Brush mower

Syncro · Aug 5, 2006

I know this must have been discussed before, but does anyone have any hands on experience or comparisons on a good, but smaller walk behind brush mower? I will only be cutting high weeds, no actual brush or saplings, so I guess a heavy duty weed cutter would be a better discription. I was considering a Swisher 9hp 24" cut as sold by TSC, or the DR Scout, 22" cut, I think ~6hp.

I like the smaller size of the DR, still seems like a lot of $$ though. Both these machines are priced about the same, so am I getting less bang for he buck by getting the DR? The Swisher is ~300# and 4 sp tranny vs ~200# and 3 sp for the DR. Anyone own a Scout? It will be used primarly along ditches and fences, so manuverability is most important. Sure would appreciate any input here, or other brands?

Syncro · Sep 8, 2006

Well, I didn't get much of a bounce on this post, but better judgement steered me to the DR Scout instead of the heavier machines. We've had it for a few weeks now and thought I'd pass on our impressions. Its a stout machine, but far less weight and heft than the bigger DR's which are truely made for cutting heavy brush. The Scout is more akin to a heavy duty lawn mower (much heavier duty!) It goes through wet thick green grass and waist high weeds like they are not there, but I wouldn't take it through the trees. For what we use it for it fits the bill, makes short work of what used to be impossible going for our push mower, and is nimble enough for my wife to handle. Fact is I can't get it away from her she likes it so much. Self propelled with a seperate chain drive transmission and overall quality, especially the controls, are tops. I highly recommend it, though letting loose of $1100 was hard, its really worth every dollar. Its built strong and made to last, the handle bars are impressive with heavy welded steel brackets and just a plain good solid feel.

BTDT · Sep 28, 2006

Sorry I didn't get to post before you bought your machine, but it sounds like you found what you were looking for. Does it use string like a weedeater? I have an old but in good shape troy-built model with sickle-bar on the front. It does a great job, but it is noisy.

IslandTractor · Oct 2, 2006

The DRs are excellent brush cutters. I have the 11hp model which truly does cut anything it will run over. Build up my arms, shoulders and legs running it too

. I can see that the 6hp smaller frame scout would be very handy and certainly easier to use. I bought mine before I bought a tractor with bush hog. If I was to buy a DR mower now I'd get the Scout as with the tractor available I wouldn't need the larger capacity just the flexibility. The DRs are nice well made machines.

Syncro · Oct 4, 2006

Thanks all for the replys. I've been spending all my waking hours (well almost all) trying to beat the weather getting our new place out of the ground. Anyways, that little DR is un-stopable and we are extremely pleased with it. Way back I bought a DR string trimmer, about 10 years ago, and it was almost worthless for heavy growth, our new machine however eats tall weeds without a burp. Easy to use too and quiet.

The factory was nice enough to give me an extra 4 year warrenty after I made the purchase, as it was an added incentice made in the few weeks after I picked up my machine. They didn't have to do that, but they did, and to me that goes a long ways in showing what a good company they are. First rate products from a first rate company.

Sigarms · Mar 12, 2007

Just came across this thread looking for some info on the DR line myself.

Looking at that 17hp model and not sure if it would be worth the money (per the website, $2700).

Would have some hills to work it on, not sure about that as well.

IslandTractor · Mar 13, 2007

Sigarms said:
Looking at that 17hp model and not sure if it would be worth the money (per the website, $2700).

Would have some hills to work it on, not sure about that as well.

I own the 11hp model and find it perfectly adequate. The 17 is wider so it might be a tad faster. They rate the mowers by how thick a sapling it can cut too but I find that not a useful comparison point. I can cut virtually anythng I can push over. I presume the more powerful models will cut faster but this has not really been a limitation. Hills are no problem as the mower has pretty beefy tires. The only times I have had trouble with hills is when it is wet or muddy, otherwise the mower will climb just about anything you can walk up.

I bought mind used. I would have probably bought the 15hp to get the Kawasaki engine if I bought new but in the end I have found the B+S engine to be flawless. I have about 50 hours on mine now and it gets less use since I got a tractor with bushhog but there are still some tasks that are best done with the DR such as mowing between trees or on steep slopes. I'd certainly recommend the DR to anyone who needs a brush mower but I'd think carefully before shelling out the money for the commercial 17hp version.

mechanic · Mar 20, 2007

I know this is not the classifieds, which I am not ready to do yet, but we might be selling our DR with all the attachments. This is only if we don't get our place we put a contract on. I will really need it there. You are welcome to email and I will give you our price we will be selling it at. I think you can email from this site, if not just post back.

GregE · Mar 22, 2007

I bought the 17 hp DR in January after much agonizing. It sat in the garage until this past weekend. I took it out to cut some multiflora rose and some other scrub trees. All I can say is that I was pleasantly surprised how easily it took out the scrub trees. Most were five foot tall and once the mower got on top of them, they were toast. There was a bit of a learning curve to adapt to the hand controls, but once I got that down it ran like a charm. I was fortunate in that I bought the unit from a local dealer who had two on the floor from last year, so I paid $200 less than the advertised price. The only problem I had was a buried wife fence that one of the wheels found. A piece of the fence punctured the sidewall. The slime in the tire hasn't been able to fix the hole yet. All in all I am more than satisfied. I think the wife is worried that I'll clean out the whole property with the thing.

Seanachie · Mar 27, 2007

I got the 17 HP, 30" cut model yesterday.

WOW!

This thing rocks! I've taken down briars, thorns, saplings, shrubs, old branches, and anything else that got in the way with ease.

Just a note: wear gloves and long sleeves, 'cause this thing will drag other nearby thorn bushes into it's maw and they'll sratch you up pretty well.

I'm very impressed.