finish mower
- Thread starter curtis
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bmac
Veteran Member
Welcome to TBN, Curtis. This is a great site to find answers to all of your tractor related questions. The debate between rear finish mowers and mid-mount mowers is a common occurance here. So common, in fact, that if you do a search for rear finish mower (RFM) or mid-mount mower (MMM) you will find more information and opinions than you will probably want to read. I'll summarize my understanding:
MMM
Pros - Good manuverability if you have obstacles on your property (like trees), don't have to continuously look behind to check on your mowing.
Cons - More difficult than RFM to mount and remove, more expensive.
RFM
Pros - Easy on and easy off, cheaper than MMM. Good for wide-opn spaces.
Cons - Difficult to negotiate around tress, fences, etc. Constantly twisting your neck to check behind you.
Costs - Expect $500-1000 difference for similarly sized mowers. I've been given a price of about $2400 for a MMM. RFM's maybe $1500 - $1700. Not sure but I seem to recall figures in this range. I'm sure you can find examples of each that are more and less than than the figures I mentioned, thus narrowing or widening the cost difference between the two.
Good luck.
MMM
Pros - Good manuverability if you have obstacles on your property (like trees), don't have to continuously look behind to check on your mowing.
Cons - More difficult than RFM to mount and remove, more expensive.
RFM
Pros - Easy on and easy off, cheaper than MMM. Good for wide-opn spaces.
Cons - Difficult to negotiate around tress, fences, etc. Constantly twisting your neck to check behind you.
Costs - Expect $500-1000 difference for similarly sized mowers. I've been given a price of about $2400 for a MMM. RFM's maybe $1500 - $1700. Not sure but I seem to recall figures in this range. I'm sure you can find examples of each that are more and less than than the figures I mentioned, thus narrowing or widening the cost difference between the two.
Good luck.
tdenny
Platinum Member
BMAC,
Good information on your post. 1 other point though.
While the MMM is infinitely more maneuverable this may not be the case when mowing around some trees. If your trees have any lower branches it is much easier to back in with the RFM and get those areas.
Good information on your post. 1 other point though.
While the MMM is infinitely more maneuverable this may not be the case when mowing around some trees. If your trees have any lower branches it is much easier to back in with the RFM and get those areas.
bmac
Veteran Member
Good point on the low-hanging branches.
thcri
Elite Member
if you guys have to back a RFM under the tree branches to get the grass underneath I guess I would just get myself a push mower and do it that. To me backing under the branches would take a awful amount of time.
Just my opinion.
murph
Just my opinion.
murph
Nik
Gold Member
I would prefer the belly mower unless you have fairly wide open space without trees. I have a Kubota B2410 with 60" Landpride RDM and regret not getting the belly mower. The landpride does leave a nice cut by I would rather not have to keep looking backwards when near obstacles or turning. The landpride cost about $1800 and a 60" belly mower would have cost about $2200. Taking off a belly mower is not that difficult and becomes easier after a few times. You can build a dolly to help slide it under the tractor and even use a farm jack to lift the front of the tractor to help slide the mower under the tractor. My father has a TC33 with belly mower and this is how we get his mower on his tractor (no FEL). I enjoy using his rig with the belly mower as opposed to my RDM. I agree with Chris about having a small handmower to get around the trees and avoid fewer passes with the tractor. If you have any trees or obstacles you will appreciate the bellymower more.