendations?

i use a 62inch mmm around my house and my fields i have both 72 inch rear finishing mower and brushhog, the brushhog does a better job, i mow the fields at about 18 inches high.

 

[PapaPerk]

You want to mow 10 acres for a lawn?!

 

[boggen]

for that much lawn, i would see about a 2 tractor deal. one for grass cutting and another tractor for everything else.

granted it raises costs up front, but one machine geared and setup for mowing that much cuts down seat time. and another machine setup for other various tasks can do a lot more.

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if i had the cash myself, i would more likely go with "gang reel" mower. with about 8 to 10 foot wide cut width. though gang reel mowers, from understanding you need to keep up with the cutting, due to tall and problems cutting from understanding.

since the cost is so high and i do not see gang reel mowers listed on auctions as much or for sale. my option has been use a regular finishing mower for right around house, and around a cabin on a lake. then let everything else grow, and either use a bush hog "rotatory cutter" or recently bought sickle mower.

tend to see alot of threads here on TBN were folks go with a zero turn for grass cutting, then a regular CUT or utilty class tractor for other things.

to hit back on 2 machine doings. one machine for grass, = turf tires that do not tear up the grass, easier and quicker turning. and second machine with say r1 or r4 tires to get through mud.

pending on manufacturer there is a difference in main frames of tractors when you jump from i want to say SCUTS (sub compact utility tractors) up to CUTs (compact utility tractors) were the entire frame is higher off ground. better 3pt hitch setups or at least default setups from manufacturer. plus normally larger diameter tires.

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when you compromise going to a single machine, tires, weight, power, mowing, other tasks. can all get blurred, many folks are happy with a single machine, but there is a good amount of compromise. at least to me. though my opinion more likely bias due to what i need to do here on the farm / woods / etc..

 

[PHILIP8N]

Fence in 10 acres, get 5 cows, and 1 bull. Fill your freezer every year, sell off 4 cattle every year. Just took care of half your mowing problem and put a profit in your pocket after 2 year investment. Philip.

 

[MHarryE]

I had 7 acres of lawn, 2 near the house which I did with a 48" lawn tractor and 5 that I mowed with a 72" rear finish mower. My reasons for selecting the RFM were dealer recommendation and lower cost. The rear finish mower did fine for me covering the large area because I had the lawn tractor to trim.

 

[whistlepig]

Fence in 10 acres, get 5 cows, and 1 bull. Fill your freezer every year, sell off 4 cattle every year. Just took care of half your mowing problem and put a profit in your pocket after 2 year investment. Philip.

I have been thinking about this.

 

[BeezFun]

There are some trees but they are sporadic and spaced out. Recommendations?

I attach a 5' Swisher trail mower offset to the back of my 5' bush hog, so I get a total cutting width of just over 9'. It pops off with one pin so I can reduce the width to mow in tight areas and around trees. You could attach it to the back of your RFM, or to a 3pt receiver if you decide on a MMM. I pulled the swisher behind a 48" craftsman riding mower for 2 years before I got my tractor. That gave me an 8' cut and was a cheap solution to mowing a lot of property.