Mowing 12' batwing vs 15'

[Ben I]

I have a Massey 471 4wd with cab and loader. The tractor with loader and fluid in the tires weighs right around 9500#. Looking into a batwing mower and really had my heart set on the bushhog 2515 or land pride 3615. I'm getting mixed opinions, some are saying my tractor wont handle a 15' very well on steep ground. I maintain a lot of comercail properties and subdivisions. Opinions please .. . .

 

[Poopdeck Pappy]

Bush Hog and Rhino both have 15' flex wing cutters rated for a minimum of 60PTO HP, which I what your tractor has. You should be able to handle a 15 footer, but you may have to slow way down in tall or heavy grass / weeds.

I think both of them have some heavy duty 15' models that require more HP, so you would need to shop carefully to make sure you're not over-matching your tractor.

Your tractor should handle a 12' model without even breaking a sweat.

 

[foreman Etexas]

You will be able to handle it but will need to watch about the weight of the cutter pushing you on slopes at wrong angles I use 64pto with the LP plainsman 15ft and a lot lighter tractor but having it set out wide at the tires helps a lot when on uneven terrain.I have a 12 and a 15 weight is around 1,000 difference,where I can't run 4mph with15,neither can with 12. Guess what I'm saying your going to need drop a gear anyways. I'm happy with running a tad slower get a nice cut and not beat me and the equipment up over running flat out with a 8ft ,bouncing out the seat and it not get everything. If your trying cut down as low as it can go in tall thick grass,like a lawn mower 100hp pto will be about right to keep any kind of speed up,me and my brother tried and both was in low 1st but it pulled it threw and he has 10more HP but set about 6inches was able roll about 4.2/4.5mph witch was a comfortable speed and ride" even better in his he has air ride". You going to be able get in and around things with bigger cutter? I just mow mainly open pastures and ROWs why went with the 15 but my 12 is a flat deck,almost went with a 12batwing this last time but I said if it gets to bad I will just scoot over on the already cut area. I see the added 3ft cause mowing couple hundred acres but on the smaller ones your shaving off some time but not a whole lot.

 

[Ben I]

Both the 2515 and plainsman are lighter weight 15' cutters weighing in at about 4000#s. My main concern with a 12' instead of a 15' is not having enough reach when mowing banks.

 

[foreman Etexas]

Both the 2515 and plainsman are lighter weight 15' cutters weighing in at about 4000#s. My main concern with a 12' instead of a 15' is not having enough reach when mowing banks.

12ft-#2540,the 2515#3202,the plainsman #3730. How steep we talking? Going up shouldnt be a problem,the weight pushing down will but run in 4x4,grab low gear and that helps alot.

 

[Ben I]

Places I maintain have banks that could be mowed by over hanging a wing across the top and across the bottom. Most of the up and down would be retention pond slopes.