Help with chosing rotary mower size

[tiogajoe]

Anyone have any thoughts on the kodiak mowers? They seem like the most bang for your buck in my neck of the woods? Going to look at the used rc2060 tomorrow.

 

[rustyshakelford]

If the frontier cutter is in good shape I'd go with it. With it being used might be able to negotiate them down a little more.

Brett

 

[LD1]

The RC2060 is a lighter duty cutter. 11ga deck, 11ga skirt, 60hp gearbox, 1" max cutting, 590lbs

Seems you can buy a new kodiak medium duty cutter with 90HP gearbox, rated for 2", 615lbs, and 5year gearbox warranty for only few bucks more.

Not saying the use cutter isnt a good cutter. Just too much money IMO.

Not sure about your area, but in my neck of the woods, there is no shortage of used 5' cutters on craigslist. Varying in condition, and anywhere from $100 - $500. Some of them pretty nice too.

 

[Xfaxman]

I'd opt for the larger 60" cutter. Your tractor is physically big enough to handle it just fine.

No matter what you buy, it will be slower going the first time, but once under control, 5' will likely be faster. Cause once maintained, with a 4' cutter, you will likely be slowing down because of rough terrain or because you are overrunning the cutter and not cause of lack of power. Thus a 5' would be better.

And given your 51" width, a 5' cutter will allow you to actually mow along edges, fencerows, and next to trees.

Alot of people think that if you cannot maintain 5MPH that the cutter is too big. I dont buy into that theory. As long as the cutter isnt too heavy for the machine, go as big as you can. I'd rather run a 8' cutter at 2.5MPH than a 4' cutter at 5MPH. Even though time to cut an acre is the same, going slower makes for a smoother ride. I run a 6' heavy cutter on my 29HP PTO and wish I had an 8'. I have never cut anything that required me to slow down below 3rd gear, and only in the thickest of thick, do I use 3rd gear. But there are a ton of times I have to slow down just cause the rough terrain. If they werent so heavy and unable to trailer without a permit, I'd be looking for a 10' cutter.

Here is a 10' cutter that can be hauled without a permit.

2810 Flex-Wing Rotary Cutter

 

[LD1]

I dont have remote hydraulics. And I dont think I have the heft to tow a pull behind in some of the areas I mow. I need weight from the cutter on the tractor. Not to mention I dont know how I would be able to load that on the trailer.

 

[JRobyn]

The old rule is 5 PTO HP per foot width of a bushhog, so you will be over this with only 20 HP on a 5 ft. I'm not suggesting to not go 5 ft, just that you may have to go slow or take smaller bites like suggested above when you have heavy cutting to do. What weight bushhog is your 3-pt capable of comfortably lifting? If you do opt for a 5 ft, would probably be best to stick with a light or medium-duty for weight considerations.

- Jay

 

[tiogajoe]

The old rule is 5 PTO HP per foot width of a bushhog, so you will be over this with only 20 HP on a 5 ft. I'm not suggesting to not go 5 ft, just that you may have to go slow or take smaller bites like suggested above when you have heavy cutting to do. What weight bushhog is your 3-pt capable of comfortably lifting? If you do opt for a 5 ft, would probably be best to stick with a light or medium-duty for weight considerations.

- Jay

My 3pt hitch is rated at 1230lbs most of the mowers Im looking at are between 500 to 600 lbs. The frontier seems to be in very
nice condition for $1000. Ive seem alot of junk in my searching. Problem is I would have to move the Frontier over 200miles to our property in N.central Pa. Then there is no warranty on a used piece of equipment. I can get a new kodiak SD5 with a slip clutch delivered right to my house for $1272 and have the warranty. The 4 model would be $100 less. It seem no matter what Im going to spend at least a $1000 to get a decent used mower. Most of the used ones Ived looked at are pretty banged up. Again this makes the price of a new kodiak very attractive...heck a 5ft mower at TSC is $999?

 

[rustyshakelford]

After seeng the specs for the kodak, I'd go with the 5'

Brett

 

[MESSMAKER]

I have the same power tractor. Get a five foot. It will be fine 95% of the time and it is almost a perfect match for your wheelbase.

 

[flusher]

I'd opt for the larger 60" cutter. Your tractor is physically big enough to handle it just fine.

No matter what you buy, it will be slower going the first time, but once under control, 5' will likely be faster. Cause once maintained, with a 4' cutter, you will likely be slowing down because of rough terrain or because you are overrunning the cutter and not cause of lack of power. Thus a 5' would be better.

And given your 51" width, a 5' cutter will allow you to actually mow along edges, fencerows, and next to trees.

Alot of people think that if you cannot maintain 5MPH that the cutter is too big. I dont buy into that theory. As long as the cutter isnt too heavy for the machine, go as big as you can. I'd rather run a 8' cutter at 2.5MPH than a 4' cutter at 5MPH. Even though time to cut an acre is the same, going slower makes for a smoother ride. I run a 6' heavy cutter on my 29HP PTO and wish I had an 8'. I have never cut anything that required me to slow down below 3rd gear, and only in the thickest of thick, do I use 3rd gear. But there are a ton of times I have to slow down just cause the rough terrain. If they werent so heavy and unable to trailer without a permit, I'd be looking for a 10' cutter.

Once you finish cutting brush with your brush hog, you can grind a sharper edge on the blades, similar to the edges you use on a riding mower, to get a good looking cut that approximates what you'll get with a finish mower. I did this all the time with my 6-ft hog. Just tilt the mower forward, set the height low, and go.