Bush Hog 297 or Landpride RCF 2784

[LD1]

Might just go for the 2008.

I think that would be a great choice. Not sure what they cost though, you will have to let us know.

The reason I didnt suggest anything heavier is the 3008 is ALOT heavier. a good 500# IIRC, and I would imagine a good bit more expensive than a 2008 as well. I just dont see the need unless you are cutting commercially, or clearing land that hasnt been touched in 8-10 years.

 

[brianb88]

Yeah, I was interested in the SQ84t too. He has one of those for $2900 I think. He also has a 2008 and possibly a 3008. What's the opinion on the SQ84? Is the offset desirable or not? I like the thought of a 7ft dual spindle. I can probably handle the 2008 just fine and I probably am not going to be cutting much over 1.5" anyway. Might just go for the 2008.

I just looked at that 2008 model and that is a nice piece of equipment even if it is pretty salty.

One thing you might want to consider is, when cutting with a mower that is wider than your tractor on both sides you wont always utilize the entire cutting width. The offset works for me because I have fence line and tree line where it works great going counter clock-wise. Once I do that I turn around and go clockwise and can line up the tires with the uncut grass and get the most out of the cutting width I have available.

Just for verification I was wrong in my other post when I stated that the offset hung over by 15". It is just under 20"

 

[LD1]

I have done alot of looking at the twin spindles as well, because I would love to get a 2008 for my mowing operation. One thing I didnt like about the sq84t was the blade tip speed.

The sq84t is only 11.5k while the 2008 and 3308 are 16k.

My current cutter is 10.2k. It does nice in "stemy" weeds and brush and saplings. But not as good in grass. Even with high lift blades and making them sharp, it dont want to stand up what was run over. At least not as well as I think it should. I am thinking 16k bladetip speed would help with this.

 

[RickB]

When the blade is moving in the direction of travel, it won't pick up the immediate wheel track that is laid down in a forward direction no matter what the tip speed is. It is just going the wrong way to do a good job.

 

[JWR]

Leebritt -- I have a bunch of free advice. I currently own a Bush Hog 297, a great general purpose pasture and brush cutter. For 10 years prior to 2011 I had a JD4700 with a 6ft JD MX6 hog. The 6ft hog was just about ideal for the 4700. Cut darn near anything and seemed indestructible though I was not cutting heavy brush more than 2" or 3" diameter and that not all the time. I got the 297 hog when I went to a larger MF2660 (approx. 81hp) tractor. In my opinion the 297 (and the 7' Landpride unit) are too heavy for comfort on the JD4700. Not that you can't drive it. Not that it won't work. But I think you will find it unwieldy and slightly overpowering weight-wise hung out there on the back of the 4700. With 25 acres and some 2" brush to cut I think you are much better off with a 6ft hog. I feel even more strongly in that direction if you have any steep ground to cut.

Your bucket will help balance the weight of the hog. I like to run a "pinch bucket" or 4-in-1 that allows me to pick up logs, limbs, rocks and debris and clean up the old farm while I am cutting pasture. I used that type bucket on both the 4700 and the newer larger MF and would not be without it.

If you go with the 297, post and say so & I'll pass on some more ownership info about it.

 

[JWR]

BY THE WAY, reinforcing my opinion that your tractor is not a good one to use with a 7ft rotary cutter --- I just looked up the brochure that came with my own Bush Hog 297. It says minimum 55hp PTO as the spec recommendation to drive the 297. Your 4720 has 50 hp at the PTO according to the Tractor Data website at TractorData.com John Deere 4720 tractor information

Not that it can't be done, but the 7 ft hogs (be it the 297 or the Landpride) are just a little too heavy and a little too big for your tractor.

 

[dusty3030]

I used a 7 food (John Deere 709) single spindle behind a 55 pto hp John Deere 2355 for several years. It would dang near stall it clipping thick Bermuda pasture if I let it get a little tall or it was damp.

 

[runharley52]

I run a 287 (7 foot) behind my ford 4610 which claims 52 hp at the PTO. I run it through some heavy stuff but only in the thickest grass do I hear the engine even start to pull down a bit. A big ant hill is a different story...

 

[leebritt]

Thanks guys! I think I'm probably going to look at a dual spindle. Either the SQ84 or the 2008 or the LP 2596. A buddy has a heavy duty 6' cutter he is going to give me. I'm not sure of brand but supposedly it works well. I will use that for any heavy duty brush work and will use the 8' when mowing my fields.

 

[JWR]

Thanks guys! I think I'm probably going to look at a dual spindle. Either the SQ84 or the 2008 or the LP 2596. A buddy has a heavy duty 6' cutter he is going to give me. I'm not sure of brand but supposedly it works well. I will use that for any heavy duty brush work and will use the 8' when mowing my fields.

Sounds like a good plan to me.