DR Field & Brush Mower

Alan L. · Jul 15, 2001

Anybody have one of these? (I know some of you have the string trimmer) I have some tight and steep areas that I just can't get the brush hog into and it looks like it would work pretty good for that. However these things are EXPENSIVE. Right now they are 10% off, but even then range from $1400 plus to about $2400 depending on the size. Just looking at the pictures they don't look all that well made, what with belts and pulleys rather than a drive shaft.

Right now I have draws full of brush and high weeds and tall growth in amongst the cedar elm trees that I can't get the tractor into, plus it would seem to have an advantage of being able to get closer to the tank (pond). But I don't want to pay that kind of money for a machine that is the quality of a cheap push mower.

Alan L., TX

JackIL · Jul 15, 2001

I own a DR Field and Brush Mower (14 hp) and I can tell you that it is not at all built like a "cheap" mower. It is rugged, it works as indicated in the DR Video, and, in my opinion, is well worth the money. I bought this mower to cut tall weeds and tall grass on steep slopes, but I have also used it to take down woody growth with stems up to an inch in diameter. In all of these applications it has never let me down. Why do you believe a belt drive is inadequate? The belt provides a safety "slip clutch" if the blade strikes a rigid obstruction. I don't think you can go wrong with a DR. In my opinion, it is not over-priced for the quality and performance.

Alan L. · Jul 15, 2001

Thanks for the info Jack. I'm really working from ignorance here, not having seen one of the machines in the flesh. My thinking was that if its doing the same thing as a brush hog (just in smaller bites) then it would have to be very rugged. Of course the brush hog has the heavy blades on a big spindle on heavy duty gearbox driven by a driveshaft. Does the machine have any sort of sheer pin or somesuch, or does it just rely on belt slippage to prevent damage. Also, is it fairly easy to control on slopes? That would be my main need for it.

Sounds like you haven't had any trouble with it. Mind if I ask how long the machine has been in service?

Alan L., TX

Anonymous Poster · Jul 15, 2001

<font color=blue>...The belt provides a safety "slip clutch" if the blade strikes a rigid obstruction...</font color=blue>

Absolutely, great practical and simple design.

I have the Garden Way Troy-Built 8 HP version of the DR...{a friend has the older version of the DR}

After going through lawnmowers like water over the years, finally got smart and got a durable do-all unit.

Without overusing the term... it's a lawnmower on a major dose of steroids, or like a baby BushHog.

I like the new design of the DR as for the attachments available and the use of the same power plant...

Imagine disconnecting the Brush mower attachment and now hooking up the finish mower... with a 15 hp engine... or come wintertime and attaching the snow blower to do your tight walkways... again with 15 hp... if the snow doesn't move now... it can stay there.../w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

There's always gonna be a number of area's even a tractor can't do...{hard to imagine}, that's where this unit shines.

I'll stick my neck out and say it will probably be the last mower you'll ever buy in your lifetime... /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

the most powerful DR® FIELD and BRUSH MOWER

s1120 · Jul 15, 2001

John,
I did not know that they had outher attachments avable for the DR. Do you know how much they cost? This may solve a few problems I have with my land. A few areas that need clearing, and a steep gulley that you cant get a tractor into. And hay, I need to get a push mower anyway.

Anonymous Poster · Jul 15, 2001

Paul,

The lawnmower attachment is $400., the snowblower is brand new and not priced yet...

Hey, you and the wife can drive over with your truck and pick up these units at the factory direct and enjoy that beautiful Vermont countryside...{not that our gorgeous Upstate New York is nothing to sneeze at either...} /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

DR Attachments & Pricing

jinman · Jul 15, 2001

Alan, I have a neighbor who has one of these (therefore my story is second hand) and he loves it. He uses it to clear a steep 75' rocky, brushy hillside going down to our lake. He showed me paths he has cut through his property that you couldn't take a riding lawnmower, much less a tractor and rotary cutter. Recently, he said he had some part fail when he hit a rock (I forgot what he said it was). The impressive thing was that the part was under warranty and instead of just sending him a replacement for the broken part, DR sent hime the entire assembly so he was able to replace it with ease. That tells me this company is not only serious about quality products, but comes in tops in customer service. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif/w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

JimI

Bird · Jul 15, 2001

Speaking of the DR string trimmer, I just this past week got the new and improved trimmer head for my 3 year old DR. I didn't order it when they first came out with them and sent me the literature; seemed too expensive, but when they recently sent another sales pitch with a small discount and saying that if you don't agree that it's better and easier they'd refund my money and even let me keep it. I put it to as severe a test as possible in some tall grass, and some briars (sorta hoped to ask for my money back?, but I guess I'll have to let them keep it)./w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

Bird

JackIL · Jul 15, 2001

Alan. I have had my DR Field and Brush mower for 4 years. My main application is to mow slopes, and some are slightly over 30 degrees (measured with protractor.) I have the aggressive tread tires and they really help control the unit on slopes. There is no shear pin--just a spring loaded belt drive. I have not had any problem from the blade striking a stump or post. I recommend you order the free video that shows the DR in operation. It gives you a good and realistic overview. The website is www.countryhomeproducts.com.

GlueGuy · Jul 15, 2001

Don't want to through any cold water on other's enthusiasm for the DR, but I have a neighbor that has an ancient DR brush cutter. He'd been struggling for 3 days to cut his fire break below his home. Granted, the weather was abismally hot (95 or so), and the grass/brush was at least 3 or 4 feet high.

Well, in that 3 days time, he'd only cut about 15% of the whole area. I sized it up, and decided that if I ran my B7500 up & down the slope (instead of across as he was doing) that I could make short work of it. I offered to do it for him, and he jumped on it. Long story short, it took me almost exactly 1 hour to finish the other 85%. He was amazed.

Granted, this is an ancient DR. Does not look at all like the new one. For that old war horse, it looks like it has its limits.

The GlueGuy