Recommend a 6ft or 7ft single spindle rotary cutter (bush hog) for M7060

[KelliherJP4031]

I’m in central Alabama with about 100 acres in pasture and 300 acres in wooded areas with old pulpwood roads, food plots, etc. We have a big Massey and 15ft batwing mower for mowing the pastures. I recently purchased a M7060 HD to replace an old Ford 7700 and we have an old 7ft Bushhog brand cutter we used for the wooded areas. It’s a medium/heavy duty cutter as we are running over 2/2.5 inch material at times. Obviously, the M7060 is a bit smaller and lighter than the old Ford. I keep the FEL on the Kubota when running the bushhog and our area is more hilly than many would expect. It’s my hope to allow the wife and adult kids to run the Kubota cutting these wooded areas.
My question is; should my next Single spindle rotary cutter (will be a medium/heavy duty such as Bush Hog 300 series or LP25/27?) be another 7ft model or go down to the 6ft?
I really like the 7ft size but they are harder to locate, cost more, heavier and more toward the upper limit with my M7060 performance (my opinion). The size and weight is a concern when I envision my wife or daughter operating on steeper or sloping terrain.
I think a 6ft cutter would better address my concerns but wanted to gather other’s thoughts and insure my thinking isn’t to far off. Thanks

 

[SDT]

I’m in central Alabama with about 100 acres in pasture and 300 acres in wooded areas with old pulpwood roads, food plots, etc. We have a big Massey and 15ft batwing mower for mowing the pastures. I recently purchased a M7060 HD to replace an old Ford 7700 and we have an old 7ft Bushhog brand cutter we used for the wooded areas. It’s a medium/heavy duty cutter as we are running over 2/2.5 inch material at times. Obviously, the M7060 is a bit smaller and lighter than the old Ford. I keep the FEL on the Kubota when running the bushhog and our area is more hilly than many would expect. It’s my hope to allow the wife and adult kids to run the Kubota cutting these wooded areas.
My question is; should my next Single spindle rotary cutter (will be a medium/heavy duty such as Bush Hog 300 series or LP25/27?) be another 7ft model or go down to the 6ft?
I really like the 7ft size but they are harder to locate, cost more, heavier and more toward the upper limit with my M7060 performance (my opinion). The size and weight is a concern when I envision my wife or daughter operating on steeper or sloping terrain.
I think a 6ft cutter would better address my concerns but wanted to gather other’s thoughts and insure my thinking isn’t to far off. Thanks

Your 7060 is more than adequate to power a 7' rough cut rotary mower in nearly all reasonable conditions.

A 6' cutter will not cover your tire tracks whereas a 7' cutter probably will, depending upon wheel spacing.

As you plan to leave the FEL on your 7060, you will probably not need front weights unless your 7' cutter is quite heavy and/or your ground is quite steep.

FWIW, I am not fond of 7' cutters for multiple reasons and your 7060 is quite cabable of operating an 8' (considerably more expensive) twin spindle cutter.

 

[PoTreeBoy]

I've used a LandPride 1884 (7') on an M7040 on mostly level ground. Unless the extra length of the 7' over the 6' is a problem, I agree with SDT. With the 7' you can run the rear wheels wider for better stability and still cut to the outside of the tire width.

 

[JasonW]

I have a 6’ and 8’ twin spindle that I use with my M6040. Handles them fine, if I end up cutting more I will go up to a 12’ batwing.

I have ran a 15’ batwing on a M6060 and it would be ok for light/medium grass. Got a good deal on a used 15’ so they bought it.

I’d recommend a twin 8’ over a single 7’ due to how long they are and supposedly the twin 8’ requires less power to run than a single 7’

 

[SDT]

I have a 6’ and 8’ twin spindle that I use with my M6040. Handles them fine, if I end up cutting more I will go up to a 12’ batwing.

I have ran a 15’ batwing on a M6060 and it would be ok for light/medium grass. Got a good deal on a used 15’ so they bought it.

I’d recommend a twin 8’ over a single 7’ due to how long they are and supposedly the twin 8’ requires less power to run than a single 7’

" I’d recommend a twin 8’ over a single 7’ due to how long they are and supposedly the twin 8’ requires less power to run than a single 7’[.]"

Agreed, although the 8' will cost considerably more it will also produce a better quality cut and cover tire tracks regardless of any common tire spacing. As previously stated, I'm not a fan of 7' single spindle cutters.

 

[McMXi]

I’m in central Alabama with about 100 acres in pasture and 300 acres in wooded areas with old pulpwood roads, food plots, etc. We have a big Massey and 15ft batwing mower for mowing the pastures. I recently purchased a M7060 HD to replace an old Ford 7700 and we have an old 7ft Bushhog brand cutter we used for the wooded areas. It’s a medium/heavy duty cutter as we are running over 2/2.5 inch material at times. Obviously, the M7060 is a bit smaller and lighter than the old Ford. I keep the FEL on the Kubota when running the bushhog and our area is more hilly than many would expect. It’s my hope to allow the wife and adult kids to run the Kubota cutting these wooded areas.
My question is; should my next Single spindle rotary cutter (will be a medium/heavy duty such as Bush Hog 300 series or LP25/27?) be another 7ft model or go down to the 6ft?
I really like the 7ft size but they are harder to locate, cost more, heavier and more toward the upper limit with my M7060 performance (my opinion). The size and weight is a concern when I envision my wife or daughter operating on steeper or sloping terrain.
I think a 6ft cutter would better address my concerns but wanted to gather other’s thoughts and insure my thinking isn’t to far off. Thanks

I run a 7 ft Land Pride RC1884 and 12 ft folding cutter RC3712 behind the M6060 without any trouble at all so I don't think the weight would be an issue for the M7060. I can run the 1884 behind the M6060 using 540E which doesn't work well for the folding cutter. I can see why some don't like 7 ft single spindle cutters, but for me the only real disadvantage is the possibility of scalping if high centered.

I've pulled the RCR1884 behind the MX6000 on both my property and my friend's property without any issues. My place is very hilly but the MX handles the cutter well despite the hills. I'm not cutting any serious brush or anything so there's that.

I do like the recommendations for a dual spindle 8 ft cutter though. My 12 ft cutter is basically three 4 ft cutters tied together. If I were buying a smaller rotary cutter again it'd be an RCF3696 or similar, but with the Del Morino flail, RCR1884 and RC3712 I pretty much have it covered for many years to come.