What tractor for 6' brush hog use?

dknarnd · May 12, 2005

What tractor for 6\' brush hog use?

Just started looking at tractors and would like some ideas on what size to go with. Currently I am using a JD 1010 with a 5' brush hog to mow approximately 25 acres and it takes days! Luckily only do this once a year but I am starting to develop some food plot sites also, long with skidding some wood out to burn. And then there is snow and whatever!!!

This is in Northeast PA so the terrain is hilly and rocky. There is a Kubota dealer and New Holland nearby that I know of and I am checking for others.

RoyJackson · May 12, 2005

Re: What tractor for 6\' brush hog use?

If you went for a Deere, it'd be the 43xx series (32 HP and 28 at the PTO). That's a minimum...so for New Holland, you're looking at a TC 33 or bigger.
I'm not familiar enough with the larger Kubota's, so I won't comment there.

However, for 25 acres of field mowing, I'd sure think about a bigger tractor and a bat wing type cutter.

You'd probably need to go used then as the newer tractors (Utility, not a compact) are rather pricey.

Personally, I just don't see a 6' cutter being too much of an improvement over a 5' unit. Again, for 25 acres...if you're going to mow that much...I'd go at least 8 to 10 feet on the cutter.

frank_f15 · May 12, 2005

Re: What tractor for 6\' brush hog use?

1st of all WELCOME TO THE FORUM!!!! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif you say you want to hog 25 acres, how much more do you want to do? Roy is correct there is not much that much difference bet. a 5' and 6' when hogging 25 acres, and he suggest a 8' or 10' unit. But that will take a pretty good sized tractor.

dknarnd · May 12, 2005

Re: What tractor for 6\' brush hog use?

Yea I know it isn't that much difference but I could probably deal with it because I also want something small enough to manuver into the woods and for general utility use around the buildings. At least with 6' I won't be running over the uncut grass.

What I am looking for is probably something at about 40 hp to handle a 6' hog. There is a JD dealer near-by so I will be checking them out also.

rcaretti · May 12, 2005

Re: What tractor for 6\' brush hog use?

I'd keep the 5' for the general work, and get something bigger than 6'. I only mow about 10 acres a couple times a year, and I'm finding myself wishing I had a bigger brush hog.

Soundguy · May 12, 2005

Re: What tractor for 6\' brush hog use?

A tractor in the 30hp range should pull a 6' hog.

However.. I recomend getting a big tractor.. even an old ag tractor and a bigger mower. An old ford 5000 and 10' mower can be had for less than 10 grand. Even larger fords.. like 8000's and case 1xxx can be had cheaper.. like 4-5K$.. and the mower is 2500-3500 depending on style, if you get a cheap one.

I only mow about 10 ac, and I gave up on it with my 5' mower as I only have 1 day a week off. i got a large tractor and a 10' mower.. havn't regretted it since.

Soundguy

thcri · May 12, 2005

Re: What tractor for 6\' brush hog use?

Last year I did 2 acres with a 5' and it pretty much took me all day. It was pretty hilly and really rough so that is why it took me a long time. I had a lot of pot holes and trees to go around. But I just could not imagine doing 25 acres even with a 6'. I think I would agree with Soundguy and get your self something bigger even if it was used.

murph

DmansPadge · May 12, 2005

Re: What tractor for 6\' brush hog use?

I would look in the 30+ hp range for a 6' hog. Like the others have said... you could make quick work with a bigger tractor and a batwing or large brushhog... but, hey, it you only do it once or twice a year and don't mind spending a little time doing it.. I don't think that justifies spending thousands more. And by saying thousands I mean a lot of thousands more! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

BB_TX · May 13, 2005

Re: What tractor for 6\' brush hog use?

I run a 6' on 27 PTO hp but I mow several times a year. As long as I don't let it get to high I don't have much problem. But if I let it grow up, I have to really slow down. Since you only mow it once a year and assuming it grows up pretty high during that time, I would not go less than 35 PTO hp and probably even more.

Indydirtfarmer · May 13, 2005

Re: What tractor for 6\' brush hog use?

( Just started looking at tractors and would like some ideas on what size to go with. Currently I am using a JD 1010 with a 5' brush hog to mow approximately 25 acres and it takes days! Luckily only do this once a year but I am starting to develop some food plot sites also, long with skidding some wood out to burn. And then there is snow and whatever!!!

This is in Northeast PA so the terrain is hilly and rocky. There is a Kubota dealer and New Holland nearby that I know of and I am checking for others. )
First off, Welcome to TBN! Great place with GREAT folks..

I'm in the business of bush hogging.... We run several tractors all summer doing just that... Around here, we have quite a bit of hilly and/or rocky ground. That doesn't lend itself well to larger mowers. (Anything much wider than the tractor itself) I tend to favor 7' or 8' mowers on 60 HP (+) tractors for that sort of work. We have a couple bat-wing mowers, but they sit until we get into big, flat, and open terrain.

Also, like you said, you need a mower that'll fit between trees and buildings. I'd stick with your plan of 6' or at the most, 7'....That's still very "do-able" in an 8 hour day....(25 acres)

MOST 6' mowers are still relatively light compared to bigger mowers. That keeps the size requirements (of the tractor) down to a minimum. (In my experience, size/weight of a tractor comes in to play as much, if not MORE than horsepower)

To me, it looks like you're planning on buying "new". That's something you won't get much help on from me.... I have a thing for "older" tractors. (Mid-'80's on back to Fred Flintstone....)

Others can answer you questions on particular brand/models better than I, but your "want" of a tractor/mower combo in the 35/50 HP-6' mower range seems like a wise choice to me....

txdon · May 13, 2005

Re: What tractor for 6\' brush hog use?

Dknarnd, If you look into the Kubota line of tractors all the Grand L Kubotas, L3130, L3430 etc.. can handle the 6' mower. I agree with Indydirtfarmer the weight of the mower is an important factor to consider. If you get a heavy duty mower that cuts 2-3 inch brush with chain guards and thick metal you might have to go with a larger tractor and/or put more weight up front.

gippolit · May 13, 2005

Re: What tractor for 6\' brush hog use?

Dknarnd,
If you look into the Kioti CK30HST, it can handle the 6' mower. Also the Kioti DK 35, which is not HST. I own a CK30hst and love it. You'll save a few bucks too. I'm in NJ I purchased mine from http://www.randsequipment.com. They are great guy's. If you compare apples to apples the Kioti will win hands down at least it did for me.

Regards
Glen

oxfordman · May 13, 2005

Re: What tractor for 6\' brush hog use?

With 40 hp you may be able to handle a 7' hog. I pull a 7' finish mower without any problems with my NH TCDA 45. Great tractor, great set up.

Unclebuck257 · May 13, 2005

Re: What tractor for 6\' brush hog use?

Up until last year, I mowed our 50 acres every year with our 30 hp Kubota and a 5' heavy duty Rhino. Luckily, we had a lot of rain last year and the place had to be mowed twice. That was one mowing a year too much!!! This year, I sold the Kubota and Rhino and bought a 5740C Montana with an 8' HD mower. The Montana is 57hp at the engine and 52hp at the PTO. Also looking forward to mowing this year with a cab and A/C!! /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

mnriverrat · May 13, 2005

Re: What tractor for 6\' brush hog use?

Hey there,
I thought I'd drop $.20 in too...
I mow about 80-100 acres commercially a year and run a 7' mower on a tn55s new holland, 55 engine horse, 42'ish something on pto... I can run along at a pretty good clip and hills do not slow me down much. I demo'd a tc40 before I bought the tn55 and it wasn't enough tractor on the hills... no comparison to the tn series. A lot of my mowing is developments so rocks, concrete, rubbish is a big factor and when the weeds are 4'-6' high you don't always see everything.... so, to combat this, I buy cheap mowers... a rough cut mower is a mower.... To me they are disposable, two years and just get a new one, lol... That is sad but true... I run about 1.5-2 acres per hour when mowing, a little more if the grass/weeds are nice and short <2'. I also will not get a battwing style for three reasons, 1) too big to mobilize, 2) too expensive for my work, 3) Requires too much HP. The nice thing about being on the higher end HP size for the mower is hills won't challenge the machine and over work it, also you have the cooling capacity to cool the machine when the grill starts to plug up a little, mowing is a good work out on a tractor, I've had 30-40 hp compacts overheat on hotter days, thus loosing a lot of productivity. I also love the cab and a/c and radio, no more pollen/bugs on me /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif. Hope this helps.

dknarnd · May 13, 2005

Re: What tractor for 6\' brush hog use?

Well what I have looked at so far is the Kubota L4400 and a Woods HD cutter. In the rough uneven and hilly terrain I mow I can't see putting a 7' on the 40HP tractor simply due to the weight issues. Even with a 6' I it will probably require some good weight on the front of the tractor. I think next week I am going to look at the NH tractors, probably in the TC40 area.

And I'm not opposed to an older tractor only I would like to keep the tractor small for some in-woods use and have a loader for it then future a small back hoe attachment would be usefull for odd tasks.

Keith_B · May 13, 2005

Re: What tractor for 6\' brush hog use?

( Well what I have looked at so far is the Kubota L4400 and a Woods HD cutter. In the rough uneven and hilly terrain I mow I can't see putting a 7' on the 40HP tractor simply due to the weight issues. Even with a 6' I it will probably require some good weight on the front of the tractor. I think next week I am going to look at the NH tractors, probably in the TC40 area.

And I'm not opposed to an older tractor only I would like to keep the tractor small for some in-woods use and have a loader for it then future a small back hoe attachment would be usefull for odd tasks. )

I think you are on the right track there with the 6' hog with a TC40, Kubota 4400, etc. You may want to check out the Mahindra 4110 and the Kioti DK40 and DK45. They tend to be heavier than the comparable big three models, and weight makes a huge difference on rough terrain when handling the 6' hog.

A Kubota-New Holland dealer told me that the Kubota and the NH both have problems with HD hogs on rough terrain, due to their relatively light weight. This is one of the reasons why I chose the Mahindra 4110, it weighs in at nearly 4000 lbs before adding any fluid to the tires, weight from the FEL, etc.

Budira · May 21, 2005

Re: What tractor for 6\' brush hog use?

I run a Woods 72 behind my L7710 Kubota. I do keep my front end loader attached while mowing. It seems to cut anything I can ride down with the Kubota. When I'm working it I usually run 8 hours at a time. The only time it starts to warm up is when the leaves and grass stop up the screen in front of the radiator. I just stop and pull the screen out and wipe the trash off and continue on. This is in Oklahoma and outside temperature in the summer is in the high 90's. Hope this helps. Anyone know the cheapest place to buy a chain kit? I keep bending up the soft steel shield that came on the Woods.