Comparison Fair to compare Woods & King Kutter?

[tillboy2001]

I had a Bish Hog RDTH72 in the past and was happy with it except for a few things. It's a rear discharge but I wouldn't say it really discharged anything. The grass just sort of stayed under the deck and came out as I rolled along. It wasn't really thrown out at all. Taller grass clumped up pretty bad. I'm not using this to mow a manicured lawn...but more like a field that's not very rough. A few rough places, yes...but not too bad overall.

I have a Frontier rotary cutter at the moment and was thinking of selling it and buying a finish mower again. Instead of looking at Bush Hog again, I started researching some other brands. Besides the Bush Hog that was I fairly comfortable with, I found these two and would like some opinions.

Woods PRD7200
King Kutter RFM-72

From what I can tell just by looking at the specs and features, I really like the Woods. However, the King Kutter seems pretty descent too and is likely a fair amount less $$$. I'm guessing the King Kutter to be in the $1,700 range and the Woods to be in the $2,200 range?

Anyway, is it even fair to compare these two or are they in different classes? I don't want something cheap. The quality of the Bush Hog I had in the past was very good in my opinion so if these are both comparable or even better than that, I guess that's all I need to know and then it's down to comparing features. The Woods seems to be the best one right now from what I know. Even better than Bush Hog?

 

[Spencer C]

The KK will have a Chinese gearbox, whereas the Woods will not.

 

[TripleR]

I have used and owned KK, Rhino, Woods and Land Pride. Between the two mentioned my choice would be the Woods.

 

[Ford tractor]

Is it fair to compare? Well, yeah it's always fair to compare. The KK is a decent light duty machine with a China gear box. Quality on that gear box has been the weak point in the past. Dunno about the current crop.

The Woods is overall a better cutter, but costs more. Higher (if not 100%) USA parts content.

It's your wallet, but I would get the woods. But I was taught to buy once by buying quality.

 

[tillboy2001]

Good to know about the KK gearbox. Thanks. Looks like the Woods is the way to go if we don't end up getting another Bush Hog (still debating that too....maybe an ATH model).

 

[TripleR]

Good to know about the KK gearbox. Thanks. Looks like the Woods is the way to go if we don't end up getting another Bush Hog (still debating that too....maybe an ATH model).

Also a very good choice.

 

[sweettractors]

If you want Landpride/Woods quality and features below KK price, Here is the Finish Mower for you. Ken Sweet

 

[devildog1]

I own a Woods 72" RFM and have for two years, it has preformed great. I only cut about 2 acres of lawn but it give me a cut almost equal to my 48" garden tractor, I say almost because my lawn is not perfectly level and the 72" does not float over impressions as well as a shorter width would. Land Pride also makes a great RFM.
DevilDog

 

[tillboy2001]

If you want Landpride/Woods quality and features below KK price, Here is the Finish Mower for you. Ken Sweet

Sent you an email, Ken. I have a few questions.

 

[Code54]

I looked at Woods and K.K also and went with the Woods. Ended up getting the 72" with center roller for $1850 - it was good deal but they are out there. I felt the quality was there to justify the price. There is nothing worse than saving a few dollars now only to have to buy a new one in a few years due to a failure of the original.
good luck

 

[Porkie]

In your original post, it looked like you were using a rotary cutter that is of course not used for finish mowing. I use a Bush Hog Squealer 72 in the fields and a 7 ft finish mower for the lawn. These impliments are for different purposes.

Sam

 

[rdewey]

The Woods PRD mower uses tapered roller bearings in the spindles and offers a 3-yr warranty on the spindle. No other mower offers a warranty like this. You get a 5 yr on the gearbox. Woods created the rear mount mower business before most of these companies were in business and there isn't another mower that matches the spec's.

 

[IslandTractor]

If you want Landpride/Woods quality and features below KK price, Here is the Finish Mower for you. Ken Sweet

Italian??

If so they make good equipment.

 

[manganos]

I used a 72" FirstChoice behind my Kioti 3054 and the cut was awesome. I'd buy another if I had that much lawn to mow again.

 

[sweettractors]

Italian??

If so they make good equipment.

Yes, Italian. Made by Sicma. I think this factory also produces for Frontier John Deere products as well. Ken Sweet

 

[MessickFarmEqu]

there is alot of meat in the PRD's that don't show on a spec sheet. Things like cast pullys, tapered bearings, heavier belts,etc. The Woods frontier products are built more like KK and these other brands.

 

[Diamondpilot]

KK mowers are junk. At least that was my experience. I bought one new in July 2003 for $1000, it was a 60" side discharge. By the Spring of 2008 I had spent $800 on repair parts. Every spindle, idler, all the tires and wheels, plus many belts had been replaced. The gear box was the only thing I did not have a issue with.

It was very frustrating having it break and then having to wait days for the parts and to add insult to injury I had to pay my neighbor a few times to do my mowing.

I gave up and got a 72" rear discharge Caroni in the spring of 2008. I have lost one $0.20 bolt and that is it. It cuts great and has been so trouble free the bolt was lost because I never had to put wrenches to it. 3 great seasons with it now and I am sure many more.

The main issue to me with the KK was two areas. The tires are pneumatic. I have many dips in my yard and the little tires would roll off the rims tearing the valve steams. $300 for new tires solved that issue. I had them foam filled. The other issue is it used a long belt, had about 8 idler pulleys, and 3 spindles. Too many moving parts. My Caroni has 2 short belts and just 3 spindles. No idlers. The KK would have a idler start to go out and chew up a $50 belt in the process. So now you need a belt, idler, and freight so it quickly becomes over $100 to fix it each time this happens.

Anyway, run from KK.

Chris

 

[tillboy2001]

Thanks for all the comments/info. Definitely helps.

Yes, I have a rotary cutter now and I realize a finish mower is for a different purpose. I had a finish mower before the rotary cutter and I think I made a mistake going to a rotary cutter. Our land is not really so rough that we 'need' a rotary cutter and i definitely like the look the finish mower leaves. Plus the finish mowers are smaller and easier to get in and out of trees, turn around, more room in the garage, etc.

 

[TripleR]

KK mowers are junk. At least that was my experience. I bought one new in July 2003 for $1000, it was a 60" side discharge. By the Spring of 2008 I had spent $800 on repair parts. Every spindle, idler, all the tires and wheels, plus many belts had been replaced. The gear box was the only thing I did not have a issue with.

It was very frustrating having it break and then having to wait days for the parts and to add insult to injury I had to pay my neighbor a few times to do my mowing.

I gave up and got a 72" rear discharge Caroni in the spring of 2008. I have lost one $0.20 bolt and that is it. It cuts great and has been so trouble free the bolt was lost because I never had to put wrenches to it. 3 great seasons with it now and I am sure many more.

The main issue to me with the KK was two areas. The tires are pneumatic. I have many dips in my yard and the little tires would roll off the rims tearing the valve steams. $300 for new tires solved that issue. I had them foam filled. The other issue is it used a long belt, had about 8 idler pulleys, and 3 spindles. Too many moving parts. My Caroni has 2 short belts and just 3 spindles. No idlers. The KK would have a idler start to go out and chew up a $50 belt in the process. So now you need a belt, idler, and freight so it quickly becomes over $100 to fix it each time this happens.

Anyway, run from KK.

Chris

We have two Caroni RFM's and they have been really good mowers. My FIL wasn't much on maintenance and spun a bearing and wore the stud out, so we put a new bearing on with JB weld and ten years later it is still running. These things were used hard.

 

[IslandTractor]

Thanks for all the comments/info. Definitely helps.

Yes, I have a rotary cutter now and I realize a finish mower is for a different purpose. I had a finish mower before the rotary cutter and I think I made a mistake going to a rotary cutter. Our land is not really so rough that we 'need' a rotary cutter and i definitely like the look the finish mower leaves. Plus the finish mowers are smaller and easier to get in and out of trees, turn around, more room in the garage, etc.

Consider a flail mower if you need something between finish and rough. Lots of reading here on TBN.