Money No Object?

[jd870]

Landpride and Rhino both make very good cutters.

 

[bilrus61]

Rhino/Schulte/Bushhog are all owned by the same company. Had a bad experiance with Rhino TW96 years ago. Got a new Landpride 3596 two months ago and and testify that it will easily cut 3 inch stuff. I liked it so much that my mom has recently got a Landpride 1860 for her little B3030 Kubota. We've not used it yet but seem like a very well built mower that won't overload her little tractor. I would avoid the John Deere MX series. I traded my MX 6 off but it did a great job and mowed some rough stuff. Just everytime it hit something I would squirm in fear of the output shaft breaking. Took the "fun" out of bushogging. And bushhogging needs to be as fun as you can make it considering the heat/noise/hornets/long blackberry briars/wasps/weed fuzz/fuel prices.

 

[Arc weld]

Someone asked a while ago but what do you want to cut? It's hard to give a recommendation on anything without knowing what you want to do. Do you need to chop brush or just cut grass? Heavier isn't always better.

 

[TomSeller]

Someone asked a while ago but what do you want to cut? It's hard to give a recommendation on anything without knowing what you want to do. Do you need to chop brush or just cut grass? Heavier isn't always better.

Right. I use a standard duty to trim pastures and overgrown grass, no need for a lot of weight to do grass and weeds. An occasion light bush, no problem. I have a heavier cutter, but don't have it on nearly as much. The lighter one makes for easier maneuvering and control.

 

[whistlepig]

Landpride.

 

[mikehaugen]

I have heard on here that Brown are very heavy duty cutters, but pricey. I checked the website and they do seem quite heavy. Not sure if they make a five footer.

 

[arnoldziffel]

I'm mowing pasture that has been cut twice a year by my neighbor.

What I'm cutting is not my highest priority first. I only want to look at DURABLE units. It may strike you as overkill but to me it is peace of mind. I want what I want.

I Want a GEARBOX that with care/maintenance will last 20, 30, 40 years. (No JD MX series mowers. No Bush Hog RD mowers. No $999 specials of any brand)

I want a 5 foot deck that has THICK, (heavy gauge) high quality steel with excellent bracing. Something beefier than 10 gauge please.

I will not buy a mower that is built to a low price with cheap/inferior materials and workmanship. I want something that has current safety features but is built to the quality that you could buy back in the 1950's and 1960's. I want my grandkids to still find my cutter worth keeping and using 30 years from now. I won't buy a "throw-away" cutter.

Thanks very much for your suggestions. As mentioned earlier, based upon what folks here have shared, I'm focusing on Woods. I'm also quite interested in the (Canada built) Walco Whistler. I've never heard of Walco before but the thing may be built as well as a tank. VERY beefy and priced a step below Woods.

I haven't been able to locate a stocking Land Pride dealer yet. Some of you have emphasized the quality of their cut. A great looking cut is not necessary but would be an added bonus.

Any more ideas or suggestions?

Thanks again.

 

[Buty]

I would like to add Dale Phillips to the brands. These things are made like tanks.

 

[Sysop]

I personally think the best of the best has been mentioned, it's just time to make a choice. I think with proper care, maintenance, and not using the machine outside it's designed specs, any of the units that have been mentioned can last a lifetime. Generally with the heaviest duty cutters, they are rated to take no damage doing things that are pretty danged frightening to do (accidently hit a big hiding rock that jumps out and it sends a 50# chunk flying 30 feet). Using them within their specs is easy. Most people's "brush hogging" tasks are completed fine with a standard duty, it is the things we don't see that tears them up. Purchasing a heavy duty is generally simply pseudo-insurance against those unforeseen things we hit. Unless you're using it for what it's spec'd for (mowing down some new growth forest full of 2-4 inch trees) all the time, it's not going to wear out soon with general use.

As far as your kids wanting to use it in 30 years, do you mean seriously or out of nostalgia? You don't think they'll have an iphone app that instantly does all forms of manual labor in a flash like a magician waiving a wand by then?

If ya don't mind, let us know what you pick. Pics of new toys are always awesome!

 

[bmurphy777]

Not sure where you are located in Canada but Anderson's in Belleville carries Landpride if you wanted to go and look one of their's over to compare to the Walco and Woods.

 

[arnoldziffel]

Well,

Decisions were made this morning, dollars exchanged and TWO rotary cutters have found homes!

I bought the Woods BB600 and my brother bought the Walco Whistler.

Thanks for all of your help.

 

[mikehaugen]

Enjoy...

The woods was a good choice. I know nothing about walco, but since it was recommended here I am sure it will be good. Now you can have a side by side comparison of performance.

 

[TripleR]

Congratulations, the Woods is a really nice cutter.

 

[TomSeller]

Walcott is new to me as well. I had not heard of them prior. Woods is actually an indirect customer of mine on my day job, so always nice to see the product move.

 

[Scooby074]

Nothing wrong with woods.

Walco has been around for a while. Ive looked at them before and wasnt overly impressed. IIRC they have a chinese gearbox and I thought the whole unit was made overseas? As I understand it they are not a manufacturer, just an importer.

Too late now, but you were wanting "the best" and "heavy well built unit". You overlooked probably the heaviest built manufacturer out there, Brown (7ga 3/16 steel vs 10ga on the Woods / 130hp gearbox vs 120hp on the W, ). Brown 415 Rotary Cutter with 5' / 60" Cut | 130 HP Gear Box | Single Tail Wheel | Brown Manufacturing | 800-633-8909

They even make a tree cutter in 60" but it requires 50hp minimum TCO-2505C Open Deck 2000 Series Tree Cutter | 60" Cut with 145 HP Gear Box | Standard Model @ 540 RPM | Brown Manufacturing | 800-633-8909

 

[Slickheadhunter]

Anyone have any experience with the Fred Cain agri cutter?

 

[Scooby074]

Anyone have any experience with the Fred Cain agri cutter?

Just looking at the specs, they seem pretty light duty, 11ga construction and 45hp gearbox. http://www.everythingattachments.co...tary-Cutter-w-Slip-Clutch-p/fc-sc-rot-cut.htm

 

[Slickheadhunter]

11 gauge is something like .119 or just under 1/8 inch. How much heavier is a heavy duty?

 

[TomSeller]

Too late now, but you were wanting "the best" and "heavy well built unit". You overlooked probably the heaviest built manufacturer out there, Brown (7ga 3/16 steel vs 10ga on the Woods / 130hp gearbox vs 120hp on the W, ). Brown 415 Rotary Cutter with 5' / 60" Cut | 130 HP Gear Box | Single Tail Wheel | Brown Manufacturing | 800-633-8909

They even make a tree cutter in 60" but it requires 50hp minimum TCO-2505C Open Deck 2000 Series Tree Cutter | 60" Cut with 145 HP Gear Box | Standard Model @ 540 RPM | Brown Manufacturing | 800-633-8909

holy cow! Who needs a stump grinder when you can have a Brown. Impressive.

 

[Gregster613]

I've got the Woods BB60. It's a good choice I believe. I've had zero problems with mine so far, although I mainly cut pasture grass and small brush. However, I have no doubt that it would chew through saplings like butter. Enjoy your new cutter! Greg