Money No Object?

[arnoldziffel]

I'm searching for the best built 5' Rotary Cutter model available here in North America. I want old fashion, simple, high quality construction. Built to a HIGH standard not to a low price.

What do you suggest? If you think there is more than one brand worthy of consideration please share.

I'm a buyer that has been frustrated too often with equipment that just isn't built with durability and quality anymore. I'm willing to pay what it costs for a GREAT 5' cutter.

Thanks.

 

[ericher69]

Bush hog
Woods

 

[TomSeller]

Woods

 

[Sysop]

Go stainless. I know KingKutter makes one in 5' for a couple grand. Domed top, flex hitch, pretty nice unit. (Brother in law has one)

 

[jeff9366]

Made in USA Bush Hog, Woods, Land Pride and King Kutter/Professional are the premium brands.

Do not buy a unit so heavy that it moves around your tractor on slopes. Do not buy a unit so heavy that your PTO cannot spin cutting blade to designed RPM.

 

[arnoldziffel]

One Question about Bush Hog:

The other day I went to a very reputable, local small town Bush Hog dealer. He showed me the Bush Hog RD5 model. The dealership owner swears that ALL Bush Hog models will give me the same durability and performance. If so, why does the Bush Hog company offer more than one model of 5 footer? My neighbor recently bought from the same dealer a new Bush Hog 5' Squealer model.

When you folks are suggesting Bush Hog, are you saying ANY model Bush Hog or just the Squealer or an even heavier model? (By the way, the RD5 only has a 1 year gearbox warranty not 5 years like the Squealer.)

I have not gone to see Woods yet, will do so Monday. Within the Woods brand is there a 5' model or series that will meet my High Quality need? I read about the King Kutter stainless model, very interesting but only 12 gauge steel. A concern?

Sincere thanks for your continued help. I've got to get this purchase right.

Thanks.

 

[jeff9366]

Woods, Land Pride, King Kutter and Bush Hog all have web sites. I would do some research on the manufactures web sites before visiting dealers.

You can also use the limited SEARCH function here on T-B-N to find answers to many of your questions.

Hey, with plenty of money for this purchase it will be easy to get a premium 'hog.

You should post details of your tractor: model, weight, horsepower and tire width.

You should post details of your land and what you intend to chop with the implement.

Have you had direct experience using a Rotary Cutter? One of the more potentially dangerous implements.

ONE HUNDRED EXISTING T-B-N THREADS:

https://www.google.com/#q=Rotary+Cutter+Brands+site:tractorbynet.com

https://www.google.com/#q=bush+hog+Brands+site:tractorbynet.com

 

[aczlan]

When you folks are suggesting Bush Hog, are you saying ANY model Bush Hog or just the Squealer or an even heavier model? (By the way, the RD5 only has a 1 year gearbox warranty not 5 years like the Squealer.)
I have not gone to see Woods yet, will do so Monday. Within the Woods brand is there a 5' model or series that will meet my High Quality need? I read about the King Kutter stainless model, very interesting but only 12 gauge steel. A concern?

Go by weight. Within a particular brand and size, the heavier cutter will be the heavier duty one. Just be aware of how much your tractor can safely lift as there is such a thing as a cutter that is too heavy.

Aaron Z

 

[Buppies]

I would also be concerned about how it performs cuts shreds etc. the most heavily constructed may not cut worth a durn. Personally like land pride for its clean cut

 

[jeff9366]

From your archived posts it seems you have not decided on a tractor, are uncertain what price you want to pay for a Rotary Cutter and live in Canada.

You have to decide on a tractor FIRST; then select implements which are appropriate to the tractor and your conditions.

 

[TripleR]

I doubt you will get any consensus as most of us have not owned them all, some not even owned very many. I have only owned Land Pride, Woods, King Kutter and LMC; used a Bush Hog years ago.

Land Pride makes a heavy duty one, RCF3660 which cuts 4" stuff, Woods makes a similar model of equal, in my opinion, quality as I imagine so does Bush Hog. As mentioned each manufacturer makes a variety of model from light duty on up.

Shulte may well be the toughest, but I couldn't find anything under six feet, Shulte makes commercial units.

Farmwithjunk runs a commercial mowing company, but has been in poor health no longer posting, but you might look at some of his older posts. Builder also did commercial mowing but no longer posts; don't know of any current members who do so.

 

[jeff9366]

I want old fashion, simple, high quality construction.

A Rotary Cutter is about the simplest PTO powered implement.

Some have one tail wheel, some two.

Some have a shear bolt, some have a slip clutch, some have no overload protection.

After those considerations almost everything involves WEIGHT.

You pay for weight.

Your tractor has to be stable with the weight; the potential to roll an unstable tractor is there.

 

[arnoldziffel]

We have two tractors: A New Holland TC 40 and a Kioti ck30. My father-in-law has a Massey 135.

Mr. Jeff are you suggesting the brand and model of my tractors has some connection to the quality of different brands of rotary cutters? Does my New Holland make a Bush Hog better than a Woods? I'm not sure I follow. I know I want a 5 footer only. I know I want great quality and I'm prepared to pay the price. I'll be cutting a 10 acre pasture. I don't care if a particular cutter is overkill. From my extensive reading on T-B-N it appears that even within highly regarded brands some cutters have cut corners and are built to a price. That certainly seems to be the case with the Bush Hog RD5 model.
Not all Bush Hogs are equal in terms of durability.

 

[nybirdman]

My only experience is with a Bush-Hog Squealer,purchased in 2004 new.Probably has about 700+ hours on it .Used on my L3130 to start and now my L4240 Kubota's .It is beat up and looks rough but still works fine and has never broken.I have only sheared two shear pins(no slip clutch).I keep waiting for it to break so I can purchase a seven footer.

 

[Gary Fowler]

Most folks don't recommend HOWSE brand as they think CHEAP but really is it a great American made mower. They have cheap if you want, but they also have heavy duty with 1/4" plate decks and 120 HP gear boxes. I owned a light duty one with light gauge plate deck and put that thing thru H3ll and it never showed a fault other than dented side plates from all the rocks I hit. I mowed over anything that my 50 HP tractor could push over with the FEL and stalled the engine many times on the tractor but never had any issue, not even a shear bolt on this mower.

 

[Buppies]

Each and every one of us will have a different view of what is good or bad either from personnel experience or what we have heard. It is up to the individual to decide which product will serve their needs best. These people are some of the best in sharing their knowledge

 

[arnoldziffel]

You make a good point. Back in the day a neighbor drove a Yugo automobile (remember those?). He had it 10 years and it was almost trouble free for over 125,000 miles. His experience was very different from what others seemed to think and discuss at the time.

I'm probably over thinking the durability and quality questions on rotary cutters. All gear boxes are probably durable and all steel is pretty much the same I guess.

 

[Fallon]

We have two tractors: A New Holland TC 40 and a Kioti ck30. My father-in-law has a Massey 135.

Mr. Jeff are you suggesting the brand and model of my tractors has some connection to the quality of different brands of rotary cutters? Does my New Holland make a Bush Hog better than a Woods? I'm not sure I follow. I know I want a 5 footer only. I know I want great quality and I'm prepared to pay the price. I'll be cutting a 10 acre pasture. I don't care if a particular cutter is overkill. From my extensive reading on T-B-N it appears that even within highly regarded brands some cutters have cut corners and are built to a price. That certainly seems to be the case with the Bush Hog RD5 model.
Not all Bush Hogs are equal in terms of durability.

The PTO hp & weight of your tractors are the most important considerations when picking an impediment. Followed by what you actually want to do with the compliment.

The strongest compliment around is useless if your tractor can't pull or spin it properly.

 

[arnoldziffel]

I think our 3 tractors can spin a 5 footer OK.

I think from reading T-B-N that some brands have a higher failure rate than others. Even brand names that are casually suggested as good brands have some models that I guess rely on the historic reputation of the brand but in fact these models are not the same quality.

Thanks for the comments.

I just came back from looking at a 5 foot Woods Brushbull and a 5 foot Walco Whistler. Both seem to be heavy duty and well engineered. I think they are the finalists. We'll know tomorrow.

Thanks again.

 

[brin]

One Question about Bush Hog:

The other day I went to a very reputable, local small town Bush Hog dealer. He showed me the Bush Hog RD5 model. The dealership owner swears that ALL Bush Hog models will give me the same durability and performance. If so, why does the Bush Hog company offer more than one model of 5 footer? My neighbor recently bought from the same dealer a new Bush Hog 5' Squealer model.

When you folks are suggesting Bush Hog, are you saying ANY model Bush Hog or just the Squealer or an even heavier model? (By the way, the RD5 only has a 1 year gearbox warranty not 5 years like the Squealer.)

I have not gone to see Woods yet, will do so Monday. Within the Woods brand is there a 5' model or series that will meet my High Quality need? I read about the King Kutter stainless model, very interesting but only 12 gauge steel. A concern?

Sincere thanks for your continued help. I've got to get this purchase right.

Thanks.

I have had a Bush hog brand Squealer model for 10 yrs. now...have really used it hard...no problems ...gearbox is fine..great cutter.