Roadside trimming

random

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I'm looking at something to keep the brush and trees on the side of my road trimmed - right now I have to go out a few times every summer with a hedge trimmer to cut stuff back as it tries to wipe out any trace of my road.

Half a mile on both sides of hedge trimming by hand is brutal.

Right now I'm leaning pretty heavily toward a sickle blade but wondering if anyone might have other suggestions.
 

North Idaho Wolfman

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Offset flail mower is the best!
Sickle bar mowers are pain to keep blades in good shape, any little rock or debris will break them.
 
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random

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can that cut vertically?
 

GreensvilleJay

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vertical ? sickle bar ??, yes, well at least the ones 'Roads' had on Allis-Chalmers B tractors around here in the 50s-70s. Tough units, especially the 'belly' models.
 

i7win7

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forgot name of 4th one
 
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UpNorthMI

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forgot name of 4th one
I’m looking to maintain 8 miles of dense forestry trails.
Those are interesting options, the problem is they get pricey and you typically need at least an MX tractor to manage the off set weight on the FEL. I was not aware of Brush Tech but contacted the others for pricing. Not sure a tractor solution is the best set up. I own a track loader and am considering an articulating brush cutter which are much heavier built for a fraction more cost over the tractor solution with an external hydraulic 3pt pack.

To the OP if you are hedge trimming, I’d go for sickle cutter, check out bestco.com
 

BigG

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If you get it cut down keeping it cut with a sickle bar mower is not bad. You might find a good used one for a low price since most people do not know how to set them up correctly thus they do not cut well.
 

SDT

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I'm looking at something to keep the brush and trees on the side of my road trimmed - right now I have to go out a few times every summer with a hedge trimmer to cut stuff back as it tries to wipe out any trace of my road.

Half a mile on both sides of hedge trimming by hand is brutal.

Right now I'm leaning pretty heavily toward a sickle blade but wondering if anyone might have other suggestions.
Not all sickle bar cutters can be operated when the bar is not close to horizontal.

Sickle bar mowers are high maintenance.

Sickle bar mowers do not cut well (or at all) at low ground speed.

Not recommended.

SDT
 

i7win7

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Found the 4th one
 

RCW

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Creature Meadow

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What I do on my road sides is cut back everything couple feet, using brush blade on weed eater, chain saw, pruning saw whatever means the first time.

Then I put .155 diameter string in my weedeater head and use it. Most of the young new growth every 2 to 3 months is easy to cut off. I just walk down the road side and with the trimmer head rotated vertical so I don't have to actually hold the trimmer sideways and take care of business. Wear safety glasses because the little pieces of branches and leaves fly everywhere.

By means of tractor would be easier but method above serves me well about 3 times a year.

best of luck.

Jay
 
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random

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Pretty overwhelming amount of info, thanks for all the input!

so looks like EA has an offset flail: https://www.everythingattachments.com/Ditch-Bank-Offset-Flail-Mowers-p/ph-bank-flail-mower.htm seems to indicate it can cut vertically. That's not a lot more than I was looking at for the sickle. But it says 4 ports required, which I don't have.

Titan has this https://www.palletforks.com/3-point...int-offset-flail-ditch-bank-mower/191521.html but that looks like it can only cut up to 65 degrees which wouldn't work.

@i7win7 thanks for the links, I'm going to have to look those over.
 

North Idaho Wolfman

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Pretty overwhelming amount of info, thanks for all the input!

so looks like EA has an offset flail: https://www.everythingattachments.com/Ditch-Bank-Offset-Flail-Mowers-p/ph-bank-flail-mower.htm seems to indicate it can cut vertically. That's not a lot more than I was looking at for the sickle. But it says 4 ports required, which I don't have.

Titan has this https://www.palletforks.com/3-point...int-offset-flail-ditch-bank-mower/191521.html but that looks like it can only cut up to 65 degrees which wouldn't work.

@i7win7 thanks for the links, I'm going to have to look those over.
If you have 2 ports just do a port multiplier. simple way to get 4 ports.
 

DVR

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I have a lane shark. I like it. Sort of expensive and requires some work on the tractor end too. I run it on a mx5400.
I also have a brand new superior sickle bar cutter modified with a longer cylinder to cut horizontal.
I'm in SC and would like to sell the sickle bar for $2000 which is less than 1/2 what was spent to buy and modify it. EDIT- Sold the sickle bar cutter
 
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JimmyJazz

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I'm looking at something to keep the brush and trees on the side of my road trimmed - right now I have to go out a few times every summer with a hedge trimmer to cut stuff back as it tries to wipe out any trace of my road.

Half a mile on both sides of hedge trimming by hand is brutal.

Right now I'm leaning pretty heavily toward a sickle blade but wondering if anyone might have other suggestions.
Offset brush hog has not been mentioned I don't think. Thats what I would consider. Look at the Woods BW10.50. A beast , and I am sure expensive. Requires a minimum of 45 PTO horsepower. An interesting and little known (I think) tool for the discriminating tractor lover.
 
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