Do I need high flow aux?

[Blstr88]

Looking to purchase a wheeled skid steer for my property. When we bought the house (40 acres) 11 years ago I bought an LS J2023H which I still have and it’s been great but since then we’ve expanded the fields and trails significantly. Initially I was going to just upgrade the tractor to a 50 or so horse but the property has some very tight treed areas as well as lots of uneven terrain. I really believe a skid steer would be the way to go.

My question is this: do I need the high flow aux hydraulics or is standard flow sufficient?

I’d say it will be used about 75% bucket work and 25% brush hogging. Would high flow be much better for mowing?

I found an extremely clean Deere 312gr I’m planning to go look at this week but it’s standard flow…not sure if that should be a deal breaker or not

Any tips or things to look for would be appreciated. I’d like to stay in the 50hp range and enclosed cab, otherwise I’m not brand particular really. I do like Deere and Kubota simply because there are dealers nearby.

 

[Lineman North Florida]

If I found a deal on a used low flow machine I wouldn't pass it but I wouldn't buy a new machine that wasn't hi-flow if that makes any sense, with what you are doing you can get by with low flow and be happy, if you are using it to make a living you would want hi flow for the increased production and re-sale. One thing to think about is if you will be working alone is a machine that has a roll up overhead door allows you to exit the cab with the arms raised or lowered in any position, that would be Kubota or Takeuchi, on most of the swing out brands the arms have to be all the way lowered ie John Deere or Cat. I would encourage you to get in the cab of all the brands that you might purchase and see what each has to offer as they are not all the same and some of the differences could be a deal breaker. Good luck.

 

[4570Man]

High flow is really only useful if you buy a high flow mower and regular flow mowers work acceptably well. I’d be more concerned with the whole brush mowing plan. The Kubota 75s are at the bottom end of the acceptable HP for brush mowing IMO and the Deere 312 is considerably smaller.

 

[Lineman North Florida]

High flow is really only useful if you buy a high flow mower and regular flow mowers work acceptably well. I’d be more concerned with the whole brush mowing plan. The Kubota 75s are at the bottom end of the acceptable HP for brush mowing IMO and the Deere 312 is considerably smaller.

The Kubota SVL-75 might not be my choice if using a drum mulchers day in and day out but paired with a 72" brush cutter will do an outstanding job all day long, just how much HP do you think is needed to do brush cutting?

 

[Blstr88]

I don’t plan on getting any sort of drum mower/mulcher etc. Just a simple rotary brush hog. I’ve been brush hogging with a 23hp tractor for years without issue…is a 50hp skid steer really not enough?

 

[Too many Kubotas]

A low hp (New Holland L218) low flow runs a 72" snowblower just fine. No idea how it'd do with a mower or brush hog.

 

[4570Man]

The Kubota SVL-75 might not be my choice if using a drum mulchers day in and day out but paired with a 72" brush cutter will do an outstanding job all day long, just how much HP do you think is needed to do brush cutting?

Most of my mowing experience is with a 75. It works acceptably good but it bogs a lot. I briefly mowed with my 88 hp Komatsu and it kept it up better. I have a SVL90 but I’ve never put the mower on it. I don’t think you’d be happy with the result going to a skid steer half the size.

 

[scootr]

My low flow 773 Bobcat makes 50 hp and ran a 72" BH just fine.
I ended up trading down to a 60" BH for reduced weight and easier mowing in tighter spaces. I field mow with the tractor. Mowing with a SS can become tedious... Wheeled machines pitch up and down on uneven ground. I prefer mowing with a tractor.

 

[4570Man]

I don’t plan on getting any sort of drum mower/mulcher etc. Just a simple rotary brush hog. I’ve been brush hogging with a 23hp tractor for years without issue…is a 50hp skid steer really not enough?

The skid steer weighs 2 if not 3 times what the 25 hp tractor does. The hydraulic drive cutter isn’t as efficient as a shaft either. I doubt you have as much HP to the cutter as the 25 hp tractor has.

 

[oldnslo]

The skid steer weighs 2 if not 3 times what the 25 hp tractor does. The hydraulic drive cutter isn’t as efficient as a shaft either. I doubt you have as much HP to the cutter as the 25 hp tractor has.

In looking at specs online for 312GR you are correct in the theory that performance would be similar to 20 HP mechanical drive.

For home owner is probably acceptable for contractor or farmer doubtful would be satisfactory.