Brush hog question

[MtnViewRanch]

Here is a chart that should help you out. A lot matters on how fast you want to get the job done. Rotary Cutters from Bush-Whacker -- Production Chart Size your tractor to the mower that will get the job done in the time frame that you want.

 

[MarkV]

Does that ratio matter much if you've got flat or hilly terrain?
For example I've got a lot of my land with fairly hilly terrain, should I figure on needing 6PTO HP per foot of mower?

Newbury, in my opinion the ratio has more to do with the material you will be cutting than the hills. Saplings and thick heavy grass will bog you down more than the hills although the hills may require to drop a gear and run slower. As an example I run a 4' rotary mower with only 13 PTO hp on my small tractor as fast as I am interested in going and it cuts fine in weeds taller than the tractor. If I get into real thick hay type grass I have to slow down or cut with more overlap to keep the tractor from working too hard.

MarkV

 

[newbury]

Here is a chart that should help you out. A lot matters on how fast you want to get the job done. Rotary Cutters from Bush-Whacker -- Production Chart Size your tractor to the mower that will get the job done in the time frame that you want.

Good chart!
So if the OP gets a B7610 (like what I've got) 24 HP (18 HP PTO) and a 42" hog it looks like he should be able to do about 1 to 2 acres per hour for a SWAG.
If he gets something like a B7510, 21HP (16 HP PTO) he might not be able to mow it at all.
I have read several posts of peeps with tractors my size destroying their PTO's w/ 5' and 6' cutters.

 

[Juniper Ridge]

My problem is that I have two types of jobs that I need to do. Big Jobs that require, it would appear, a Big Tractor and small jobs that require a small, easily manoeverable tractor.

I don't mind spending the time to mow the pastures (although longer than 6 hours is pushing my patience levels to use the above poster's example), but I do mind not being able to a) brush hog the hill b) mow the "small" lawn and c) drag and rototill the arena with the same machine.

 

[MtnViewRanch]

My problem is that I have two types of jobs that I need to do. Big Jobs that require, it would appear, a Big Tractor and small jobs that require a small, easily manoeverable tractor.

I don't mind spending the time to mow the pastures (although longer than 6 hours is pushing my patience levels to use the above poster's example), but I do mind not being able to a) brush hog the hill b) mow the "small" lawn and c) drag and rototill the arena with the same machine.

Go find yourself the most horse power that you can find and are comfortable with that is in a tractor that is 60"-66" wide or less and that will be the best compromise in my opinion.

Bobcat has some killer deals going on right now, you might want to check them out.

 

[newbury]

You hadn't mentioned rototilling
One site I found:

We recommend 3/4 hp per inch of tillage width as a minimum horsepower requirement.

from Maschio Tillers
Thus w/ a 20HP PTO tractor you could probably run about a 40" tiller.

One thing I've only found out from reading is that ground engaging equipment requires more power.

 

[DmansPadge]

Good afternoon

I have a couple of questions about brush hogs (I don't have a tractor yet, so the answers are to help me refine my search).

I need to mow about 6 acres of irrigated flattish pasture - the objective being to mow the weeds and encourage the grass. I'll be mowing every two weeks or so. I also need to brush hog a rough weedy hilly pasture of about 2 acres, probably once a month.

Can you adjust the mowing height of a brush hog?
What width/size brush hog would you suggest considering the fact that the tractor I would want to get would really only be used for mowing and the FEL (gravel, sand and some 'easy' leveling/cutting/filling). I need a very manoeverable tractor.

thank you in advance

So you have 6 acres that will be cut every couple of weeks and 2 additional acres to cut every so often? If I was cutting 6 acres every other week I would want at least a 5' cutter and a tractor that could handle it easily. The 5 PTO hp per ft rule is an ok guideline but every situation is different. You can definitely get by with less HP if you are cutting often.

I have had a 12 PTO hp tractor that I used a 4' hog on. I now have a 15 PTO hp tractor that I use a 5' hog on. Both handled their respective cutters about the same. If I cut often it isn't a problem at all. If it has been a while and is overgrown I can still cut it ok but my speed has to slow way down. Tall weeds and light brush really aren't the problem... it is where the growth is real thick that gets you. I can't see that you are going to hurt your PTO by running a larger than recommended cutter but you can for sure put undo wear on the engine by lugging it down while trying to cut more than it can handle.

Another thing you might consider is the frame and tire size of the tractor. If your property is smooth and doesn't have a lot of dips and such a smaller tractor will be ok. But if it is kind of rough a tractor with larger tires and a longer wheelbase will ride over the bad spots much better and will not affect the height of the brush hog as bad. This will also make it easier to mow faster and wouldn't beat you up quite as bad.

 

[medicshawn]

How about a bigger B series from Kubota. I had a B7800 30HP, 23 PTO. You should be able to run a 5 foot bushog with that. It would also give you more HP for your tiller. There has to be a million B7800s and you should be able to buy them used with a FEL for 12500 or less all day long. Or step up to the new B3200 for a few more HP.

 

[dodge man]

I have a Kubota BX2350 with a 4' brush mower. It might do the mowing you are talking about in 6 hours, but it might take 8 hours, it just depends on how long it gets. It is small and turns pretty tight and does a good job finish mowing. If it were me I would look a about a 30 hp tractor, something like a Kubota B series.

 

[deere5105]

I recommend something in the 30 to 35 hp range with a 5' rotary cutter. I run a 6' rotary, John Deere MX6, behind my John Deere 5105, 45 PTO hp, with very good results. I can cut rough areas and still drop it down to cut close in the areas that border my yard. Check the specifications on rotary cutters as some won't cut as close as others.