It sure is hard finding a used 6 foot bush hog!

[Jim Timber]

I paid more for my SQ60, but the deck is in great shape aside from some impact damage and subsequent repairs. New gearbox is $155 shipped from Surplus Center and you'll be back in action in an hour or less if it goes out (like they seem to do a lot).

These are tools that get beat to snot in normal use for the tasks they're doing. You either go super heavy and pay for that up front, or you spend money keeping the lighter ones going. In the end, it's really an individual case by case deal which is the better approach. You can always buy a better one and sell the light duty one later if needed. Even a rough brush cutter brings in some cash on CL - this thread is proof they have a market.

 

[sjm1580]

I paid more for my SQ60, but the deck is in great shape aside from some impact damage and subsequent repairs. New gearbox is $155 shipped from Surplus Center and you'll be back in action in an hour or less if it goes out (like they seem to do a lot).

These are tools that get beat to snot in normal use for the tasks they're doing. You either go super heavy and pay for that up front, or you spend money keeping the lighter ones going. In the end, it's really an individual case by case deal which is the better approach. You can always buy a better one and sell the light duty one later if needed. Even a rough brush cutter brings in some cash on CL - this thread is proof they have a market.

So would you consider the JD Frontier a light duty ( not like a TSC light duty)?

 

[Jim Timber]

I'm not familiar with who makes what model of theirs. The Bush Hog SQ60 I just got is very much a light duty. The deck is formed and welded 3/16" sheet steel with ribs welded to the top to stiffen it enough to hold itself out of the blades. The gear box was likely rated for 40hp originally, and the new one I put on it is as well. The stump jumper is stamped steel over a solid bar (vs a heavy disk for better inertia). Everything about it is light duty. Ram this into a tree and it's going to bend, the tree will be fine. For mowing my trails - this could be great. For clearing heavy brush, I'll stick with the grapple or my soon to be built tree puller.

If I was going to feed anything a steady diet of live woody browse, I'd get the beefiest one I could afford and hope it's strong enough.

 

[IslandTractor]

What are you cutting? If it's a field, even with tall growth, that Frontier unit would work fine. Plant growth cuts pretty easily...just take your time for that first mowing and keep your bucket low (no more than 5 or 6 inches off the ground). If you're knocking down trees more then a couple inches in diameter, I'd go with the BrushBull.

I agree.

 

[IslandTractor]

So would you consider the JD Frontier a light duty ( not like a TSC light duty)?

I'd call it standard duty. The BrushBull is medium duty. Heavy duty is really only for commercial use and cost about $4000-5000 for a six footer.

 

[coobie]

IMHO,some time you can over think/research what you want buy.Woods,Frontier,Landpride,Befco,Brush hog brands and a few others will get the job done.