Bush Hog Suggestions

rwork · Oct 10, 2015

I've got a R3039H, and have been considering getting a bush hog and was wondering what other 3039 owners were using, 5' or 6'? Mine is a hydrostat, so I have 29 hp @ pto. My machine measures 66" width, if that is a big factor.

Creamer · Oct 10, 2015

I think you are light on HP for a 6' but I would still probably get it so it is as wide as the tractor.

boomer632 · Oct 11, 2015

Good rule of thumb for implements is 5hp per foot. That said.. you will be ok with a 6 footer with a 39hp tractor with 30 at pto

smstonypoint · Oct 11, 2015

I agree that it is preferable to have a cutter that is at least as wide as your tractor.

The major manufacturers produce both light- and heavier-duty cutters of the same width. For example, it looks like Woods has five 6' single spindle cutters with minimum HP requirements ranging from 20 to 50 HP (Rotary Cutters). Also, I believe that the manufacturers tend to be conservative in specifying the minimum HP requirements of their cutters, so you shouldn't have any difficulty in handling a cutter with a minimum HP requirement of 30 HP.

Steve

nybirdman · Oct 11, 2015

All depends what you are cutting.I went from a 5ft. to a 6ft. on a 44hp tractor and found in very thick 7ft.tall canary grass I have to slow down to a crawl.
I think a six footer on your tractor would be pushing it.

rwork · Oct 11, 2015

I'll most likely consider a medium duty, 5 footer. I really don't have a lot of use for a bush hog, but once in a while, I wish I had one! A few times a year, it would be nice for mowing the ditch along the drive.

dntfxr · Oct 12, 2015

I would go 6' and if you get in really thick stuff just slow down or take a smaller swath. But at least you'd cover your tracks.

smstonypoint · Oct 12, 2015

rwork said:
I'll most likely consider a medium duty, 5 footer. I really don't have a lot of use for a bush hog, but once in a while, I wish I had one! A few times a year, it would be nice for mowing the ditch along the drive.

And your strategy for mowing along the ditch when your tractor is wider than the cutter?

Steve

rwork · Oct 12, 2015

LOL! Straddle it I guess?? It's a shallow ditch. Just bad about getting woody brush growing up in it during summer months.
I'm kinda on the line between width of tractor, and availabe pto power. I tealize that a six footer would allow me to cut closer to objects, but it would also be at the limit of necessary pto hp (29).

MMagis · Oct 13, 2015

boomer632 said:
Good rule of thumb for implements is 5hp per foot. That said.. you will be ok with a 6 footer with a 39hp tractor with 30 at pto

Who came up with that rule of thumb? I suppose it may work if you’re cutting light weeds, but in general that’s way oversized. According to that, I could run an 8’ with my Ford 3000. Not going to happen. In fact, there are times when the 5’ I have is too much and I need to slow to a crawl to make it through high/thick grass.
As was mentioned, it’s very dependent on what you plan to cut. But with only 29hp, 5’ will be the absolute max. And plan to overlap a lot in heavy grass.