Pull, semi, or 3pt 10ft rotary?

JohnMiller3 · Feb 21, 2003

Kodiak Rotary Cutters (including 10' 3-pt) & other Kodiak implements...

Slippy · Feb 22, 2003

Thanks again! Were are you getting these pictures? What did you think of the fit and finish of the Kodiac cutter?

JohnMiller3 · Feb 22, 2003

More Kodiak implements... pictures taken @ New York Farm Show 2003...

Hi Slippy,

The cutter finish is average, however I'm not that impressed with the A-frame for the 3-pt hook-up... not heavy duty enough for the abuse it will take over time... it needs to be beefed up and reinforced... but many implement companies are this way... not just Kodiak...

Before I'd consider parting with ~~$4K plus for a 10' Kodiak pull rotary cutter... I'd check out some local auctions this summer and look at some HD Rhinos, Bush Hogs, Browns, etc.

Let someone else take the hit on depreciation and you'll surely find a "useable" bargain or two... /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

gerard · Feb 22, 2003

Before I'd consider parting with ~~$4K plus for a 10' Kodiak pull rotary cutter... I'd check out some local auctions this summer and look at some HD Rhinos, Bush Hogs, Browns, etc Good idea if you have a little patience and a LOT of luck. Seems I've seen two kinds of brush hogs - new and beat to ^$#@. Have been to a fair number of farm auctions and just have never seen a used bushog worth buying for the price it wound up going for. Funny thing about auctions but I've seen new units sell for the same price you could have gotten it in the store for. Some people just bid things up too much

Slippy · Feb 22, 2003

John:
As always, good sound advice from you. However, I have been looking for two summers around here for a 10' cutter, pull type and 3pt, in good shape. I even subscribed to a state farm news paper which is full of auctions, etc. I called on a number of units, and what I have found is that if the price is right, the unit is hosed. If the thing is in good shape,they want near what a new cutter like a Kodiac, BigBee, etc. costs. So, what I seem to be faced with is purchasing a possibly little more heavey duty unit with an unknown, or for the same money a new lighter duty. Know of anyone who has one?

Slippy · Feb 22, 2003

Yeap. Thats what I mean. John's advice is solid, but you just have to be in the right place at the right time. I'm just not that lucky. Like I said, I have been hoping for such a fine for two years and have spent some time calling, etc. on used units, but no luck.

JohnMiller3 · Feb 22, 2003

( I called on a number of units )

It's like buying used cars... the private individual always thinks it's worth more... well just because... they're selling it... /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

You'll never ever find a bargain from a private seller... unless they fell out of bed that morning and bumped their head... /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

The smaller cutters are mostly trashed... but the bigger stuff... I see all the time that upsets for $600-900... better than $4k... and very usable... /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Anonymous Poster · Feb 22, 2003

We see thousands of pieces at auction annually and about the only way a Good 10 ft brush hog (or any implement) is in that sale, in good usable condition",?? Is where the fellow purchased it and then died unexpectedly shortly thereafter. Then the family proceeds to close out the estate at auction. In these situations, all his neighbors will overbid every piece in that auction sale--Like the man said, even to the point of going higher than new prices--Ken Sweet
Sweet Farm Equipment Co.

HayDR · Feb 22, 2003

We have sold the Rhino TW120 (10') & the Flex 15' to the Highway Contractors and they use them ever day. Those guys will not purchase the light duty units. THe Alamo Group produces and sells more cutters that anyone else in the world.
Alamo Group: Rhino,Train King, Tiger,Mott,Dandel, Bomford-Turner, McConnell, Triumph, FG (France)

JohnMiller3 · Feb 22, 2003

( We have sold the Rhino TW120 (10')... and they use them ever day. )

Rhino is top shelf equipment... take a look at their A-frames... observe the massive steel used...

If someone intends on using a rotary cutter for many many years of trouble free performance and you're already up in the range of $4K... another couple thousand shouldn't matter for the quality and durability you will end up with from a company like Rhino, Brown, and some select others...

Slippy · Feb 22, 2003

Do you really think the Rhino is that much better than the Kodiac? Does it cut better, or just hold up better, or both? Is Rhino in the same catagory as Bush Hog and Land Pride? These are two brands that are popular in my area.

ScottAR · Feb 23, 2003

I agree, The last Rhino I looked at (for fun!) was a 15' and everything was simply massive. the deck was 3/8ths I think. Very solid equipment. That Rhino looked heavier than any bush hog brand I've ever seen, BUT I've never looked at a 3615 up close as no dealers seem to stock them here.

Anonymous Poster · Feb 23, 2003

That Rhino looked heavier than any bush hog brand I've ever seen, 

Hi Scott--Keep in mind that slippy has only 55hp to play with?--We communicated with slippy and could not reccomend some of the extra heavier lines that we carry, like the M&W 10 ft-- simply because of the size tractor he has--This 15 ft M&W flexwing, shown in the picture, is the HD cutter that we use on our farm and it pushes our 93HP MF Cab tractor going downhill pretty good--We really have to be careful !!--Extra weight is good as long as you can handle it --Ken Sweet
Sweet Farm Equipment Co.

ScottAR · Feb 23, 2003

I was only commenting on stoutness the Rhino brand. I happened to look at a 15ft. but I'm sure they make shorter widths. Sorry for any confusion.

HayDR · Feb 23, 2003

M&W and Rhino are the same cutters made in the same factory.

em14 · Feb 24, 2003

I don't have one of their cutters but I do have a 5 ft landscape rake of theirs and I thought it was well built until I bent it ... the bar that the spring rakes attach to is angle iron and is very heavy but soft and bends fairly easy ... I find myself using a large pipe wrench to bend it back into shape ... I consider that soft ...

JohnMiller3 · Feb 24, 2003

( Do you really think the Rhino is that much better than the Kodiac? )

In my opinion... No comparison... like comparing a japanese tractor to a chinese unit... /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif Now... with that said... Rhino does have some entry level/standard duty (ex. SE series) to compete for the "lower" end of the spectrum... but most of the Rhino purchases are medium to heavy duty end...

( Does it ... just hold up better )

Yes... check out their MD & HD units... It's "tough stuff"...

( Is Rhino in the same category as Bush Hog and Land Pride? )

Personally, I prefer Rhino over Bush Hog... but Bush Hog's 300 & 400 series is extremely stout, outstanding quality & durability... their 28x series is very good as well, just not as cost effective...

Landpride is not known for rotary cutters per se'... ex. their heavy duty stuff wouldn't be Brown's light duty class...

Servis-Rhino has been perfecting the rotary cutters for something like ~ 50 years (along with Bush Hog)... I feel these companies are tops in this category...