The Dilemma

[45er]

On a post earlier today I asked about what I might need to pull an 8' shredder. Thanks for the replies. Here's my dilemma, for which there is certainly an answer for someone with an unlimited budget. Problem is, that ain't me!

Two years ago I bought a used NH 1925 tractor (33 HP/29 at the PTO). I have accumulated a BUNCH of 5 foot implements (shredder, harrow, box blade, etc.) to work my 34 acre property. This tractor has been super, doing everything I need to do EXCEPT shred about 27 acres "up top". I thought I'd get by with just paying someone with a big tractor to take care of this task as it really doesn't appeal to me to mow it with a 5 foot tractor. Now I've retired on the place and have more time (and desire) to maintain the property. But it still don't want to do it with a 5' shredder. I can sell my tractor and 5' shredder and afford to upgrade to something like a JD5103, but now I'm going to need to get a new harrow and box blade because the width of the tractor is wider than my implements. And so on a so on. $$$ keeps adding up.

Any suggestions? (Even funny ones will be welcomed as I'm needing a laugh)

 

[JimParker]

How about renting a larger tractor with a larger cutter for a day or so? Gotta be cheaper than buying, and you only really need to knock that stuff down once, right? After that, you should be able to keep it clear with your existing equipment...

Or - if you know someone with a larger tractor/cutter combo, why not barter to have them do it in return for something they need done?

 

[shvl73]

With the HP you have and if it is just mowing grass, I would think a light-mid duty 6' cutter would work well on your tractor. I'll admit that it won't be real big time saver and 27 acres with a 6' cutter would take a long time, more than I'd care to spend.

 

[wushaw]

Lease it out for someone to bail hay on it.

 

[BTDT]

Where is this property located? Nothing in your profile. Maybe you could just disc it up, but that probably wouldn't be any quicker with a 5' disc than mowing with a 5' cutter. If it was me, I would just tackle it a little at a time and do it with what I had. All you EPA types, go get some coffe or something for a few minutes. ......Do they allow burning in your area. Disc around outside perimeter, and divide into squares, burn off small areas at a time. Good luck and keep us posted.

 

[Highbeam]

Following the typical 5 hp per foot rule, you qualify for a 6 foot cutter right away. You don't mention the type of material on those 27 acres. Is it just grass? maybe some saplings in there? 6 foot tall dense fescue?

The decision you are making is based on a particular task so that task must be defined. If this is only maintenance mowing after the initial major mow? then I would hire it mowed once and then get the biggest mower that the 3ph could lift to keep it down.

My 30 engine/22PTO HP has no trouble blasting through eye high grass with a 5' cutter. I often wish I had gotten a 6' cutter and if this cutter was only for maintaining mowed pasture then I would be awful tempted to try a 7'er. Do you think you could rent a mower to try it?

I really like mowing and have no problem just setting there in the seat for 10-12 or more hours watching the mice run out from under the blades and the hawks trying to catch them. The smell, the crunch of the short stubble under your feet, the look of those fresh rows against the tall uncut stems, oh I can't wait for spring.

 

[Soundguy]

Interesting issue. i had a NH 1920 and a 5' mower.. I couldn't take the time to mow my 13 ac 2x per month cause I only get 4 days off per month.. and that job took pretty much most of 2 of them... I traded my nh 1920 to the dealer I bought it from ( slightly used).. he gave me 95% of what i paid for it a few years earlier, and then I added some money with it and bought a larger utility/ag tractor.. a Nh 7610s... After i had bought the tractor.. funds were almost depleted, so i settled on getting a cheap howse 10' mower.. got a great deal on a new one at an auction.. I say great deal cause i had 2500$ left to find a 'big' mower and this one was 22xx$ and some change!

I kept all my 5' implements and use them with my aging fleet of antique tractor to putter around with.

I later lucked out and found a super cheap, beat up 15' mower at a horse farm that was upgrading equipment, and put about a months nights and weekends into it and a few hundred dollars of welding rods and gooey stuff, and plenty of sweat equity, and came out with a darn good mower.

The 7610s is roughly 3x the tractor the 1920 was, and about 2x the price/cost... It helped that the 7610s was also slightly used with a couple substantial cosmetic blemishes that did not effect operation ( prev owner mangled a fender and canopy top... )

Good luck with your search... I love my 'traded-up' tractor. i wish I hadn't had to trade my trusty 1920.. but... did what I had to do.. etc.
Now mowing takes me 2hr or less... that's way more manageable than the 6 - 6.5 hrs it was taking

Soundguy

On a post earlier today I asked about what I might need to pull an 8' shredder. Thanks for the replies. Here's my dilemma, for which there is certainly an answer for someone with an unlimited budget. Problem is, that ain't me!

Two years ago I bought a used NH 1925 tractor (33 HP/29 at the PTO). I have accumulated a BUNCH of 5 foot implements (shredder, harrow, box blade, etc.) to work my 34 acre property. This tractor has been super, doing everything I need to do EXCEPT shred about 27 acres "up top". I thought I'd get by with just paying someone with a big tractor to take care of this task as it really doesn't appeal to me to mow it with a 5 foot tractor. Now I've retired on the place and have more time (and desire) to maintain the property. But it still don't want to do it with a 5' shredder. I can sell my tractor and 5' shredder and afford to upgrade to something like a JD5103, but now I'm going to need to get a new harrow and box blade because the width of the tractor is wider than my implements. And so on a so on. $$$ keeps adding up.

Any suggestions? (Even funny ones will be welcomed as I'm needing a laugh)