Consolidating equipment...flail mower

[tlj87]

Over the past few years, we've been upgrading and downsizing the number of pieces of equipment we have. Four tractors to two, three utility vehicles to two. I am now looking at implements -- particularly mowers. I have a Woods PRD8400 7' finish mower and a Woods M80 80" dual spindle brush hog that we use on our Ford 3000. I am wondering if these two items could be combined into a one mower -- a flail mower. I've been reading some of the threads on here about them and they seem appealing. I don't really do much actual brush cutting with our current brush hog... Mostly tall grass, golden rod, and light brush, e.g. multiflora rose. We do a fair bit of regular lawn grass cutting, about 8 acres, with areas of pine tree roots due to our gravely ground. I am interested in the Caroni unit, but am not sure where to get it. Is Agri-Supply the main vendor in the US? I assume they ship (I am in PA in their stores are in the SE US). I've also read that the mower they are currently offering has rough cut knives... Can you specify a different knife set when ordering? I also assume for my purposes of lawn grass with tree roots and occasional tall grass that fine cut knives would be preferred.

My local go-to Kubota dealer only had a Landpride unit to offer, and it was very, very pricey (about $7500-8000 for an 88" LP) Woods doesn't make a 3 pt flail mower (I like Woods equip.).

Any suggestions on width? Our Ford 3000 gas is about 40 hp PTO. It runs our 7' finish mower fine. Agri Supply only offers a 73" flail mower. Will I miss the additional 11", or will 73" be plenty for my machine to run?

Should I instead be looking for a used reputable unit like Mott, Ford, JD, Tiger?

 

[Fallon]

I ran my 7' ancient Ford 917 flail behind my 2hp PTO L3200 with good results. Had to go slower than with my 5' rotary, but got a better cut while being easier on me, my equipment & delivering a superior cut.

I keep looking at the widest CAT1 hydraulic offset WoodMaxx flail to backup/replace my ancient 917. Carconi has a creative reputation around here. Know you can get different knives & rotors, but haven't looked at it close yet myself.

Read the insane several hundred page flail thread. Lots of stuff on Caroni flails there doing back years.

 

[CADplans]

I would never consider my JD 390 flail a "lawn" mower,,,
it gives a cut quality exactly half way between a single bladed "bushhog" and a RFM,,,

I think the flail uses less HP than a RFM,,,
I will never own a large bushhog,, but, I do have a 30" one for my Gravely walk behind,,
it is nice for cleaning up in places I will not take the flail,,