JD 3720 Tractor, mid mount mower or 3 Pt Finish Mower?

[GreenTime]

I currently have a JD 3720 (cab with R4's) mostly dedicated to a front mount snowblower. This summer I would like to set it up for mowing about 5 acres of a grass commercial lot (no trees and not lawn quality grass). Would most of you guys recommend a Deere midmount mower (I found a like new 72D for $2000) or look for a 3 point finish mower. What are your likes and dislikes of each style?

Two other related questions: The 72D mower comes with brackets off a JD 3046R. Will these brackets fit my JD 3720?
Does much of my front hitch for the snowblower have to come off to install the midmount mower?

Thanks to all in advance!

 

[Diggin It]

I don't believe I would want a belly mower on a machine that size. I think an RFM would be much more versatile.

 

[duffer]

I can only speak to the finish mower. With your horsepower, you should be able to handle an 84"-96" mower. I have 38 hp and handle an 84" without any problems at all. Wish I bought a 96". And for 5 acres, you'll appreciate the extra width. I think I paid $23-2400 for my 84".

When you say you don't have "lawn quality grass", do you mean its mostly brush, or is it more like pasture grass? If it's brush and tall weeds, I'd consider a brush hog instead of a finish mower. If it's pasture, that's relatively smooth (no major ruts, or potholes, or ripples) then a finish mower will work. Just be sure you get anti-scalp wheels on it, or add 1-2 on the front of the deck. (assuming a rear discharge)

I've heard mixed reviews on mid mounts. But others that own them will be a better source of info than I.

Good luck!

 

[GreenTime]

The commercial lot is not brush or tall weeds, it more like hay grass. I do have a 90" Woods RDX 3pt finish mower on my Kubota L5740 at a different location. It cuts fine but that back end does swing around fast when I get close to obstacles and I need to mow around some parked campers and vehicles on the 5 acre commercial lot.

 

[Deere Dude]

Don't think I would mow close to campers and cars with a RFM. They like the open. I never slammed any trees or fences with my 84 RMD on a 3720 but it takes a knack/

 

[Zebrafive]

I would go a large rear mount finish mower. If you are required to mow around the campers/trailers, I would use something else, or sub that work to kid with a push mower.

 

[dieselram]

I'd do the mid-more control, probably better cut and not having to turn around the whole time. My mid on my 3120 mows extremely well.

 

[ICGREEN]

Having had both I'd go with the RFM for wide open spaces and the mid mount if you need real control. I have a 72" quick connect for my 3520. The only thing I don't like about it is it doesn't raise more than 3" off the ground. I put it on to mow and remove it immediately after. Really in the way for all other tractor uses.

 

[forestcreature1]

A couple of thoughts..
1) brackets may or may not fit - I have a 3046r cab and something that the dealer was installing didn't fit due to the 3046r cab was a wee bit longer than the older 37xx style [the change was when they went from black frame to green frame].
OK - I remember now - I wanted to buy the front mounted snow blower and COULDN'T because Deere hadn't released a new front PTO mounting plate - the new 'green frame' was 1/4" longer and the PTO would not fit.
(I still don't have a snow blower like I did on the 4100, but on the other paw - it has only really snowed here twice in 25 years....)

2) Changing tractors - you can easily run a rear mount mower on different machines - mid mounts are locked into the model of tractor they were designed for (and sometimes, even the model year)
I had a mid mount on a 4100, worked great - then moved to a 30302e, then to a 3046 cab & I also have a MF2605H [which is not a compact].

3) Resale - You can find lots of rear mounted mowers to sell/trade in case you want to swap deck sizes, it isn't as common/easy to do that with MMM [mod mount mower]. That's just a matter of market size, everyone can use a rear.

4) Rental - same thought

5) Control - I have never had any issues with the control, but I am also not following any weird landscape designer curved lawn patterns. If you are mowing around things, I suggest a rear discharge so you don't have to worry about a piece of sheet metal [chute] smacking into things. <-- I still have the side discharge chute from the MMM from when it snagged it on something. Mowing around trees is a ZERO issue, I have 13 trees in my front yard btw. I like being able to back in under the white pines. For those with front mounted zero turns, you can reach in much farther with a rear mount.

6) People asking to borrow - you probably will never have anyone ask to borrow just your MMM since there is a lot of tractor mods needed. {I forgot to read/ask - do you have the mid point PTO on your machine? It was an option on the 3046r/cab, which I did get}

 

[dodge man]

As you are aware, when mowing near stuff a rear mount mower swings into as you turn away. Also not a huge consideration but just the front tires mash the grass down before cutting with a mid mount where a rear mower has both the front and the rears pushing the grass down. That's one of the big advantages of the front mount mowers on a zero turn, the deck kind of hangs out there and cuts the grass before the tires hit it.

In my book the big advantage of a rear mower for you is the bigger size.