Need some implement recommendations

chim · Sep 4, 2020

Bought a used 5' rotary mower years ago for $500, used it for a couple years and sold it for $500. It was a Tractor Supply unit and it held up OK.

Own/owned two Caroni 5' side discharge RFM's one 5' Landpride RFM, one Landpride 6' rear discharge RFM and currently run a rear discharge Caroni 7-1/2' RFM. One of the 5' Caroni decks and both Landpride decks were bought new. The 7-1/2 footer was an involved refurb project and it was pressed into service a little over a year ago behind the L4240. The Landpride decks are heavier, but I wouldn't hesitate to buy a Caroni. Agrisupply has any parts needed at very reasonable prices.

Flail mowers have tempted me, but not quite enough to seriously consider one. Not certain of it's true but a bud told me that flails are required for PA road right-of-way mowing contracts because they don't throw stuff. I like the "regular" RFM's for the 4-wheel suspension and ease of sharpening blades. Most of the flails look like they run on skids and would rip turf on tight turns. Not sure how difficult it would be to sharpen the blades or how expensive it would be to replace them.

oosik · Sep 4, 2020

I've been looking for a rotary cutter, on/off, for a couple years. I've narrowed it down to a Brown 415 or Rhino TW35. If I were to purchase today - Rhino TW35. I like the idea of the new curved body design, super HD rear wheel assembly and a local dealer. A large majority of my cutting would be backing into Buck brush.

forestcreature1 · Sep 5, 2020

I am happy with the hammer-style of my flail for yard work [no, I don't do anything with the yard beyond mowing it].
I also own a Woods rotary cutter & a Woods finish mower.
Since buying the flail (I wanted an offset for cutting under things I couldn't get close to w/ the cab), I have not mounted either of the Woods mowers.

rgr33 · Sep 5, 2020

I have a tractor about the same size as the OP, I have a Corona 5 ft flail, and a Landpride rear finish mower. I wouldn’t use either to cut 2 inch thick brush.
That is a job for an ancient, beat to heck very stout rotary cutter, it only comes out when the play gets rough.

Doug62 · Sep 6, 2020

forestcreature1 said:
I am happy with the hammer-style of my flail for yard work [no, I don't do anything with the yard beyond mowing it].
I also own a Woods rotary cutter & a Woods finish mower.
Since buying the flail (I wanted an offset for cutting under things I couldn't get close to w/ the cab), I have not mounted either of the Woods mowers.

What make and model of flail did you go with?

Bearsixty7 · Sep 6, 2020

oosik said:
I've been looking for a rotary cutter, on/off, for a couple years. I've narrowed it down to a Brown 415 or Rhino TW35. If I were to purchase today - Rhino TW35. I like the idea of the new curved body design, super HD rear wheel assembly and a local dealer. A large majority of my cutting would be backing into Buck brush.

If you haven't already, You should look at the Bush Hog BH315 (10 year gearbox warranty) as well, it's on par with the TW35. I have been real happy with my BH215 after about 6 hours of cutting lots of scrub oak 8-12 feet tall and every bit of 2" diameter. I power washed it yesterday top and bottom and was really surprised how well it held up, no dents, distortion or paint loss except one little paint chip spot on the left side I touched up before storage.

I don't know anything about the Brown.

cathy liebchen · Sep 6, 2020

Bearsixty7 said:
If you haven't already, You should look at the Bush Hog BH315 (10 year gearbox warranty) as well, it's on par with the TW35. I have been real happy with my BH215 after about 6 hours of cutting lots of scrub oak 8-12 feet tall and every bit of 2" diameter. I power washed it yesterday top and bottom and was really surprised how well it held up, no dents, distortion or paint loss except one little paint chip spot on the left side I touched up before storage.

I don't know anything about the Brown.

down here the Brown cutter is considered the most durable you can buy. I do like the looks of the TW36 too

kthompson · Sep 7, 2020

Here the Brown is suppose to be the best and the highest priced. Never have seen one.

I have used rough cut mowers of at least three different brands. Have used two flail mowers on boom mowers and one on the offset ditch bank design. Also have a Bushog brand 72 inch rear finishing mower.

I have not use a rear discharge finishing mower but if were buying today would consider one. The rear finishing mower very pleased with the service my Bushog has given me except with the wheels. Not a fan of the type of bearings they use and boy are the parts costly. The wheel with bearings are $89 at my dealer and then the sleeve you need is another $9 per wheel or $400 total.

Rotary mower I think is faster than a flail mower but I like the results better or at least my experience with the two for rough cutting. Agree with on lawns flail needs to be lifted to make the turns or my experience any way. Never seen wheels on a flail mower for it to ride on like rotary mowers are almost always made to. Rotary cutter will cut what ever you are mowing normally once so the length is what it is unless you have a mulching system in place. In rough cutting the flail will normally cut the material more than once and not build it in lumps as a rotary mower can. My experience in rough mowing needs it will not leave as sharp a stump as rotary mower can. A flail mower will act as a chipper to some degree where a rotary mower will not. I have eased my boom flail mower down on a tree (normally pine up to about 4 inches) chipping it as being slowly lowered. My hand is not smooth enough to lower rotary the same way.

Depending on your needs you may want an offset mower to cut under trees but that will raise the price of mower a good bit. Agri Supply has store in Florence and also one about Orangeburg I think. You may find mower there to suit your needs. They do have some light weight cutters and some heavy duty ones. Don't drive to them without calling to verify they have them in stock. I find their online inventory off recently. Offset ditch bank flail mowers are heavy and costly. I bought a Sigma, Phoenix brand this spring and am pleased with it. Bought it from "www.carverequipment.com". Steve Carver was a pleasure to deal with. Suggest you visit his web site.

Be careful buying used mowers.

I bought Everything Attachments wicked 60 inch grapple for handing trees and been pleased with it. I am near Conway, if you want to see one hands on would be glad to allow you to play with it here. I have plenty of trees down now in the edges of my woods.

oosik · Sep 7, 2020

The only "tough stuff" I'd be cutting is Buck brush. A big stem of that stuff might get up to 1/4" in diameter, at its base. Buck brush will grow in stands up to two and a half feet high. Otherwise - a whole lot of bunch grass & meadow grass.

I have no concerns about buying a used mower, around here. For 38+ years I've scanned the available sources. There just IS NOT any type, shape or form of used utility tractor sized implements in this area. I think there must be some kind of unwritten law - "Must be shipped east of the Mississippi for resale".

Now if I wanted a 24 bottom reversible moldboard plow to pull behind my 400hp tractor - the wheat fields are full of them.

But I tend to rant - so I'll let it go for now.

Xfaxman · Sep 7, 2020

kthompson said:
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Agree with on lawns flail needs to be lifted to make the turns or my experience any way. Never seen wheels on a flail mower for it to ride on like rotary mowers are almost always made to. --------------------------