Mowing Rear 3PH Grooming Mower

[sunnyside360]

Looking at getting a 72" 3PH rear grooming/finish mower for a John Deere 3720 cab tractor. All I've found on Deere website is Frontier brand, maybe the only one Deere offers. Looking for some experience and/or opinions with the Frontier grooming mowers, for example GM1072 or any other 72" rear 3PH mower.

In addition, the Woods finish mowers seem to be rated fairly high according to user experience on the internet.

Both Frontier and Woods would be locally available where I live. Any insight would be appreciated.

 

[TractorGuy]

You may like to look into the Agmate from Agri Supply also. Other than the tires chunking some I have been very happy with mine. It's a made in china unit but seems well built. Very smooth and quiet operation. The rear discharge is far better than side discharge.

I run the 72" with 19 PTO HP. No strain at all.

 

[FortClatsop]

I'm in year 13 with a Frontier 1060E (60 inch). It's actually a Befco. I would look seriously at Befco. Befco parts are cheaper in orange than getting them frontier green. If you run over surface tree roots you can expect to bend wheel holders. I'm running a 60 RFM with 18 hp at the PTO. I maintain five acres of rough pasture and beat up the mower and myself. I like the finished look and the speed of an RFM. With a 3720 why aren't you looking at an 84? If I had that big of machine I wouldn't stop at a 72.

 

[sunnyside360]

You may like to look into the Agmate from Agri Supply also. Other than the tires chunking some I have been very happy with mine. It's a made in china unit but seems well built. Very smooth and quiet operation. The rear discharge is far better than side discharge.

I run the 72" with 19 PTO HP. No strain at all.

Price certainly is attractive. Shipping to central Pennsylvania could be another story, but will check it out.

 

[sunnyside360]

I'm in year 13 with a Frontier 1060E (60 inch). It's actually a Befco. I would look seriously at Befco. Befco parts are cheaper in orange than getting them frontier green. If you run over surface tree roots you can expect to bend wheel holders. I'm running a 60 RFM with 18 hp at the PTO. I maintain five acres of rough pasture and beat up the mower and myself. I like the finished look and the speed of an RFM. With a 3720 why aren't you looking at an 84? If I had that big of machine I wouldn't stop at a 72.

Website info for the Befco mowers look good. Nearest dealer is about 2 hrs away. Will give them a call.
Good point about 84" cutting width especially since the 3720 would it. I'm mowing about 5 acres of open lawn at my house and about 1.5 acres at another place. I have to watch excessive weight on the rear though as I don't have a front end loader for counter balance.

 

[mcfarmall]

Father in law had a Frontier GM 1084 and it worked great for me but he sold it because he planted a bunch of stupid flower beds all over his lawn and "it left streaks of grass clippings along the lawn."

Like I said, it worked great for me and it was built like a tank.

 

[Turbys_1700]

Befco is an excellent mower...
I've run Land Pride and Woods for over 25 years with minimal repairs and excellent results...

 

[deere36]

I have a 2015 Frontier GM1084R & it has a Woods gearbox so I am assuming the mower is made by Woods, it is a good mower cuts good and yard looks good after mowing. That is a 3038R pulling it and does a good job.

 

[DK35vince]

Website info for the Befco mowers look good. Nearest dealer is about 2 hrs away. Will give them a call.
Good point about 84" cutting width especially since the 3720 would it. I'm mowing about 5 acres of open lawn at my house and about 1.5 acres at another place. I have to watch excessive weight on the rear though as I don't have a front end loader for counter balance.

I've been running an 84" rear discharge finish mower (First Choice GM 35-84) for 12 years or so now on my DK 35 no problem running or lifting it with no loader on the front. (815 lb mower)
I take the loader off to mow.

 

[sunnyside360]

I have a 2015 Frontier GM1084R & it has a Woods gearbox so I am assuming the mower is made by Woods, it is a good mower cuts good and yard looks good after mowing. That is a 3038R pulling it and does a good job.View attachment 556276

deere36, can you lift the GM1084R with 3PH without the loader? I'm concerned about lifting 830 lbs of weight on the rear w/o front ballast.