Mowing 54 or 60 inch mmm

[Chugbug]

Looking a buying a mower deck for my BX25. I enjoy my time outside on my toy (oooppps) tractor so cutting time is not an issue. I have an 8 X 5 trailer to load the tractor only on, how much difference is the 54 inch cut from the 60. I'm thinking the 54 so I can get in on the trailer, not a lot of trees to cut around. Thoughts???

 

[Jim in ICT]

Go 54" or buy a bigger trailer.

 

[TripleR]

When going from 54" cut on my JD to a 60" on my Kubota, I was somewhat apprehensive, but I wouldn't even think of getting another 54". Mowing time is only one consideration for me. I like being able to trim better under obstacles, in ditches and along banks. I have a 5x8 trailer, but wouldn't haul anything as heavy as a Kubota, so I bought a bigger one.

 

[TheFlatlander]

Get the largest deck that your property/situation allows.

 

[dodge man]

Get the 60" deck, like someone else said, the left side stick out a little further and lets you get under things better.

 

[KeithInSpace]

I love my 60" MMM.

Just because the deck CUTS 54", don't automatically assume it will fit on a 5' wide trailer. There are a few inches on the left side for the deck itself and on the right side, the deck shroud flares into the chute, adding even more width. You can bungee the chute up, but even it has 'ears' that stick out.

If you measure the deck tip-to-tip, I have a beer that says it won't fit on a 5' wide landscape trailer.

I'd buy to the property...not to the trailer. Another way to put it is that the deck you're buying costs at least twice as much as your trailer...my 5' x 10' trailer cost me ~$750 in 2003...you can get a big single axle or a small double axle for much less than $2,000. Try not to let the tail wag the dog.

 

[bullet3z]

Sell the trailer you have. You will more than likely get what you paid for it. There is always someone looking to purchase a 5x8 trailer. Then go with the 60" deck. I have a lawn tractor now with a 54" deck and it is not as big as I thought it would be.

on a side note. I just looked at a the 72" deck at the dealership and that thing looked really big.

 

[Grandad4]

That's pretty good advice. I bought the 54" deck with my 2230 specifically so it would fit my 5'x10' trailer, which it does, but it turns out we have not trailered it with the deck mounted in over 5 years. It's always bare tractor or with FEL + some 3pt implement. The 54" works fine for our uses, but we could have gone with the 60" just as easily. Of course, others may have different needs.

 

[KeithInSpace]

...72" deck...

For a BX?

...have not trailered it with the deck mounted in over 5 years.

The only time I trailered mine with the mower deck was for service. I did it on my 5' x 10' trailer ONCE.

Actually, I didn't do it...I loaded my deck, took it to the dealership, used one of their tractors to remove it, drove to the house, loaded my tractor and took IT to the dealership...reverse procedure to come home. Pain in the rear.

The prospect of future $300 pickup/delivery charges, inconvenience, and constantly overloading my little trailer prompted me to purchase my big trailer. I LOOOOOOOVE my big trailer.

 

[LBrown59]

Looking at buying a mower deck for my BX25. I enjoy my time outside on my toy (oooppps)
1*So cutting time is not an issue.
2* I have an 8 X 5 trailer to load the tractor only on, how much difference is the 54 inch cut from the 60.
3*I'm thinking the 54 so I can get in on the trailer,
4*not a lot of trees to cut around. Thoughts???

1*The volume of trimming left to do after mowing is.
2*Is this a 1 or 2 axel?
Does it have brakes all axels?
What do you tow it with?
3*I'd get a bigger trailer .
I'm looking for 1 18 foot long at least 7 feet wide for my bx23.
4*I's not the trees that matter it's the ability to trim along ditches and banks .
The narrower 54'' mower forces you keep farther away thus leaving a larger area to trim with a back breakin string trimmer.
The 54 '' mower causes scraping / scratching damages to the tractor or you have stay so far away from objects which results in more trimming .

When going from 54" cut on my JD to a 60" on my Kubota, I was somewhat apprehensive, but
1*I wouldn't even think of getting another 54".
2*Mowing time is only one consideration for me. I like being able to trim better under obstacles, in ditches and along banks.
3* I have a 5x8 trailer, but wouldn't haul anything as heavy as a Kubota, so I bought a bigger one.

1*Rite on.
2*Yeah .
3*Way to small.

1*Get the largest deck that your property/situation allows.

1*Correct

1*Get the 60" deck, like someone else said, the left side stick out a little further and lets you get under things better.

1*Even a 60'' leaves more to trim along ditches and banks than I want.

 

[timswi]

I have a 54" on my BX and I love it. It cuts plenty close to everything. I cut around 2 acres with with a bit of edging. I must be missing something here.

I never regretted skipping the 60 due to a mildly imperfect yard, was afraid of scalping. I've had this thing for 6 years.

 

[Kubota-guy1911]

Either deck will serve you well. I have the 60" for my 3 acres. I'm concerned about the weight of a BX with a mower deck on that little trailer. You're not too far from 1600 lbs with the deck, not including you sitting on it. Maybe your trailer is pretty stout but I don't think I've seen one that size that could safely handle that much weight. Good Luck.

kj

 

[LBrown59]

I have a 54" on my BX and I love it. It cuts plenty close to everything. I cut around 2 acres with with a bit of edging.
1*I must be missing something here.

I never regretted skipping the 60 due to a mildly imperfect yard, was afraid of scalping. I've had this thing for 6 years.

You mite be, but i don't know how to explane it to you :confused2:

 

[timswi]

You mite be, but i don't know how to explane it to you :confused2:

No need to explain..I just think that this is whole lot of pontificating over nothing.

 

[LBrown59]

1*I'd buy to the property...not to the trailer.
2* Try not to let the tail wag the dog.

1*Good Sense.
2*There you go.

 

[irvingj]

I think the Kubota and MF decks are quite similar... with the removal of a couple of bolts, I was able to fit my 60" deck/tractor into my rather narrow parking spot. Simple solution- remove the discharge flapper/deflector.

I also feel that the deck does a better job of dispersing grass clippings (rather than leaving a ridge) with the discharge "chute" off.

That makes mine 62-1/2" wide, but perhaps that's still too wide for your trailer... just a thought.

 

[roma3112]

I would go with the 60"mmm, i looked at both and because i had a lot of areas where the 60" made it easier to trim around obstacles. I found a good used deck on craigslist that was for a bx2200, i made it fit here is the link if you are handy with tools or ave a neighbor that is you can save yourself some serious $$$. I would start looking now though as with anything with spring here used prices are going up.

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/kubota-owning-operating/148308-bx24-mmm-compability.html

 

[TripleR]

No need to explain..I just think that this is whole lot of pontificating over nothing.

I too was perfectly satisfied with my 54" deck for a lot of years and did not buy a new machine because of any dissatisfaction with its performance. Having owned and used a 54" and 60", I much prefer the 60" for my application and would recommend anyone contemplating purchase of a new machine to "consider" getting a bigger deck.

As someone else said on here before, bigger isn't always better, sometimes it's just bigger. No one is knocking what works best for you, just trying to help someone make an informed buying decision.

 

[keyman1808]

I saw several on Ebay and CL locally here in the North East. Just be patient and look everyday. thats how I got my 60" MMM and my BX2750 snowblower. Now just need to find a bagger. Anyone know of one for sale in the northeast??

 

[SPYDERLK]

I have a 54" on my BX and I love it. It cuts plenty close to everything. I cut around 2 acres with with a bit of edging. I must be missing something here.

I never regretted skipping the 60 due to a mildly imperfect yard, was afraid of scalping. I've had this thing for 6 years.

You will get a tighter radius of your tractors tightest cut circle with the wider mower. This could save some maneuvering to get close enuf in one circle. Also as mentioned by TripleR it will better go under the overhang on bushes or other elevated obstructions. Its simply that it sticks out further. Better for mowing next to a lake too. Offsetting the advantages, it limits where you can fit, and takes more power, and the uneven ground issue you have.
larry