Davco vs Bradco Brush Cutter

[parisq]

Any help from those with experience with brush cutters. I need a good track loader brush cutter for my ASV-PT100 for personal use. I have a few acres of fairly heavy brush, some waist-high and light and some with 6 or 7 feet tall dense, woody, bushes that you can barely see through, let alone walk. But nothing with a base or trunk over 3-4". As I'm not a commercial user, I'd like to not spend more than I have to, particularly since once the areas are cleared, such heavy-duty use won't be needed again for area maintenance. I'm looking at either a Davco 6470 or a Bradco that will supposedly take out brush and small trees up to 4". The Bradco is almost half the cost of the Davco. I've read elsewhere on this forum (old posts) that the Davco had the show-stopping habit of winding material around the spindle. But, if a $15,000 machine will do that, how goes the Davco? Any thoughts?

 

[QwikDraw]

First question, what are you going to do with the area after mowing?


I have an ammbusher it works OK and would do what you need. The Davco would work equally as well or better but rotary mowers in that sized material leaves a chunky mess. If thatsnot OK then for what you describe it seems a mulch head would work best and give you the best finished product. You could rent one for a few days and not have to spend thousands for an attachment you would only use for 2 or 3 days.

Then again you could just hire me and I could do it for you

How about some pictures?

 

[Eric H]

I have a davco, don't use it much but it will do what you want. It is well built and can stand some abuse. The above post is correct it will not break it down fine, however if you work it down and let it sit and start to breakdown and then remow it, it will get it where you want it. Since this is your own property and its not a job for a customer it may work for you. You may cosider a fecon,rowmec,gyrotrac,dennis cimaf, fae ETC.ETC used mulching head. You might find a used one for the same money. My 02. I have no experience with a Bradco.

 

[parisq]

The field (estimated at 5 to 10 acres) is a pasture that is 50% overgrown. We graze three horses on it but I want to restore it, section it in two or three parcels with temporary fencing and replant with hay grasses. Then rotate every year or so.

Can't find a Magnum/Fecon type of mulcher to rent in my area (South-Central Massachusetts). This would be the best option as it would handle a larger wooded area with small trees that will be next year's project, but I'd still need a rotary cutter for maintenance. Do you place the Davco and Bradco cutters in the same league? The Davco is almost twice the price of the Bradco?

I'll take some photos over the next few days.

 

[QwikDraw]

For the money I am really happy with my Bradco brush cutter and it will handle material up to 4 inches. I would not want to cut 4 inch all day but occasionally is fine. It would be a perfect cutter for maintenance after you mulch the area. I want to say it was around $5.5k. I use it for small acreage field mowing too. BUT the Davco and Ammbusher are built much heavier and will last much longer, if you try to cut big material with the Bradco I don't think it will hold up...a perfect light brush and maintenance cutter.


We have at least 3 dealers in CT that rent mulchers @$400 a day but I know one will only rent to contractors, I'm not sure about the other. You would be responsible for damaged teeth @ $75 per.

I am in north central CT, right by the "notch"

 

[parisq]

I'll send some photos along of the type of brush I'm facing in the field. Your opinion will be a big help in determining what might or might not work. I don't mind spending extra time wearing down a few extra gnarly, thick trunked bushes if it'll save me five to seven grand from buying a heavier cutter--money I can maybe put in maybe a PTO mower for a tractor for yearly maintenance after the rough stuff is gone.

 

[parisq]

Here are some recent photos of the pasture I'm hoping to clear before the ground freezes. The shot with the horse gives you a macro view of a portion of the pasture. The left edge (treeline) is where some of the worse of the brush is. Everything between the treeline and horse is brush, up to 7' tall. A cornucopia of, among other goodies, pokeweed, grape vines and pricker bushes. The silver rule in the pictures is a 48" metal T-Square for perspective. Will a Bradco brush cutter handle this? Clearly a mulching head would. Thanks, guys.

 

[yellowdogsvc]

The davco will do a good job of knocking things down. You may want to run a brush hog or other rotary cutter over the field from time to time to rechop as the Davco will not cut very fine unless you are "chopping" down a larger tree (which can be dangerous).

The Davco is very low maintenance but has very short blades. The short blades chop but don't shred or recut well like a bushhog. If the brush is really thick or wet, the Davco will make short work of knocking it down.

 

[GreatWhitehunter]

Why don't you just hire Ted to do the cutting? He's got the equipment and experiance to do it right. Then just get yourself a woods brush bull for your tractor and maintain what was mowed. While it's fun to run equipment I'd just get a pro to do it right the first time.

Matt

 

[QwikDraw]

Matt, you have a good point...

The pictures don't show anything the Bradco could not handle with ease. If this was a job I was pricing I would use the Bradco or tractor/Bush Hog if it was over 6 or 7 acres. My Bush Hog is rated up to 3.5 inches. You may have to "work" the material a few times to get it where you want it, it would not be a one pass type of mowing.

 

[GreatWhitehunter]

I know you've got the asv but unless your going to be mowing brush alot it's going to be a huge waste of money. I don't know if you've ever mowed anything but after you mow good once it really takes a long time to grow back. I've got brush mowing accounts that I mowed in the early spring.
There only now needing another mowing. And they hadn't been mowed in 25yrs before this year. It was all pasture so not too much brush but enough.
Unless I was going to mow commercially I wouldn't waste my time buying a mower. For what you going to spend I'm sure having it done will be much cheaper. (Ted and I have no affiliation). Believe me I'm the king on buying it myself instead of paying someone but your case just seems like a waste.

Matt

 

[parisq]

Points well taken, gentlemen, and my wife will probably agree to have a pro do it, as much as she wants me out of the house. However, as a semi-retiree new to this property (and large acreage maintenance, in general), it's important to me to do as much as is reasonable and prudent. This is why I moved to the country... to learn and have fun doing it. And the best way to learn is to do. Of course mistakes will be made. Which is why I'm on this forum getting tips from pros like you guys.

Your comments re Bradco being sufficient has potentially already saved me money, money that will be needed elsewhere. Besides the current project of the over-grown pasture, I've additional 140+ acres of pastures and virgin woodland that will need attention over the next year or so. Neither a Bradco or Davco will do much with some of the trees I will face in the woods to cut riding trails and a fence right-of-way. Much of this will probably require a mulching head and be something I will job out.

 

[GreatWhitehunter]

It sounds to me like you need both a rotary type mower and a mulcher. All the more reason to hire it out. I would still pick up a rotary mower to maintain the large acreage. I think you'll find that after the intial mowing/mulching/clearing it really won't need too much maintanence. This is an area where mulchers shine. Here in rocky NE when you clear traditionally you end up dealing with rocks and stumps. Mulchers get the same results without the stump/rock issues so it's really a win win. I've got a client that owns about 100 acres, I've mowed about 10 so far and he wants another 5 or so mowed next week. He asked that I mow it short(these are pasture) and he actually keeps it mowed with a ride on mower. And while I'd love to mow it monthly for him the truth is it really wouldn't make too much sense. We had a real wet summer this year and he still was able to keep it under control. If you end up getting a rotary mower I'd recommend getting a quality unit. Slightly used will be fine. There are alot of lightly used pieces of equipment for sale dirt cheap due to the economic situation. Look around your area for used equipment auctions. If you decide to go new let the dealers bring out demo units for you to run.

Matt

 

[QwikDraw]

How many acres of pasture do you have?

You might need one of these...

 

[parisq]

What rotary cutters would you guys recommend? I notice (Matt) lists the Woods Brushbull on his equipment list. Would it qualify? Also, how many hours (or seasons) qualifies as "slightly used"?

QuickDraw,
I'm embarrassed to say that I don't know exactly how much pasture acreage we have. I would estimate at between 8 and 12 (some with a few weird angles making my geometry a joke). That's some impressive rig in your photo. Yours and what?

 

[Heavyduty]

How many acres of pasture do you have?

You might need one of these...

Nice set up. How do you transport the tractor with that long pull behind batwing?

 

[QwikDraw]

Yep, she's mine...

I still don't have a big enough trailer so I have make two trips or have a buddy pull one for me.

I have 300+ acres (2 jobs) to do before mid December. I hope the snow holds off long enough

 

[GreatWhitehunter]

I've used a few and really like the WOODS. They sell an even heavier duty model so no worries on reliabilty. Ted looks to have a Bush Hog brand I've heard good things about them also. Landpride is another good one. There are a few other good ones but not as well know as the three I listed here. I believe Kodiak is pretty good but I'm unaware of local dealers. Remember pto's are more effecient than hydralic motors so make sure you compare apple to apples when you shop. I've mowed 4" trees no problem with mine and the cutter doesn't even seem to notice. The blades on mine al almost 1" thick and show almost no wear.

Matt

 

[parisq]

Thanks. Big help. Woods and Landpride are looking to top the short list. Curious, how, with a tractor and PTO mower, does one tackle, say, something like a 7' tall, 15' diameter woody "pricker bush" (Japanese barberry, I think). Do you plunge right in, face first, with the tractor and bull over it, back into it?

 

[WestshoreConstruction]

Thanks. Big help. Woods and Landpride are looking to top the short list. Curious, how, with a tractor and PTO mower, does one tackle, say, something like a 7' tall, 15' diameter woody "pricker bush" (Japanese barberry, I think). Do you plunge right in, face first, with the tractor and bull over it, back into it?

I don't think you do..... dangerous. I have not had any experience with the Bradco but I do have a Davco and I can tell you they are the next best thing to a mulcher. Yes they are more expensive the material is a little "Chunky" but I have one with over 2500 hrs and all I have done other than greasing it daily is changing the odd blade and sharpening them. Oh yeah I belw a hose once again not the cutters fault tho.