Brush mowers- limits.

[bowtech40]

Hello,
I am new to this forum and have a question about 3point pto driven brush mowers. I am looking to purchase one for using at my hunting land for cutting and maintaining trails. Quick Attach makes one that seems expensive, but it is different then the others. Can these things really take down 2" poplar trees and shread them up?? What are others experience and what is a good brand? They vary from $800.00 to $3200.00 for a 60" cutter. Thanks for any advice. My tractor is a B3030.
Mark

 

[Kubota Newbie]

You should probably ask 2 different questions.
Can they????
And
Should you????

A 2 inch sapling isn't that much of an obstacle to push over and get chopped off. Most will probably do it. But... it'll make a heck of a racket, and is hard on parts. "Shredding" it is probably "optimistic" in most cases. Also give some thought to whether or not you want to be running your tractor and ATV tires over 3-6 inch high stumps along your trails that have been sharpened and shattered by a bush hog or brush mower.
I'd probably cut out anything 1 inch and over in the trails level with the ground with a saw and then use the mower for maintenance.

 

[bowtech40]

Thanks for the reply. I was not planning driving like a tank through the trees wrecking equipment. Just wanting to know that if I had some 2" tress in my way, would it do it without wrecking anything. I have used the skid loader mounted ones, and they work well. The best I have seen is the rotory mulchers on the track machines.

 

[Eric McCarthy]

They make this heavy duty model posted blow is what I call extreme duty bush hogging. Takes a helluva tractor to power it and is not something I myself would want to do with a B series Kubota even though they make one in a 60" size. Usually these are the one's seen behind the massive tractors that have a cage wrapped around it and foam filled tires.

http://www.quick-attach.com/attachments/3pointbrushmower/

 

[LoneStar]

One thing to look for when buying a brush hog to cut heavy brush is the thickness of the steel in the deck and side skirting. The light weight decks will get banged up pretty good when running over small saplings and brush, especially anything getting close to 2 inch diameter. I bought a 5 foot Competitor made by Modern Ag Products in Beaumont TX. It has a 3/16” thick steel deck and ¼” skirts, and a heavy duty gear box. I got mine on a scratch and dent sale for $1000, but I believe they normally run around $1500.

I’ve run over some nasty stuff and haven’t put a dent in it yet. Basically I’ve found that anything I can drive over I can shred up. I’m mowing mostly Yaupon, Cedar and Mesquite. You want to take it slow and use extreme caution. Be sure no one is standing anywhere near where you are mowing.

 

[Hook]

Brown 460 Rotary Cutter; $2495; 980 lbs; 60 inch cut. I don't know if it is to heavy for a B Series Tractor.

 

[TripleR]

I routinely shred 3" and occasionally larger, but with bigger tractors. A 3030 will cut 2" saplings with the proper cutter just be sure to check the cutter ratings to make sure of it's capabilities.

As mentioned, it will make a LOT of racket on that size machine and I prefer chain guards over rubber to keep it from throwing debris everywhere.

 

[bcbull378]

Dont forget to look at used brush cutters I bought a 12 year old John Deere 72" cutter for $500 and Ive cut some very heavy brush with it . I have a
L3830 pulls it just fine , all you need to do is maintain your equipment and itll last for years

 

[bowtech40]

Thanks for all the replys. I went and looked at the Brown site, and actually cally quick attach. They told me that the 60" would be ok for my 30 hp machine even though the recommend 35. The engineer told me that the 23 pto hp would be the minimum he would go. It is about the same wieght as the Brown 460.