DR Power

[bearthebruce]

We have a DR Power Brush Cutter and purchased it for working slopes we cannot manage with our tractor. Our biggest complaint is the wheel drive system. If you are working in trees and such where it is on uneven surfaces, rocks, roots, etc... the diff is set up that you end up with one wheel spinning and the other stopped. At that point, the only means to move the heavy machine is your own braun.

When we are working flat reasonably smooth ground, its a great little bruch mower.

Someone mentioned debris flying back? Does not really happen. It flies out the front and sides for us. I have never had a piece of brush fly at me.

I'm 68 - nearly 69 - I find the amount of effort I have to put into running it hard for an old guy. We have young hunters who help us take care of this place... they can bull it around and get it to go when I struggle.

Back to the drive system.. why they have independent diff is owing to their desire to give help on steering with the paddle steering. But the price of that is that you get stuck often. I would rather do the steering by bulling that than having to lift and push it over roots and such...

It still gets used because there are places we have to take it that a tractor cannot fit.. we are making those places smoother and easier for the machine.

 

[2manyrocks]

Flat ground is one thing, hills are much harder to mow.

BCS is not cheap, but there are more options for larger diameter tires as well as dual wheel setups which are less likely to get stuck due to a hole, rock or tree root than smaller tires. And you have options to buy either a rotary style brush cutter or a flail mower. But these are not cheap and the issue is still whether you can physically handle them on the terrain you have to mow.

 

[Chuckanut]

Anyone buy a DR Power brush mower? Have lots of weeds, scrub along a creek. May take a Year to clear it but their mowers look interesting.

I like the self propelled models with electric start and power reverse.

https://www.drpower.com/Power-Equipment/Field-%26-Brush-Mowers-/Walk-Behind-Professional-Series-/DR-Field-and-Brush-Mower-/p/AT45230BEN

Any comments appreciated.

I have a much older Kawasaki 17 HP with the Heavy Duty 30" blade DR. I use this mower going on 20 years now. These mowers will chop up almost anything.

They require strength on the hillsides to hole them in line but nothing more then most normal people can handle.

IF you are spending the money one get the 20HP with the 30" blade, you want the power!

 

[5030]

Won't hold a candle to a BCS.

Other than up front cost I suspect. The BCS stuff for me at least is way overpriced for value received. Having said that, I don't believe DR makes anything themselves. I believe they buy and rebadge other's products.

Now, if BCS still offered a Hatch diesel, I might consider one.

 

[jyoutz]

Other than up front cost I suspect. The BCS stuff for me at least is way overpriced for value received. Having said that, I don't believe DR makes anything themselves. I believe they buy and rebadge other's products.

Now, if BCS still offered a Hatch diesel, I might consider one.

DR is currently owned by Generac and the customer service person told me that Generac manufactures DR products in Wisconsin. That was 3 years ago.

 

[R Barger]

I have the 26 inch pro with the brake steering. Works great. I have cut brush 1 inch with no effort.

 

[AndyMA]

I have the 26 inch pro with the brake steering. Works great. I have cut brush 1 inch with no effort.

I have a 16 HP Kawi 30", brush cutter, 44 in fininsh mower an snow blower for sale in Woodstock CT

 

[Jrasband]

I can't imagine a a walk behind tractor without steering brakes or a differential locker, especially steering brakes! I wouldn't even consider it unless your ground is completely flat.

 

[Stoughtonfarmboy]

I have had a DR Brush Mower for a few years. Ii may have been one of the last models that offered a "locking drive axle". That makes a world of difference on slopes. I am very happy with it. 75 years old and finding is not too hard to handle. But, it is work.

I am not convinced of the "power steering". It looks more like the old days of stepping on one brake on your tractor to make a sharp turn.
Ken

 

[Squirrel's242]

Anyone buy a DR Power brush mower? Have lots of weeds, scrub along a creek. May take a Year to clear it but their mowers look interesting.

I like the self propelled models with electric start and power reverse.

https://www.drpower.com/Power-Equipment/Field-%26-Brush-Mowers-/Walk-Behind-Professional-Series-/DR-Field-and-Brush-Mower-/p/AT45230BEN

Any comments appreciated.

We have a ProXL30 22hp and it's been a great purchased for the property; had it 2.5yrs. I'm on 5.5ac of hilly, sandy terrain that is surprisingly productive in forage and vegetation. The brush mower bridges the gap between a lawn mower and a mulcher on machinery. It is smaller and easier to get under trees and into tighter areas. It can go uphill, downhill or sideways. It's been uh put through it's paces mowing the creek banks and pond.

We have a lot of oaks and dead fall is one of the toughest materials here. The bigger stuff is picked up, but limbs <2" are left. Those get chopped up pretty well, not in short pieces but more cleaned sticks (I'll try to find an example area and grab a picture for you). The mower produces good large starter sticks for a camp fire. Makes them easy to hand pick or just let rot on the ground and return to the soil. There's also a lot of undesireable wild brush plants, I apologize but I'm not sure what some of this stuff is but they're no match for the mower. Even in thick bunches.

The mower itself is heavy but with fwd and reverse, it's manueverable. Maintenance is easy, just did the annual maintenance in Sept. The mower will destroy what it runs over so, be careful of what you run over. It starts easy with the key. It does have brakes and a throttle safety lever.

It likes fuel, I'm not sure of a good hours/gal figure I can give you but I'm not sure comparing a strong gas engine to the expectations of a diesel sipper are fair. It's compareable to my Cub Cadet XT2 25hp riding mower. You get at least a good few hours of work. The engine sounds nice, the Intek Vtwin, good stock exhaust note. I kinda wanted to pimp it with a sweet muffler...but I got a funny look from my other half. Oh, of course ear protection is a must, just like the log splitter, chain saw, etc.

In the two years had a couple things break/wear out. First was the choke knob I think that got caught on a low hanging tree limb and broke off. Easily replaced. Second is the front rubber discharge flap at the front of the deck. Ours eventually was torn up by the flying wood debris. I'll be replacing it shortly, just bolts, on and off like a mud flap. The mower will throw debris a long way. Like as is good mower practice don't mow in a direction towards vehicles, windows people and pets. They might get hit by what is discharged from the mower, especially if the flap is gone

The price tag at $3500 makes you spit your drink out when you first see it. For this property it was one of the best machine purchases. The capability level was the right choice. There will be a time on the property the brush mower may not be necessary anymore, if the land maintenance is kept up. But it'll be around as long as it is necessary.