Need advice on what brush hog to get.

[shortthrow50]

I have a 2012 john deere 3520 which is 37 horsepower i think. I wont be using it much at all. Just want to clean up some overgrown brush around the fence lines. It will see maybe 10-15 hours of use intially, after that, i imagine i will only use it 10 hours a year to maintain. I was thinking 5 foot is all i would need and maybe go the cheaper route with a tractorsupply unit. What can i expect to pay for different 5 foot hogs of different brands? Any advise would be great on where to start with this.
Thanks

 

[namesray]

paid around $1300 for my 5ft land pride bush hog 6 years ago. it is built very heavy duty compared to others and i feel worth the money. i use mine about 40-50 hours each year and has never let me down. i would pay the extra for the land pride if i had to do it all over again today. since you seem to only be using yours just a little bit, i have seen the tractor supply ones work fine for my neighbor that has one. he uses his about the same amount of hours as you plan. 2 other of my neighbors get along good with the "howse" brand. those are used heavier. i do not know the price of them today.

 

[kebo]

TSC sells their 5ft KingKutter (or sometimes County Line brand) for right at $799. That's a light duty mower, but it should serve you well for the little work you will be doing with it. I think the Howse is also a light duty mower, and I think the 5ft model is priced about the same really. Personally, I would get the KingKutter.

 

[catdozer]

This was a pull type and I converted it to a 3-point and this serves me very well, mostly light mowing but have taken out 2-3 inch saplings and brush. But it's a king kutter 5 foot with the shear bolt. And i use a bobcat CT235 and thats 35hp. for me I have too have the quick hitch, (I'm lazy) so if you do buy one make shire it's quick hitch compatible. I would be cautious around trees with that cab though, we've gone through a lot of glass on cabbed dozers and skid steers.

 

[greg_g]

Unless your rear track is wider than 60", a five footer should serve you well. I used a 60" medium duty Kodiak behind my 3720. But since I added wheel spacers, it's now too small. I'm in the process of replacing it with a six footer. If you're within reasonable distance of western Kentucky, that 5' Kodiak isn't even 1.5 years old yet.

//greg//

 

[creekbend]

John Deere 3520 - engine-37HP - PTO-30HP - wheelbase-68" Since your intentions are only to use it in limited use, have you considered purchasing a used one? Best wishes.

 

[shortthrow50]

Thanks for ALL the responses. I now know here to start. I have considered used ones as well on craigslist. Im very on edge about pto shaft lenght as well. I know very little about shaft lenght for this tractor. I always thought there was an industry standard. What do i need to know about proper length?

 

[Jerry/MT]

I have a 2012 john deere 3520 which is 37 horsepower i think. I wont be using it much at all. Just want to clean up some overgrown brush around the fence lines. It will see maybe 10-15 hours of use intially, after that, i imagine i will only use it 10 hours a year to maintain. I was thinking 5 foot is all i would need and maybe go the cheaper route with a tractorsupply unit. What can i expect to pay for different 5 foot hogs of different brands? Any advise would be great on where to start with this.
Thanks

I'd try to get one that was at least as wide as the rear wheels, more like a 6 footer. You have enough power to use that. Be careful of the weight. Some of the Heavy Duty units weigh in that diameter weigh in at 1100+ pounds and when you lift them up, your steering will get light unless you add front ballast.

I have a 6 ft KingKutter 5 Point (it's is a higher quality one than the yellow models you see at farm stores- a lot people don't know that there are different grades of KingKutters) and it weighs in at 750 lbs . On our TO-30, it makes the steering light but on our Ford 4610, you don't even know it's there.

 

[KB9UDE]

I have a 6 foot Frontier RC1072 and a JD MX6. Both have been great mowers.

 

[JD 4520]

Thanks for ALL the responses. I now know here to start. I have considered used ones as well on craigslist. Im very on edge about pto shaft lenght as well. I know very little about shaft lenght for this tractor. I always thought there was an industry standard. What do i need to know about proper length?

Regarding shaft length, you shouldn't have a problem with the one you choose. Here's how it works in simple terms...the shaft is adjustable, it has and inner shaft and outer shaft that in total make up the shaft length. You can easily shorten the shaft but not lengthen it. You need flexibility in the shaft because you raise and lower the RC or it moves or bounces and needs that shaft flexibility. If you find the shaft is too long, you pull the inner shaft from the outer shaft and cut each piece the same amount. If you cut 2 inches from the inner shaft the you cut 2 inches from the outer shaft. Once you have,odiferous the shaft for a given tractor, then it is generally for that tractor.

Hope that helps. There are a couple of tricks to getting the shaft modified to the perfect length but it's pretty simple.