Looking at a brush cutter for the mini-ex, Your opinions please

Bigfoot62 · May 3, 2020

SG,
I'm familiar with the Brown Tree Cutter, and I wish that they made a cutter for a mini-ex.

The Blue Diamond has the same blade design, but with a three blade cutter, there's no way to invert every other blade.

Bigfoot62 · May 4, 2020

OK, I got a quote from my dealer today on the Blue Diamond. Almost $11,000. I just can't see paying that much, when I can get the MTL for about $4000. Still waiting to hear back from them, but their eBay listing says that the "seller is away" right now. Don't know if that's the virus, or just on vacation, but I'll be patient for a few days. I really wish that I could find a video online of somebody using the MTL.

Bigfoot62 · May 10, 2020

This thread has been dead for a week.

Nobody here has any experience with these?

I'd really like some input from y'all before I pull the trigger.

Peter 315 · May 10, 2020

Very big price difference why ?

Bigfoot62 · May 10, 2020

Peter 315 said:
Very big price difference why ?

I'm just guessing, but the MTL is sold directly from the manufacturer. No dealership and salesman commission. No big bucks spent on advertising.
The major brands may just be setting their prices by as much as the market can bear.

Right now, I'm waiting for MTL to open back up and answer the phone. (they were closed last week) I'm really leaning toward that one. If I buy it for $4000, I could wear out or tear up 3 of them for basically the price of one Blue Diamond. The BD could very well be a better machine, but I'm pretty sure that it's not 3x better.

Bigfoot62 · May 14, 2020

Tried to reach MTL by phone several times. No luck. Finally got them to respond to a text. They said that they were incredibly busy and had a 300 order backlog, but that I could go ahead and order online. No thanks. I wanted to TALK to somebody there who could answer my questions.

In the meantime, I've been looking really hard at the Vail and they actually have someone to answer the phone, take my name and number, and call me back. I spoke to the sales rep for the southern half of the US, and he was very informative. Told me the story behind the development of their skid steer cutter, then how they extended that experience into making one for the mini-x. He said that the goal was to build a brush cutter that was better than the leading brands, (namely Blue Diamond) at a better price point. The price is about $3500 less than the Blue Diamond, and I can get it through my local dealer. (same dealer where I purchased the mini-x) Really leaning toward the Vail. Probably order it by Monday.

Seven Gables · May 14, 2020

That Vail looks like a well designed and built unit, I like how they have the four gussets across the top and sides of the deck, looks stout. How many gpm flow are they recommending for the 42" model? If you do buy one like to hear a review on it . B

two_bit_score · May 14, 2020

Definitely looking forward to that review and pictures. It looks like a good machine.

Interested in that brush cutter for a CTL too.

Bigfoot62 · May 14, 2020

7Gables and 2 bit,

I promise to do a review. I'll tell y'all all about it. Probably on this same thread.

Yes, I think it seems to be built very heavy duty. I also liked the gusset reinforcements. I think I could use the thumb against it. The sales rep said I could, and it wouldn't hurt it. The way that thing is built, I don't know what could hurt it.
The hydraulic requirement is 20 GPM. I told him that I have 27. He said no problem, my machine would really handle it well. And, he recommends the 48" on a 6 ton mini-x. Only $600 more than the 42". Said that the 42" would work on a 3 ton mini-x.

My cousin talked to his doctor today, and the doc is using a CAT mini-x with a Rut Brush Eliminator. It's cheaper, but compared to the Vail, it looks dinky to me. And, it looks like it will throw a bunch of debris back to the mini-x.