5' Rotary Cutter Options

[WADFL]

Narrowed it down to these choices for rotary cutters. Buying tomorrow (10/1)

Will go on the back of a Kubota L2501 and used to cut saplings and undergrowth under a tree canopy. All trees and brush under 1.5" diameter.

1. Land Pride RCF2060 - $2500
2. BushHog 215 - $2000
3. Bad Boy RC60 - $1850
4. Dirty Dog (LG Blue) - $2000
5. CountyLine (TSC) - RCRB60 - $1700

(All prices include sales tax)

My first choice would be the Land Pride, but I don't see the additional $700 in value over the Bad Boy. The local LP dealer does not recommend the RC1260, which is roughly equivalent to the CountyLine cutter.

Which would you buy and why?

 

[ehcrain]

I've got a rc1260 behind my L3901. Tractor has 190 hrs and mower probably a bit over half that much. No mechanical issues with it other than me using it harder than I should, ie I'll back up with it under overhanging trees and cut under them, sometimes hitting the rear skirting and bending it into the blades. I'm cutting very few trees or shrubs over 1 inch, usually grass and briars. If the landpride your looking at is a step above mine Id have no issue it could handle what a 2501 could. I would be most interested in getting a unit with a slip clutch over the shear pin if you get a choice.

 

[kenmac]

I have a 5 ft LMC andy 500. This has been the toughest cutter I have. The sides are channel not just bent around thin steel.
If you hit something with these cutters with thin steel sides, they will just bend. This 6'' channel doesn't bend.

1,150.00

In the pic I posted, you can see the sides are made with 6'' channel

 

[kenmac]

 

[Roadworthy]

Weight of unit and thickness of steel used would probably give you an idea of how heavily constructed the cutter is. Find out how much power the gearbox is supposed to take. That may give an idea how sturdy the unit is, too. I've not done any cutter shopping, I've had my King Kutter for over fifteen years and it's still cutting fine.

 

[LD1]

The country line and dirt dog are the lightest two in the group.

Country lines are "ok" for light stuff but just arent to the standard that landpride, bushhog, etc are at. They are popular because they are cheap, not because they are good.

The Bad-boy looks nice, just dont like they fact that they skimp with a cheap omni 40hp gearbox on the 5' cutter.

To me it would come down to bushhog and landpride. And honestly the two cutters are about as close as you can get in specs and capacitys. Bushhog does have the 10year gearbox warranty though as opposed to 5 for landpride. Honestly I dont see what about the landpride makes it worth $500 more than the Bushhog. ANd the bushhog only being a few hundred more than the country line and bad boy....seem to make it the best value.

BUT.......if you are budgeted up to $2500 since the landpride is included...perhaps take a look at the heavier 315 from bushhog

 

[WADFL]

The Bad Boy has a 50-HP Omni RC51 gearbox. It looks similar, but it's a step above the CountyLine.

The LandPride has a custom gearbox, best I can tell it's Omni RC51 with a different housing.

BadBoy cuts up to 2.5, LandPride 2.5, BushHog 1.5, CountyLine 1"

My budget is: "As little as possible".
But if it was significantly better to spend the $2500 vs $1700, I would do it.

 

[rademamj1]

Landpride would be my choice for a cutter from that list. The RCF2060 has heavier guage steel than most on that list, and thats why its mainly more expensive. Your paying for the steel.

 

[LD1]

Not sure what specs you are looking at.

Landpride https://cdn-assets.greatplainsmfg.com/ari/attach/lp/public/specs/326-459s.pdf
Bushhog https://bushhog.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/BH-Single-Spindle-Lit-2021_6-1.pdf
Bad Boy https://badboymowers.com/images/manuals/2021_manuals/BBM-MANUAL_RotaryCutter_4_5_6_2021.pdf
DirtDog https://www.dirtdogmfg.com/our-products/rc100-series-rotary-cutters/
Countryline https://media.tractorsupply.com/is/...mpany/tsc/product/2/12/72/48/2127248_Man1.pdf

IF you want to spend as little as possible, spend a couple hundred bucks and get something off craigslist that someone else has already abused, then you can not feel bad abusing it.

But if you want new...Id rule out countryline immediately. Given the others on the list, the country line should be a $1000 mower to even be considered. Given that its only $300 savings over a Bushhog brand that is far superior.....its just not a good "value"

Ruling that out leaves the rest. And they ALL have a 2" cut capacity rating, and all other specs are similar.

Personally Id rule out Dirt dog, given they are a relatively unknown name, cannot find anything about a warranty, and they cost as much as the others that are much more well known and have a larger business to back them.

So that leaves 3, the Badboy, Landpride, and Bushhog. The badboy still has a 40HP gearbox. (I dont care what their literature says omni only rates it at 40HP). And their 2year warranty isnt very enticing.Given that and that its a "badboy" Id expect its cost to be significantly less than a comparable bushhog or landpride. But since it isnt, I wouldnt consider them.

That leaves Landpride and Bushhog. Functionally there is gonna be little to no difference in these cutters. If you do something to tear up one, the other would have likely suffered the same fate. SO it comes down to money. The Bushhog being $500 less (and only $300 more than the cheapest cutter you can get)....on top of that it has twice the gear box warranty of Landpride....its obvious to me that of the ones you have on your short list, its clearly the best "value".

But just understand....even though these cutters are rated at 2" capacity....if you plan on mowing over a bunch of 2" stuff....dont expect any of them to last too long.

 

[LD1]

Landpride would be my choice for a cutter from that list. The RCF2060 has heavier guage steel than most on that list, and thats why its mainly more expensive. Your paying for the steel.

The steel is the same thickness on the deck and skirts as the Badboy and the Dirtdog at 10ga. And the bushhog only drops to 11ga. So to say "it has heavier steel than most on the list" is a false statement