Woods rotary cutter

[Doug990]

I'm seriously researching woods rotary cutters to cut and maintain trails in my 80 acre woods. I previously have used a 50hp rubber tracked machine with a 5' cutter for this task, but it's hard to justify the $500.00 for a couple of days use. My woods can be wet with two creeks usualy quite low water or dry with a solid rock bed. Finaly my question: with my 990 (72" width) would I be happier with a five or six foot cutter?. I plan to use the 430 loader and 73" bucket for front weight /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif <font color="green"> </font> <font color="green"> </font> <font color="green"> </font>

 

[RoyJackson]

I use a 5 footer (Land Pride) behind my 790 quite a bit.

The 790 has 24 PTO HP...that 990 has around 35 PTO HP.

You should easily be able to run a 6 footer, or even a 7 footer if you use some common sense.

Using the loader is a good idea. You can knock down stuff in front of you and, hopefully, find any stumps or larger rocks.

 

[JerryG]

Don't go any larger than a 6'. It is more aggravating to have to use narrow cuts or cut an area twice than it is to have to make an extra round or two. If you get a 7', you will all ways be trying to take the full pass even if you can't and then you will have to back off. Don't get caught in the "my tractor can go two sizes larger no matter what the manufacture says". That is one thing that is rampant here. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

 

[gizmo]

I actually use a 4' cutter with my 990 for making trails in the woods. My cutter is old, but tough. I can drop it to the ground and clear the path down to dirt without bogging down the tractor.

 

[Monroe40]

I ended up with a Woods BB72 behind my 990. I find the 6 footer nice for the ATV trails I cut along the fence lines. I don't think I've ever wished for the 5 footer instead. I haven't wanted the 7 footer, either. Now I sound like Goldilocks -- "And the 6 footer was juuuuust right." Besides the grass around the fields, I use it on the multi flora rose and the prickly ash.

Dave

 

[Doug990]

gizmo, what is the brand on your cutter? How does it handle rocks? Doug990

 

[656]

Doug let me know how you make out . I currently have a BB720 that I use on a 60 hp international farm tractor. I hope in the near future to purchase a 40 to 45 hp CUT and want to know how that size handles the 6' woods BB Thanx!