Larger finish mower

[Overtaxed]

I have a 72" rotary, but I have a lot of field that I'm mowing and would like to get a more even cut with a bit less time working the 3PT; I can get the rotary down low, but it's always a challenge to keep it from scalping. The land is almost all tree rows, so I have a ton of trees to get around,and my rotary is pretty much exactly the same width as the tractor, so more size would be nice too. The fields are bumpy, with an occasional rock, but they are not what I would consider "challenging terrain" for a mower, don't even hear the rotary back there unless I scalp 99% of the time.

Considering something like this

Caroni Estate Mower-TC 91NRSD Estate Mower |Caroni

Or something like this:

(Deposit) FMX-6Hs PTO finish mower with hydraulic side shift and side mowing disk

The hydro action the 2nd one would make it easier to go around the trees, and the "disk" portion is a cool idea, I'm almost wondering if that would keep me from having to take out my zero turn to trim around everything (which is a big job, 200 trees or so). But that design seems to be totally one off, so I have concerns about how well it's engineered. The Caroni is just a standard "big mower", but would love to hear any opinions, I'm worried with such a big deck, am I going to scalp a lot?

Thanks for any help/suggestions.

 

[Hughman]

I think you'll find with a RFM sitting on four wheels you will get a lot less scalping than you see with the RC. I used that logic when I bought my RFM last month (72" Landpride). Most of my lot is rolling hill side. It does a great job and I very happy I went with the RFM over the RC.

 

[Overtaxed]

I have a 72" rotary, but I have a lot of field that I'm mowing and would like to get a more even cut with a bit less time working the 3PT; I can get the rotary down low, but it's always a challenge to keep it from scalping. The land is almost all tree rows, so I have a ton of trees to get around,and my rotary is pretty much exactly the same width as the tractor, so more size would be nice too. The fields are bumpy, with an occasional rock, but they are not what I would consider "challenging terrain" for a mower, don't even hear the rotary back there unless I scalp 99% of the time.

Considering something like this

Caroni Estate Mower-TC 91NRSD Estate Mower |Caroni

Or something like this:

(Deposit) FMX-6Hs PTO finish mower with hydraulic side shift and side mowing disk

The hydro action the 2nd one would make it easier to go around the trees, and the "disk" portion is a cool idea, I'm almost wondering if that would keep me from having to take out my zero turn to trim around everything (which is a big job, 200 trees or so). But that design seems to be totally one off, so I have concerns about how well it's engineered. The Caroni is just a standard "big mower", but would love to hear any opinions, I'm worried with such a big deck, am I going to scalp a lot?

Thanks for any help/suggestions.

Anyone have/use the Woodmaxx unit? That looks really nice, but I'd love to get some feedback, it's kind of an odd duck alone out there, I've never seen anything like it before.

 

[leonz]

Like anything else it all depends on what you want to spend or can spend.

You can purchase vineyard flail mowers with disc mowers to mow between
grape vines if you want and do the same with your trees as it uses limit
switches to control the disc mower.

 

[J W Bishop]

You can purchase vineyard flail mowers with disc mowers to mow between
grape vines if you want and do the same with your trees as it uses limit
switches to control the disc mower.

I was thinking the same thoughts about the vineyard mowers. I have used one at a local vineyard and it worked great around all those posts. Not really an odd duck.

 

[Overtaxed]

I was thinking the same thoughts about the vineyard mowers. I have used one at a local vineyard and it worked great around all those posts. Not really an odd duck.

Huh, well, looked them up and they do seem to be similar, but I can't find anyone else selling them in my area. You'd think this would be a "normal" thing, it seems useful as all he** for mowing around trees. Who doesn't have trees to mow around? So, what's the downside of them? Rough cut? The hydro stuff breaks? Just not sure why they aren't more common; I've never actually seen one, and I've seen a lot of farm equipment!

 

[leonz]

The nearest Vrisimo dealer can have one shipped in if you want one but
you may be better off buying a boom mounted flail mower that can be side
shifted if you have not pruned the pines to mow under them.

The rear mounted side shift flail mowers may not work well as they have a very short stroke
length limiting the amount of reach(stroke length)you have.

Another option would be the WeedBadger with disc mower head but having only 200 trees
to mow around would certainly affect your decision unless you wanted to get into custom mowing
and tilling work in local orchards and vineyards. They do not have a lot of parts and are all
hydraulic drive with either a manual side shift or a low voltage automatic limit switch controlled side
shifting option to weed and mow with it
============================================================================
The smallest Vrisimo or other brand vineyard flail mower with a disc mower head may be your best option to save all that trimming work and still have a forever mower to use for everything including heavy brush as the disc mower head can be removed on most of them to let you just use the flail mower.

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[TractorGuy]

Check out the 8' Agmate at Agri Supply.

 

[Overtaxed]

Check out the 8' Agmate at Agri Supply.

Yup, that one is on the list. Great price, looks like a decent mower. It's going to be that or the Woodmaxx side shift mower. The allure of not having to zig zag between trees is strong, I just wish someone had that thing and could provide some feedback on how well it works.

 

[houser52]

Overtaxed- What kind of trees are in those rows? How big are they?

The reason I'm asking is because I mowed in between my planted pines when they were young. In a few short years I couldn't even get the tractor in between the rows to mow. Most everything is shaded out now. I'd hate to see you spend money on a new mower only to get to use it a few years. If it's pecan or fruit trees I can understand the expense but something to consider.

 

[Overtaxed]

They are between 15 and 25' tall now. It's primarily hardwood; so no needles and not that much shade, I'll be mowing between them for a long time (probably longer than I'll be alive).

 

[houser52]

Gotcha.

 

[clemsonfor]

Looked at your location, sure there not peach trees?:laughing::licking:

 

[daugen]

Not sure how large larger is but my 7 foot Land Pride rear discharge provides a superior finished cut, almost indistinguishable from a zero turn.
I have the mower offset to one side as far as i can and it nicely clears the rear tire of my Massey. Terrible paint clash, I know, mower bought for my Kubota.
Like all finish mowers, sharp blades really help. Mower is very quiet, almost no vibration and not prone to scalping. This is my second LP finish mower and they both have been
superb.

 

[TractorGuy]

Yup, that one is on the list. Great price, looks like a decent mower. It's going to be that or the Woodmaxx side shift mower. The allure of not having to zig zag between trees is strong, I just wish someone had that thing and could provide some feedback on how well it works.

I recently purchased a 6' Agmate and I'm very happy with it. Can't say it's doing a super fine cut but I suppose that is because I have it set pretty high. I've had to make a second pass over the thick stuff. It is super smooth and quiet. I think if I set the deck lower and maybe slowed down a bit it would cut a lot finer. My mowing surface is kinda rough so I prefer not to hit ground and roots with the blades.

 

[Overtaxed]

I recently purchased a 6' Agmate and I'm very happy with it. Can't say it's doing a super fine cut but I suppose that is because I have it set pretty high. I've had to make a second pass over the thick stuff. It is super smooth and quiet. I think if I set the deck lower and maybe slowed down a bit it would cut a lot finer. My mowing surface is kinda rough so I prefer not to hit ground and roots with the blades.

Yeah, I'm sure any of these mowers will make a nicer cut than my rotary, and, as a bonus, let me cut lower so I don't have to do it as often. However, the real question is "can I stop with the zig zags" and taking my zero turn out into the field once a month to cut around 300 trees! That what makes that crazy Woodmaxx mower so alluring. Basically, I'm cutting around fence posts, they just happen to be trees. It would also be nice to shift the mower out to the side so I don't have to prune the trees so high to get my tractor (with a cab) under them.

I think I'm going to take a flyer and try the Woodmaxx crazy mower. If I do, I'll report back on the results. I really do hope, if nothing else, it makes a nice cut, because otherwise it's money right down the drain.

 

[daugen]

I went back and read this again, and looked at the woodmaxx unit. I bought an inexpensive DR follow behind trimmer and used it three times, it was worthless. The Woodmaxx looks like they took that concept and built it much stronger. But....are you sure you aren't going to be damaging the bark of your trees? One thing to wang up against wood or plastic fence posts like they show in the ads, but what about tree trunks. 300 trees, geez, I sure see your issue. I have two orchards, fruit and nuts about 70 trees total, and I go through the same thing. Very labor intensive but I have mulch rings around all my trees so the mowers can't hit them.

If you can avoid damaging your trees, and can get under them, I hope that Woodmaxx unit works really well.
Please report back.

 

[Overtaxed]

I went back and read this again, and looked at the woodmaxx unit. I bought an inexpensive DR follow behind trimmer and used it three times, it was worthless. The Woodmaxx looks like they took that concept and built it much stronger. But....are you sure you aren't going to be damaging the bark of your trees? One thing to wang up against wood or plastic fence posts like they show in the ads, but what about tree trunks. 300 trees, geez, I sure see your issue. I have two orchards, fruit and nuts about 70 trees total, and I go through the same thing. Very labor intensive but I have mulch rings around all my trees so the mowers can't hit them.

If you can avoid damaging your trees, and can get under them, I hope that Woodmaxx unit works really well.
Please report back.

I certainly will report back, I'm thinking it's the right option for what I need, so I certainly do hope it works well. Seems like such a wonderful idea, who doesn't have to mow fence or treelines?

I'm a little worried about the banging on trees too, but if you see the video, they show someone kicking the side disk out of the way with their foot, so it seems like it's pretty easy to move. I suspect I'll have to come into the trees slowly to keep from tearing them or the mower up. But that's still a massive improvement over zig zagging between them and then mowing in both directions to get all the grass. Massive. It would cut my mowing time in 1/2 if I could just go up and back the rows, even if it takes a run from both sides of the tree to get the entire middle section mowed.

 

[leonz]

Yeah, I'm sure any of these mowers will make a nicer cut than my rotary, and, as a bonus, let me cut lower so I don't have to do it as often. However, the real question is "can I stop with the zig zags" and taking my zero turn out into the field once a month to cut around 300 trees! That what makes that crazy Woodmaxx mower so alluring. Basically, I'm cutting around fence posts, they just happen to be trees. It would also be nice to shift the mower out to the side so I don't have to prune the trees so high to get my tractor (with a cab) under them.

I think I'm going to take a flyer and try the Woodmaxx crazy mower. If I do, I'll report back on the results. I really do hope, if nothing else, it makes a nice cut, because otherwise it's money right down the drain.

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I am just coming back to this and I would like to add one thing for you to consider before
you spend your hard earned money.


A boom mounted flail mower "will" mow vertically for you to manage the tree canopy
height so you can more easily mow under your trees without getting clipped by a tree
branch and having to go to the local er to have sutures. been there done that twice with
myself and my father due to low hanging branches.

Once you have the "under story" pruned back you can approach the tree trunks much closer
to mow the brush under the tree canopy.
It would just about eliminate all the hand labor pruning of the under story of the tree line
with a manual pole pruner or a motorized pole mounted chainsaw pruner head.

The only bad thing would be the loss of the under story as the portion of a shelter belt if your trees are there to
act as a shelter belt.

 

[EddieWalker]

I started out with a 6 foot rotary cutter and a Craftsman riding mower for my place. The Craftsman was slow, but comfortable with a nice finish. The rotary cutter was great for taller stuff and getting an area under control. A client had a 7 foot finish mower for sale at a great price, so I bought it and was amazed at how much nicer it cut then the rotary cutter. The extra width was nice too, but it kept getting flat tires and I had to mow more often in areas that I was trying to keep nice then compared to the rotary cutter that I just mowed a few times a year. I was spending a lot of time sharpening and replacing the blades on the finish mower. I changed out the tires to solid ones, and that really helped!!! Then I got a zero turn and haven't used the rotary cutter since then. I should probably sell it since it's been sitting for about five years now.