Brush hog- How large?

[Phred]

I know that this topic is not new but I would like to get some specific info on my problem.

I have about 90 acres that I am currently building a home on. Ultimately I will be buying a tractor in the 50-70 pto hp range. However, I would like to wait till next year since these units are hardly free.

The problem I have is that I can rent a number of tractors but the rental places do not want to rent a cutter due to liability.

So I am thinking about buying a cutter to use with rentals until next year and then use it with my tractor.

The problem is how big. A bat wing is out since most rentals are in the 42 pto HP range.
If I buy a cheap 6’ at tractor supply will it work with the rentals and still be useful for a TN75? Will this be a dissappointment next year?

Also what about pto shafts? Will one unit be universally compatible with any tractor? I have heard about issues with the length.

Thanks for your help.

Fred

 

[Phred]

My options are:

Woods 72 Brushbull asking ~$1600
Brushhog 287 Asking ~$1600-1700
Alamo A72B asking ~$2000
International 6' $895
King Kutter 6' ~$800 @ tractor supply
A used modern 5' for $500. Will not cut out the tracks of a TN series tractor. No rust on this unit but its "as is" at this price.

Anybody own one of these and have a good or bad expereince?

Thanks,

Fred

 

[Fullthrottle]

I picked up my new Bushhog 286 (6' $1500.00) today and cut around 4 acres of waist high fescue. I'm still undecided on the quality of cut. I had it set at it's highest level (around 12 inches I guess) to avoid hitting rocks. It seemed to lay the grass down in the center and not cut it as short as the grass directly behind the wheels.
Jeff

 

[JohnMiller3]

Fred,
Here's my 6' KingKutter working.

Bush Hog, Woods, and Alamo {Terrain King} all make great products. The Woods BrushBull is too new to determine gearbox reliability, but it sure looks like a winner in the steel department and design. The Bush Hog is a proven time tested design. Alamo is more a consumer unit versus the Terrain King HD line. You can almost flip a coin between Woods and Bush Hog... they both should last for even your children to enjoy... /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

"You are what you eat, drink, think, say and do..."

 

[john_bud]

Phred,

Two additional things to think about in making a determination on this type of equipment. Weight and Size. Compare what they all weigh and if possible measure the size of things like the gear box, the stump jumper (diameter and thickness), etc.

I didn't look at the 6' or 7' models, but for the 5' models, the Woods Brush Bull 600 medium duty cutter was the best in my opinion. I have used it to cut everything that it can push over. A couple of dozen rocks and stumps were also "disovered" while going backwards, and the only indication is a couple of very small dents in the deck. I think the size of the BB600 stump jumper helps out. (oh yeah, be sure to wear hearing protection....)

Have fun!
John Bud

 

[cowboydoc]

My personal opinion is htat if you're going to have that much ground to do I would get a minimum of a 7' and would recommend you get an 8' one. With that much ground it's already going to take you a long time with one of those.

 

[Phred]

Thanks guys,

Cowboydoc; Your right what I really need is a 15' batwing or 10' pull type. However, not in the budget. Besides I have some tight places that will be difficult to cut with a very large cutter. Some day I will have to save up for one of these.
Also in the long term I will probably be haying most of this land and will only need to cut the road sides, and fence lines.

Thanks for all the advice.

For me in the end it was a draw between the bush hog and the woods. In the end I bought a bush hog 286, because they were out of the 6' woods.

I have a TN65 for a week to try it out on. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

Fred

 

[cowboydoc]

Phred,
I got an old 8' Woods that someone had traded in awhile back at the JD dealer for $625. The steel on it is thicker than any other new brand I've seen. It works great and only thing is all the paint is worn off of it.

 

[Bulldogger]

Fred,

I bought a Bush Hog 286 about 5 years ago and let me tell you this is one tough cutter. Now I am looking at a Bush Hog 3210 (10.5’) but there will always be a need for a smaller cutter in those tight places.

Bulldogger

 

[Phred]

cowboydoc,

I don't doubt that at all, the woods seems very strong. They just did not have any 6' woods in stock and the brush hog also seems very well made. I suspect that if well maintaned they will both last forever.

Is that a pull type or a three point? How does your tractor handle it?

Fred

 

[Phred]

Bulldogger,

I am leaning the same way you have already gone: 4wd TN75D.
This machine can easily handle the 286. The TN65 2wd gets a little light in the front end if you pickup the 286 to the limit of the 3 point hitch on rough ground.

How about the 3210? This is a pull type right? I guess that this would eliminate this problem. But is the TN75 able to handle on of these even on tough terrain?

I was looking at a woods batwing at the local dealer and they are really built in a heavy duty manner. Perhaps slightly heavier than the 3210 (which the dealer also has in stock).
I did not compare cost but the 6' woods was about the same as the bush hog.

Fred

 

[cowboydoc]

Phred,
It's a three point and I don't have any problem at all with it.

 

[Bulldogger]

Fred,

The Bush Hog 3210 is offered in 3-point hitch, semi-mount and pull type. The manufacture recommended minimum tractor HP is 60 HP for lift models and 50 HP for pull models. The listed weight for a pull type is 2741 pounds. The other two models should be about the same weight because the hitch is the only difference.

I like the 3-point hitch with a hydraulic cylinder adjustment on the tail wheels. Leave the top link off and it works like a semi-hitch, use the 3-point lift arms and hydraulic cylinder to raise and lower cutting height. Connect the top link and lift cutter completely for sharpening blades etc… Don’t forget to put jack stands under cutter if you are going to be under it.

I have a buddy that has a TN75 4wd with FEL and a semi-mount 3210. His farm is mostly big hills and he does not have a problem.

I would want a FEL or front weights to hold the front end down with any piece of equipment this heavy on rough ground. I would also try not to lift it any higher than I had to.


Bulldogger

 

[Phred]

Guys,

Thanks for all the help.
Here is a shot of the new toy.

Works great. I set the rear wheel to it highest setting. This cuts the grass but leaves all those nasty rocks untouched. Now that I have found them all Ill have to pick them up/w3tcompact/icons/frown.gif.

Fred

 

[Phred]

Here is a shot of the results.

Fred