Mid mount or 3PH mower?

[steve tym]

So, I'm looking at a 25 hp, cab tractor for the lawn and light snow removal. Looking for pros and cons of a belly mower vs a 3 ph.
I see the belly mower being more maneuverable but more of a pain to take on and off.
I expect the mower to be on and the loader to be off in the summer, then mower off and loader on in the winter.

 

[jfsawatzky]

You’ll loose clearance with the mmm. Will you need the tractor for any other purpose where clearance is a factor?
There might be other attachments that use the mid pto, like a broom or snow blower but I suspect they are more expensive than 3pt attachments.

 

[steve tym]

I don't expect clearance to be an issue. If available, I'll get the mid pto regardless of the mower. Good point, if the mid pto is not an option, kinda does away with the mmm option.
Bucket in the winter for snow removal close to the garage.
I will keep my TYM 654 for the big stuff.

 

[oldnslo]

If you have lots of obstacles and fence line to mow around the MMM is usually easier to navigate with since no tail swing to deal with. MMM you also are not looking over your shoulder to see where the edge of the mower is.
MMM I believe are less cost the rear finish but are also specific to a given model of tractor

Rear finish typically much easier to remove and install also not brand or model specific. Will work on any tractor with 3ph and PTO.

 

[dodge man]

Some mid mounts go off and easier than others, I’m not sure with TYM.

Rear finish mower. Easier to install and usually cheaper. The bad is when you are mowing along something and turn away, it swings into it. You do learn to adjust for that. You also have to turn around to see it.

Mid Mount. More expensive. Don’t let people tell you a zero turn can be bought for the price of a mid mount. Maybe a cheap zero turn. You can just look down and see what it’s doing. It’s easier to trim around things. The bad is taking it off and on. My JD has an auto connect deck. It’s off and on in 5 minutes. My previous tractor was a Kubota BX. It was work to install and take off with hooking up the PTO being the hardest part.

 

[chim]

Had both. Prefer rear discharge RFM due to easy on/off. Current setup is a 7-1/2' RFM and it will do our 3-1/2 acres (around the trees, buildings and a creek) in around 75 minutes at a comfortable pace. With a little mulch and planning whatever that deck doesn't cut can be done in 10 minutes with a string trimmer.

 

[RjCorazza]

Just my opinion, but belly mowers are generally a pain to deal with compared to a 3 point mower. My first tractor came with a belly mower, and I was happy to get rid of the MMM and swap in a 3 point mower.

 

[ruffdog]

I had a New Holland TC33D with the MMM and loader. The loader was off most of the time except when needed and the mower deck was on all summer. It is WAY easier to mow when you can see the edges of the deck so you can get close to trees and fences. With a rear mount, it swings when you turn and may hit stuff you don't want to. A rear mount you can back under a tree to mow under branches. I was able to till the garden with the MMM installed too. It took me about 15 minutes to install/remove the MMM.

 

[Runner]

I have both and prefer the RFM.

• Easier to remove when not needed
• Easier for maintenance
• Delivers a better looking cut in my opinion (compared to the belly mower that I have)
• Makes a good counterweight
• Can be backed into corners, under bushes, etc., for trimming

That being said, if I was starting over and had the choices available to me now, I wouldn't buy either one. I would buy a ZTR and use the tractor for tractor stuff only. (OK, I DO like the idea of having the RFM in reserve just in case the ZTR is broken and I also have a couple of lawn tractors just in case everything else is down....).

 

[bdhsfz6]

I think the best mower depends on the area you mow and the other uses you have for the tractor.

In my case, I mow some former pasture with obstacles like rocks & stumps. You can simply lift a 3pt mower and drive over them while cutting at a higher level. With a MMM, you need to drive around leaving grass uncut that's growing close to, or between obstacles.

IMO, you can't beat the ease of hooking up a 3pt mower over a MMM.
If you have a well groomed lawn and can dedicate a tractor for mowing, a MMM is fine.