Medium duty 5 ft bush hog?

[paulsharvey]

guess my questions would be ...

1. Why do you want a 2" rated brush hog?
A. Cutting 1" - 2" brush?
Mostly less than 1", but some stuff upto 2" such as braches after cut off trees; live oak saplings. ect
B. Heavier duty so it will last longer while cutting 1" or less?
C. Other?

2. What are you cutting?
A. How often?
B. What tractor will it be hooked to?
How often is really an as needed; it might be as often as a few acres per week for a period of time, eventually becoming less. Basically, cleaning the light stuff under/around trees, over about 8 acres. and eventually being used to keep that stuff down, and then mow pasture/lighter stuff

What tractor, im currently running a Ck2610; still at stock HP, but in next couple years either A-i will turn it up to 35hp; or B-ill get something a bit larger and more HP

3. How quickly do you want to aquire it?
A. How far are you willing to go to get a "deal"?
B. Tractor House has a few used ones, but most are over $2K can you go that high?
Its not a rush, I have casually watched a few auctions, but nothing that I aggressive bid on; just the kinda stuff you throw a "retainer" bid on, incase it goes Cheap. More than willing to waiting for a while. Im also watching the local market. On how far, well, that depends on the deal, but im not driving 8 hours to save $500.

 

[Little Red Tractor]

About 7 years ago, I picked up a used 48" cutter (I think it's a Woods, but I'm out of town and can't go check) for a grand. I put a day of welding and about 20 bucks worth of steel into fixing a bend suspension for for the trailing wheel, but it serves me quite well.

 

[350c]

So, for years and years, ive made due with a Ford 917L 54" flail mower, that I have always kind of hated, or maybe just never liked? Last year, I got a 7 ft APP/chisel, and the guy threw in a rusted pile that is allegedly a 48" New Holland bush hog. So, its been in his swamp for a decade and in my woods for a year, but I "rigged" it up last weekend, and despite having 40% of a deck, only 1 side, a broke 3 point frame, and a structural ratchet straps, oh, and no tail wheel, or frankly back end of the "hog" it runs very smooth, cuts good, and is quite. Which is odd, any ive used in the past vibrated a ton, were very noisy, ect.

So, I dont need/want a "heavy duty", but an actual medium duty, 60 inch, that is also well balanced, smooth, and quite. I think this one might be beyond rebuilding. So, which models would you call medium duty, that are also smooth and well balanced? And if coarse affordable, if not "cheap". New or not, im more asking models, and then I'll figure out the shopping.

If some manufacturer would produce a tow behind, which would eliminate most of the vibration on the tractor itself, medium duty rotary mower in something smaller than 8', I think there would be a good market for them. King Kutter makes a heavier duty mower much like their finish mowers but with a stump jumper, but the local Rural Kind expects full non-refundable payment before they will even order one--in other words, pay sight unseen, kind of like a "pig in a poke". May be a great machine (probably not a match for a Bush Hog brand, but it is on a compact tractor) but not my preferred way of purchasing something so expensive.

 

[Rctex]

When I hooked this up, I really expected to immediately turn it off, and throw it away. Only reason I was/am considering doing any repairs is, it actually cuts well, and is smooth for a bush hog (maybe others ive used through the years where worse than most on vibration?).View attachment 4117185View attachment 4117186View attachment 4117187

Scab here scab there
Presto good as new
Working that good I’d put the metal on
May not look the best but you’ll enjoy using it

 

[EdGooding]

I went through a similar dilemma a number of years back when my old Covington Cutter needed replacing. I could not afford a Woods, which is what I wanted, but settled on a Land Pride 72" rotary cutter. This was when they were painted light yellow - I see they are orange now and don't seem as beefy as mine. I would buy another like mine in a heartbeat.

 

[paulsharvey]

Up above, the question on how far to travel; with anything, my issue isn't traveling to pick up; my issue is, if I drive 4 hours, it's to Buy an item, not to look at, bargin, and find out what was pictured/discussed, isn't really accurate. Even 4 hours, thats an entire day, 8 hours of driving, fuel, snacks, and honestly, my time does have an hourly value.

With that, I would say, I would drive 1 hour per $200 saved; one direction, so 4 hours=$800 saved; 2 hours distance=$400 saved; anything less than that, isn't really worth it.

And with impliments, more so than most thing; its often "old tractor attachement" or maybe "bushhog". If your lucky, "Older 5 ft bushhog". Almost never does someone list a make/model,

 

[dstriplett]

Our RhinoAg T25 cutter is billed as medium duty but it's tough as nails, runs good, and takes a ton of abuse. The deck and sides are a bit thicker than most mowers in it's class.

 

[Lastkidpicked]

I am leaning 75% towards the right used one. Used market was a fair number of nearly new, priced at almost new, and then an other segment of cheap, and really Rough.

You are right about that! Some mowers are from commercial guys who wear them out and then sell them to buy again new. Nothing wrong with that.

Then there's Joe Homeowner, who uses his mower a few times a year and is selling because he is changing the way he does things.

If you have time, it's worth waiting around to find that second seller.