Rotary Cutter Questions re: Brand and Size Rotary Cutter

[KYDan]

I have a 6' Kodiak medium duty rotary cutter that I bought earlier this year. I cannot recommend it after only about 6-7 hours of use. It is heavily built, but poorly designed and difficult to use. I backed into a small stump (4-5" diameter) and it buckled the deck near the lift points. I have never had that happen in 40+ years of tractor use even with Inexpensive lightweight cutters. I did manage to straighten it and I am able to use it, but the design or materials are flawed that would allow this to happen.

 

[LouieJunior]

Does MD stand for Medium Duty? I have a 60 inch Woods Cutter that is Model MD160.

 

[KYDan]

Does MD stand for Medium Duty? I have a 60 inch Woods Cutter that is Model MD160.

Generally, yes it does and HD generally implies heavy duty.

 

[MHarryE]

Isn't Frontier John Deere's brand? So isn't it backed by John Deere and doesn't it have a JD warranty? Unlike LandPride which is a separate company with a marketing agreement with Kubota, is Frontier not a wholly owned subsidiary of John Deere? OK, granted much of the Frontier equipment may be made by other companies, but John Deere puts their name behind it. I bought my LandPride rotary cutter from my Kubota dealer based on recommendations here but in less than a year the housing is pretty well beat up from rough use. At the Western Farm Show in Kansas City this spring, I got to see all kinds of cutters in the same building. I was a bit surprised that the LandPride did not appear as structurally sound as at least one other comparing equivalent levels (Rhino?). Still my LandPride is much beefier than all of the other choices I had available near me.

 

[ironpen]

I have a Land Pride 6 foot cutter that I used behind a TC 33 New Holland and it turned it without any problem whatsoever. I originally had a 5 footer and the difference in cutting time between 5 and 6 footer was more significant than you might think. I no longer use it and have actually considered selling it as of late, but I live in Montgomery, Al. and that is several hours from NC. I quit using it when I got a much larger tractor and wider cutter and it has been idle for around 3 years and I need some room in my barn. I refuse to leave anything out in the weather. If you are interested I'll make you a great deal. Be that as it is, I still think you should look at a 6 footer. The Land Pride cuts almost to finishing mower standards, so I would definitely look at them.

 

[Baby Grand]

The OP's tractor weighs about 2000# without FEL and has a TPH capacity of 815# at 24".
I don't think an HD shredder is really a practical solution as a 5' cutter will probably weigh 1000#.

 

[bilrus61]

Baby Grand is correct. Your only going to be able to use lighter duty five foot cutters on your tractor. You could sell it on Craigslist and buy a Land pride 1860. That would gain you a clevis hitch which is much easier to hook up too. The frontier RC2060 (made for Deere by Woods as previously stated) seems to have a ok reputation for what it is around these parts. Its only made for lighter duty brush/pasture clipping. Even a accidental stump can damage it. Just have to be carful where you mow and try to resist the urge to mow backwards into thick brush as that seems to be how most cutters are damaged. Operators back into a unseen stump or log and the cutter's tail wheel mount gives way.

Quite frankly, just my opinion, for ten acres you really should look at getting a larger more capable tractor in the future. <~~~~~~~standard reply here on tractorbynet!