B7800 Decision -Bradco or Woods BH & MMM Conflict?

[Carl_NH]

Helping a cousin in CT spend some $ this weekend looking for the best setup for their needs.

- Brush clearing, moving rocks and some BH work weekly (for next 12 Mos)
- Mowing weekly
- Small stump removal - 6-9" Typ
- Landscaping trenching and finish grading in 2003
- Plantings, Lawn Maintenance, in 2004
- Terrain is gently sloping land, soft in spots (wet) with a few rocks and stumps

They have 10 Acres, doing a major remodel on the house which the heavy work will be done with an excavator and dozer, howver much is left to do.

I recommended the B7800HSD with BH, 60" MMM.

We went looking today and found a B7800HSD & R4's with a Bradco 3375 with a NEW 4 Point connection setup not using the 3PTH arms but is connected directly to a subframe ala the TLB series but not quite as robust. This box frame attaches to to rear axle, then under the tractor to the mid point frame. The removal and refitting appears to be similar to the TLB series insomuch that the BH carriage sits in a frame and is powered by the tractor hydraulic system.

While all of this is appealing, the dealer indicated while MMM is possible the tradeoffs between the MMM and a RFM and said "no one tool can do it all" so recommended the RFM as the "best solution" since the BH removal and replacement was so easy..

This is the first I have seen of the "4Point Connection" from Bradco and wanted to get feedback on this with a MMM. Also, what about the Woods 7500 and subframe and MMM setup.

While all this sounds fine, in real world pratice it is not the norm as the grass needs cutting and the BH work must be done in the same day with minimal change out of components.

Ideally I would like to have the MMM & BH on the tractor, however understand the issues this presents when working either attachment.

What I want to know have others experienced the Bradco 4 Point system with a MMM, and also those with the Woods 7500 Subframe setup with the B7800 and MMM.

Or do we upsize to the 3130 /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif?? If so what is the potential for the MMM/BH combo on that?

Thanks

Carl

 

[hayden]

The Bradco mounts are great - probably the best. This is also the first I've heard of a Bradco mount available for a B series - that's great news.

Regarding compatibility with a MMM, try asking Bradco. I know the Woods mount is NOT compatible with a MMM, but the Kubota 3PH hoes are. Don't know about Bradco.

 

[chrisjbell]

Pretty much any hoe that uses a subframe will interfere with a MMM. Even with the subframe off there are a couple of additional mounts that get put on the tractor frame that would probably prevent use with a MMM.

The B7800 is a really nice tractor, so I think you're making a good suggestion there. It is also small enough that in general I'd recommend a subframe to keep from beating up the tractor too badly when digging. I suppose it depends on how tough the BH work is going to be.

Sounds to me like the need for the BH is shorter term and the mowing is a long term prospect. Changing implements, while no one's idea of a good time /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif, isn't that bad, so if you're just looking at a weekly change for the first year and then relative "status quo" from then on I'd say the RFM would be the better choice.

The ideal solution would be two tractors /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif. You might consider this; a MMM or RFM isn't cheap and for that kind of $$$ it might be worth it to buy a smaller lawn tractor for the mowing duties.

 

[Carl_NH]

chrisjbell,

Your suggestion is a good one regarding a separate mower only since no one tool will do everything. I don't particularly like to have a mower deck on when doing BH work as you could easily damage the deck plus it limits the manuvering of the tractor.

The issue is they have about 3.5 acres in grass and this will take a long time to do with a 44-48" garden tractor so this is the reason for the MMM or RFM.

An update on the Bradco 4 Point setup is as follows: Bradco can't say for sure a MMM will work since the rear mount for the MMM and the BH frame are probably in the same area and may require some "adaption" to work.. One dealer has said he will put this together and then if the MMM will work with some minor modification to the mount he will install the 72" MMM, if not he will supply a 72"RMM in this case.

So all for now and thanks for the replies.

Carl