Comparison Midmount or rear finishing mower?

[Landlover22]

I have owned L3540 for almost two years now and I am thinking about get a finishing mower deck. For the last two years I have been using the tractor for mostly landscaping work and snow removal (Wisconsin winters) at our new house (driveway 1,000'+) that we have had for the same amount of time. Now with a lot of the landscaping done I now have grass to cut. I got my tractor with the midmount PTO option, but now I am undecided on midmount or 3 point hitch finishing mower. I understand the big disadvantage of the midmount is putting it on and taking it off, where it takes less time with one on the three point hitch. The biggest thing I have with a rear finishing mower is how it will affect my turning radius when mowing. I am going to have some big straightaway痴 to mow, but my concern is around other obstacles. I know with this big of a deck I am going to have some trimming to do, but I want to limit this trimming as much as possible.

 

[chim]

It's a shame you can't try one of each for several mowings before you decide. Each has it followers. I recently bought my 4th tractor. The first had a MMM and the next three were all RFM. With a little creative mulching around trees and such there's little trimming to do. Some people prefer MMM's.

 

[PHILIP8N]

I bought a L3940 specifically instead of the L4240 because you can only mount a mmm to the L3940 and smaller tractors. I had high hopes of someday getting a mmm due to all the great benefits it offers, mainly trimming around trees. The disadvantage to the mmm is trimming in corners, ground clearance when on, and difficulty to remove, has made me keep my rfm. Areas that I cannot mow with my rfm now get sprayed. I like the rfm, easy to put on and take off. I too have long straight areas to mow. If I really need to trim, I just get out the sprayer, riding mower, push mower, or weed eater, which is not very often. Philip.

 

[oldnslo]

Biggest advantage of RFM Vs MMM is that the RFM can be used with any tractor that has 3PH and rear PTO. MMM fit only a select model or two. My concern with RFM is turning around obstacles like trees, fence rows, buildings, etc. The RFM is going to swing like a bush hog or any other 3PH hitch mounted equipment. For me and my yard this would be a real problem. Open areas I believe a RFM will do the same job as a MMM mower and seem to have similar costs.

Any friends or neighbors have one you could try or possibly the dealer?

Roy

 

[Ed of all trades]

I can put on or remove my MMM in 5min if I work at it. The key is develop a system and follow it.

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

I really liked the RF mowers on tractors and they cost about half what a MMM costs. Easier to service and detach and reattach.

 

[Ace3]

If cost is not an issue you might want to look at a flail mower. They don't extend back as far as most finish mowers, give a nice cut and on some you can offset them to get close to fences etc.

 

[94BULLITT]

A few things to consider are the rear finish mower will make you longer but will work on any tractor and the mmm is tractor specific. You can do pretty good a getting close to thing with a rfm with a little of experience. You could buy a quick hitch and a rear finish mower and have the thing off really fast but I doubt a mmm would be that bad to take off. A lot depends on your yard and if you can get around with a rfm. The big thing to me is a rfm is universal, if you decide to get another tractor you will be able to use it on there. Like Ace3 said you may want to consider a flail mower. I have never used one but a lot of guys one here seem to like them. I think alot of guys are gettin theirs at agrisupply.

 

[WilliamBos]

I really liked the RF mowers on tractors and they cost about half what a MMM costs. Easier to service and detach and reattach.

I agree on both points. RFM is the way to go.

 

[Jeff F.]

I have a lawn and not a yard. I prefer a MMM with my hills and numerous trees. I have at times, cut twice as the front tires mashed the grass down and it was not cut to my requirements. I would think that would be more of a problem with all four tires running the grass down before it gets to the blades. I think it all depends on how particular you are about your grass cutting and finding what works for you.