Looking for a new brush hog for new tractor

[JDeerekid]

Hi,

I am looking for a new brush hog for my new Montana 4340C and would like some opinions of what people are using, likes and dislikes, and cost.
The tractor is 43hp sync reverser.

I figure I will go with a 6ft min. Can I go bigger?
I have looked and priced at my local dealers.
- John Deere MX6 w/chain guards $2800 w/tax
- John Deere MX7 w/chain guards $3900 w/tax
- Kodiak 6ft w/chain guards $1700 w/tax
- Woods 6ft w/chain guards $3300 w/tax
- Bush hog 6ft w/chain guards $1900 w/tax

All include slip clutch which was highly recommended by all dealers.

So what does everyone think? What should I go with? money is somewhat an issue, but want something that with hold up over the long haul.

Oh, and I will be mostly cutting grass which will be max. 5ft tall. And some light brush no more than 2in. thick.

Thankyou in advance for your help and opinions.

 

[bx24]

Before you take the plunge ... take a look at eBay. I have gotten some great deals on things within an hour or two drive

Good luck

 

[Dallas_Lilly]

I run a six foot on my 3040 cutting "grass" and not much brush at all. When I do get into what we call rabit brush around here I just gear down and take it slow. I would think you could go larger than a 6 foot. I have heard on this board befoe that 5 PTO HP for each foot of cutter.

One more thing, I run at about 7,000 feet elevation which plays a part

 

[LoneCowboy]

6' 'er, buy the Bush Hog brand bushhog.

you could probably pull a 7', but 7'ers are a pain, they are just huge and they scalp easily.

a 6' matches the track of your tractor also.

a slip clutch rocks, so do chain guards.

 

[MrJimi]

Looking at the Bush Hog price, you could upgrade to the next one up and have heavier duty unit

 

[smitty9266]

I have a TC40 40 hp New Holland. I own a 2 bushhog's a squealer 720 and a 5 foot 296. The 720 works fine where the grass is kept below 2 foot tall. The 296 works best if you mow tall stuff down above 2 foot tall. The difference Comes from the deck side skirt height.

The 720 has much shorter skirts than the 296. When mowing tall "grass" with the 720 you will get to much vegetation under the deck and leave windrows of long cut grass. It is cut it just looks bad. In short grass the 720 cuts like a finish mower.

The 296 if you are cutting short grass it gets above the blades and does not mulch it and it comes out as long cut grass, and it just looks bad. The 296 excels unbelievably above the 720 in tall and brushy stuff.

Sooooo..... if you cut and maintain short the cheaper low skirt models work great. With that in mind if you are going to cut and not cut again until it grows tall the tall skirted and heavier duty models work best.

If you are going to cut down the 5 foot "grass" now and keep it low get a 720 put on your radio ear muffs, cut slow in two passes down to 2 foot then wait 2 weeks for the cut grass to dry, and then when you mow it down to finish height it will be a nice clean cut field.

Jeff

 

[chh]

I've had good luck both the Bush hog brand and Rhino brand cutters. I am more partial to the Rhino cutter myself. I don't know the current model pricing.

 

[rdbrumfield]

I run a 6ft bush hog on a 50hp JD. I do some very heavy mowing at times. Grass is the toughest, especially when it is over 6ft. Not much fiber in brush and that is easy going.
When you bring home your new mower, I would highly recommend that you take some plate and reinforce the top deck from underneath, and plate both sides full length.
Use blades that are tipped up in the trailing edge so that when you hit a rock or other hard objects that it doesn't deflect the leading edge into the top of the deck. I promise you that it will raise some big warts in the tin and in some cases cut the deck open like a tin can.

 

[JDeerekid]

Thanks for all your replies. I have narrowed it down to a 6ft cut. Brand unkown yet.
One more question. I didn't realize that there are 2 different stump jumpers, oval and round. Which one is best and why? Or is one better for brush and one better for grass.

Most of the grass that I will be mowing will only be a foot or two tall each cutting. Only one neighbor that I mow around 6 acres for will be mowed twice a year about 4 - 6ft tall. Harder on the tractor but I get more money for it.

 

[rdbrumfield]

Personally, I like the round one. If you happen to be going slow you can imagine the thing trying to bounce up and down as the eccentric forward edge engages the object as it turns. At least with the round one, once it is on top, it stays until you are past it. Besides the shocking load on the drive train for the oval.