Rotary Cutter Advice on Rotary Cutter options for L35 Kubota

[landonL35]

Hellow everyone! First post here in TBN forums, but I have read the forums quite a bit reasearching and looking for ideas!

I live in north alabama, and have a Kubota L35 (35hp) TLB and am looking for a rotary cutter and would like opinions from more experienced guys here on the forumss. I currently have about 11 acres of bahia grass pastures that i'll need to mow a couple times a season. I also have about 10 acres of neglected overgrown woods and brush that I'd like to start cleaning out, that is going to be pretty tight maneuvering and in places its very thick so there may be small fallen logs, stumps etc that I cant see. This part of the requirements has led me to think I should probably go with a 5 foot instead of a 6 foot. Even though I think the L35 would handle the 6 foot fine, I believe the 5 foot would work better in the woods and elevation changes, etc. I also know I should look for something with a pretty heavy build with a slip clutch. My new primary options from my closest dealers are the Rhino 160 at $1500, Woods Brush Bull BB60 at 1600, and land pride 1860 at little over $1800 (but has paint that matches the bota! lol!). Another dealer pretty nearby has a Rhino Twister TW60 that has been 'reconditioned' that looks to be VERY well built with heavier gauge steel than the others, but it is same price as the others in used/reconditioned state. Also found a used woods BB60 still with 2 years of gearbox warranty remaining for $1000.

I.m looking for advice given the information above, what would you guys look to buy. Paint color excluded, are the 3 new ones similar quality? Any particular one worth the price difference? Am I missing an obvious product that I should be evaluating? Are the options above heavily built enough to tackle the task or should I be looking at a different line? If I decide to go with a used product what should I be looking for as far as quality? I thank you in advance for the help!

 

[sweettractors]

Here is another option. Added slip clutch and delivery would be $1195 to north Alabama. Ken Sweet
New Tennessee River Medium Duty 5ft Brush Cutter 3 PT Made in USA | eBay

 

[Rocky Hoffler]

WELCOME I AM ONE OF THE PEOPLE THAT THINKS IN MOWING ROUGH STUFF YOU NEED TO KEEP MOWER NARROW THAN TRACTOR TO KEEP FROM HANGING UP IF TRACTOR FITS SO DOES MOWER IF ONLY MOWING A SMALL AMOUNT A COUPLE TIMES A YEAR A LIGHT LESS EXPENSIVE BRAND WOULD DO FINE. BUT UNDER BRUSHING AND CLEARING YOU MIGHT WANT TO GO HEAVIER BROWN MOWERS ARE IN DOTHAN AND BUILD A QUALITY MOWER ALSO IN OCT. 18 THRU 20 SUNBELT AG EXPO WILL BE HELD IN MOULTRIE GA MOST ALL VENDORS WILL BE THERE A GREAT PLACE TO COMPARE AND THEY GIVE SHOW PRICES ESPECIALLY ON THE LAST DAY OF SHOW GOOD LUCK

 

[landonL35]

How do the Tennessee River's hold up comparitively to the big names that I listed? I see you have been selling them for quite a while... Is there something that compares steel, boxes, welds, etc? I started out looking at a less expensive Lowery LMC Andy cutter, but it just wasnt built out of anywhere near the materials as the Rhino 160 and TW60 sitting next to it. The gearbox was a 40hp and just 'looked' so comparatively small and weak. I just dont think it would hold up to the potential beating in the woods.

 

[nybirdman]

I would stay away from a 40HP gear box also.I think a five footer is a better fit for what you are going to do.I have a 6ft.Landpride and a 5ft.Bush Hog;both medium duty and have held up well.The Bush Hog branded has 600-700 hours of use(shear pin) ,the LandPride a clutch and have had a few probems with it (blades) some my fault.
I would purchase the heaviest medium duty with a gear box rated for at least 60HP.

 

[Rocky Hoffler]

YOU CAN GET A MOWER FOR AROUND 1 GRAND OR IT CAN GO UP FROM THERE ITS LIKE THEY USE TO SAY IN MY RACING DAYS ITS HOW FAST DO YOU WANT TO GO. YOU GENERALLY GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR. DEPENDS ON THE USE AND HOW MUCH YOU WILL USE IT. MOST OF THE CHEAPER LINES WILL USE A CHINESE MADE GEAR BOX RATED AT ABOUT 40 H.P. AND DECK IS LIGHTER WITH SHEAR PIN PROTECTION INSTEAD OF SLIP CLUTCH CONSIDER ALL YOUR OPTIONS. I RUN A SE6 RHINO THAT I BOUGHT USED.

 

[landonL35]

How has that Rhino treated you? They look they they are made real well. The one I looked at was a 160, which I think is comparable to the SE line in the way they are built. That used TW60 was REALLY heavy gauge steel everywhere and a monster gearbox... just didnt know if 1500 was reasonable for a used one even if its a little heavier built. I dont know what they cost new.

 

[LD1]

The problem is your needs are totally opposite ends of the spectrum.

You have 11 acres of a grassy meadow you want to cut a few times a year.

You also have a woods you want to start clearing.

Any of the mowers you listed will be fine for the meadow, and if thats all you had I would push you toward a 6'.

However, maneuverability in the woods is certainly better with a 5' cutter. But none of the ones you listed are anywhere near heavy enough for me to want to venture into the woods with.

But heavy duty, well built, long lasting cutters for those conditions are gonna cost $$$$

 

[landonL35]

AGreed! Thats why I came here for advice. I dont want to spend 1600-1800 and realize as im welding something together in the woods that I should have spent a couple hundred more. Is there a particular piece of equipment you recommend? Note...Now I hope once the woods are cleared that we will keep them maintained well with a combination of grazing and cutting.

That Rhino TW60 that was reconditioned looked very well built. I think I read it was rated for 2-2.5" stuff. I also found an 80's model Bush Hog 305 that looks to be in decent shape for the age, but afraid I will be fighting it all the time, and its not cheap for the age at $900. I also just looked at the Brown's mentioned above... Very nice. WIsh there was a dealer in north alabama!

 

[LD1]

The 305 and TW60 are similar.

The 305 has an 80HP gearbox and the TW should have a 110HP. Both more than adequate for your machine.
The 305 is rated to cut 3" material.....the TW is less at 2"
The 305 has a 7ga deck thicness (3/16" steel)....the TW has a thinner 10ga deck. (slightly over 1/8")

If the 305 is in good shape, For $900 I buy that all day long vs $1500 for a used TW60

I have a 306 bushhog. Same design as the 305, just a 6' model. That is the cutter I take on jobs to do just what you want. Clear trails, overgrown brush, invasive Russian olive, briar patches, etc. It makes alot of noise running over a 3" tree and letting the cutter chew it up.....but have done that hundreds if not thousands of times and no issues at all. That was behind my similar HP L3400 bota. Havent used it behind the MX5100 yet, as I havent had any of them "clearing" jobs come up yet, so I use my DS96, but if/when those jobs come up....I have no concerns.

But either of those cutters, the TW60 @ $1500 or the 305 @ $900 will still outlast any new cutter you are gonna get in the $1000-$1500 price range, provided they are currently both in good operational shape.