Misunderstanding Mid Mowers

[shane]

I have a Land Pride 60" rear mower. I know I am biased. However, I for the life of me do not understand the claim that one can mow around trees closer with a MMM. When I am done mowing with my rear mount all I need is a little touch up with the ole weed whipper. Not to mention being able to back under low limbs, swings, or into inside corners. So, what am I not seeing about the MMM trimming around trees? I know it must be true since so many folks say it, but I just don't understand.

 

[GaryM]

I've been using my LandPride rear mower for a few years and I can understand how a mid mount lets you trim around trees easier. A mid mount will follow the front wheels of the tractor around a circle. The circle made by the mower will be smaller in diameter than the circle made by the front wheels. You could easily trim around a circle maybe 4' across.

With a rear mount mower, the circle followed will be much larger than that described by the front wheels. In fact it's larger than than described by the rear wheels. So if there's a mulch mound around your tree, you just can't make a circle around the tree and have it match the mulch mound. But you can do pretty well in reverse. The circle described by the mower in reverse will be much smaller that that of the front wheels. Gives me a stiff neck though.

I do agree with the advantages you list. I'll add being able to hang the rear mower over a bank or down into a ditch.

 

[JimR]

I have a 72" MMM on my Cub Cadet. I can easily spin arouns trees if there are no branches in the way by locking a rear brake to make the tractor turn tighter. Usually there are branches keeping me from doing this. The rear mount mower is also easier and faster to attach than a MMM.

 

[Inspector507]

I have used both for quite a few years now. This is strictly my experience.....
The MMM is easier and quicker to use if you have no low hanging branches, such as in higher than my head and roll bar. If I use the RFM, I have to keep backing up and getting around each side of the tree trunk. But if that tree has branches 24" of the ground, I can only get as close as the branch line if using the MMM.

So...I guess I'd say, it's much easier to use the MMM in some instances and the RFM in others, just depends on your personal situation.
Right now, I have not trimmed my apple trees and several years. With the MMM there is going to be 8-10' of unmowed grass all around the trees. With the RFM, I can get it all.

 

[shane]

Well, what does RFM stand for?

 

[Volfandt]

RFM = rear finish mower.

I used to mow a couple acres w/a 5' bush hog and since it was mainly straight in line mowing without any obstacles it was a breeze. Only time it didn't cut well was in corners. To get the corners squared up I'd either do a quick gear down or slow the RPM's down. Turning tight corners beside fence rows took additional manuvering also, or you could take some fence out....

I mow the same area with a 60" MMM and the difference is night & day, in the MMM's favor

Cutting around trees and the Mrs' flower gardens is very easy since I built them all out with a circle of mulch. Don't have to change directions at all now, just cut the tight circle. Couldn't do that with a rear mounted cutter even with the mulch build out....

Volfandt

 

[NewToy]

I also have a LandPride RFM with side discharge. I have found that the side discharge suits me better as I make circles around the house and throw all the grass away from the house. It ends up making a much cleaner job in my particular application. I also have some rugged ground contours on some of the 6+ acres I regularly mow and the RFM floats over these irregularities better than a belly mower does. Also, this being my second year mowing with this setup I found that the experience I have gained makes getting close to things much easier. Like Shane I just need a weed whackin' to complete the job. I use the tractor in the woods clearing land so a belly mower would be a hindrance as ground clearance is an issue. My RFM can be installed or removed in less than 2 minutes.
John

 

[GaryM]

If I ever build another house, I'm going to make sure that there are no inside corners. Those are hard to mow around. And maybe the house footprint could be an oval.

 

[thcri]

Not to mention being able to back under low limbs, swings, or into inside corners.

I don't know about you guys but I am getting old. And I sure don't want to be turned around backing under things all the time as my neck sure would hurt. If I have trees with low branches, they get trimmed up, if the tree don't like it, it can leave as far as I am concerned. My neighbor bought a Cub with a RFM. He used it one year and now the RFM sits in the weeds. He has a MMM now and loves it.

murph

 

[daTeacha]

You guys need to try out a Steiner with a FFM. That's front finish mower. It gives you all the advantages of driving a RFM in reverse except you can see what you're doing and not be acting like a character out of The Exorcist while doing it.