Rob,
I purchased a Frontier 60" RFM for my new 3720. I have been using it for the first time this week. Frontier mowers are made by Woods, so the comparison would be similar. So far, this mower seems excellent. It is well constructed and very quiet. The gearbox and belt noise is much less than that on my father's 335 Garden Tractor!! I purchased the smaller size for manuverability and hauling purposes, and I also got the side discharge because I did not want the clippings discharged out the back. If you go with Frontier, you can use the I match hitch, which I think is the single best tractor innovation in decades. It makes hooking up and removing the mower a snap. I do know that the Frontier products and the Woods name products are slightly more expensive in most cases than Befco, etc. The constuction seems slightly heavier, although the Befco, etc. are well made. Frontier also markets an "economy" line of rear discharge mowers that also are I match compatible. They have slightly lighter gauge steel in the deck and the gearbox is not quite as long lived. My dealer runs one though on his tractor and has 1500 trouble free hours of use. Aside from clipping dispersion, which I feel is not quite as good, it offers a great cut. So far, my mower cuts as well in most cases as the 62" center deck on my previous X595, and that's saying something. For me, my advice would be to look at a 72" or larger Frontier economy deck, and use the savings to get the I match hitch if you do not have one. I bet you will come close to the Befco in price, and have the quick hitch. I would not look at those other brands, as it they cannot be cheap enough to merit getting them over such great mowers as Woods, Frontier and Befco, and if you are looking at the Woods you may as well get the Frontier since they are about the same. Hopefully this helps some. Oh, pneumatic tires (four of them) and an anti scalp front roller (which does not always come stock) is essential.
John M
