Pictures from a skid steer mowing contractor

[mra400ex]

My neighbor has hired a guy to clear areas of his land, next to he creek, three times in the last five years. They do a great job of opening it all up and making it look great, but then he never keeps it mowed and in a few months, it's all overgrown again. In my opinion, it comes back thicker every time it's been mowed. I have the same stuff growing on my place, next to the creek, but I dug it all out with my backhoe, and hauled it to my burn pile. There are no more roots in the ground after I dig it out, so it's super easy to maintain once it's opened up. I'm about 80% done clearing my area, and he's worse now then when he started.

I agree. If mulched up or cut it has to be followed by keeping it cut or it comes back stronger. I bush hog a place once a year and with the roots already established the small trees grow back with a vegence. Like over 6 feet tall in a year. I have a small dozer and a backhoe and like your post says, "Get rid of the roots and you are done" Customers I have had I always tell them if you mulch it up you have to keep cutting to get under control. I pluck and push down with the dozer and then come back across it at 90 degrees and pluck the material out. Actually works very well.

 

[Lineman North Florida]

Can't quite wrap my head around the thousands of dollars people pay for a skidsteer and brush cutter.

Over here, a 100HP tractor with a chain brush cutter will cost about $100 to $120/hour and will run circles around the skidsteer while leaving the same, if not a better finish most of the times.

About the only thing that would beat it in finish would be a mulcher, but even that is ran off the tractor.

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While the chain mower does look like it does a pretty nice job, that statement about it running circles around a skid steer is strictly your opinion not fact, I put my CTL in some places that are really tight for it much less a 100 hp tractor, I suspect that both have there places. I can come up with as many reasons that I like a skid steer/ CTL as you have for a tractor with a brush cutter with chains but the main one would be I like the way that the skid/ CTL puts the work in front of me and not with my neck twisted around behind me.

 

[ptsg]

While the chain mower does look like it does a pretty nice job, that statement about it running circles around a skid steer is strictly your opinion not fact, I put my CTL in some places that are really tight for it much less a 100 hp tractor, I suspect that both have there places. I can come up with as many reasons that I like a skid steer/ CTL as you have for a tractor with a brush cutter with chains but the main one would be I like the way that the skid/ CTL puts the work in front of me and not with my neck twisted around behind me.

It's not an opinion. I've seen both working and there is a reason why I can probably count with the fingers on my hand the amount of Skidsteers doing brush cutting in this country and it's not because the tractor will run cheaper.

As far as size of tractor, well, we have 100 HP tractors in the size of a Kubota L6060, just like we have bigger ones too. I said 100HP tractor as an example, in reality, many people who brush cutting for a living, end up using a tractor in the 50 to 75HP range, the smallest the better. Small enough to move just fine in tight spots and yet can do big areas as well.

As far as turning the neck, there are plenty of tractors offered in the market with reversible operators platform if that's actually an issue.

 

[Lineman North Florida]

What’s your round bale weight? Mine were 800-900lbs. Ever since I switched to the large square baler, I have been able to start making “cubes” that weigh about the same as my 4x5 round bales (most weigh 850-900lbs with 12-15% moisture).
Then my round baler became useless and I sold it.

I sort of had to switch as most of my larger buyers want big bales. Round bales are still great for my small buyers. Most have been happy with my new “cube” configuration.

With your flat land you have there, round bales are very sensible. On my hilly fields, the large square baler is perfect.

They also double stack nicely in tight barns or run in sheds.

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I'm gonna guess about like yours give or take a few pounds one way or the other, I can for sure see from your photos with how steep some of the fields are why the large square bales make sense , down here the money is in the small squares, that large square bale rig you have is sweet, almost as sweet as your front mounted cutter.

 

[scootr]

Those chain blade brush hogs probably require the 1080 rpms Euro machines produce. My Terex 640 had both speeds... but I only had 540 equipment. That chain cutter does look sweet.

 

[ptsg]

Those chain blade brush hogs probably require the 1080 rpms Euro machines produce. My Terex 640 had both speeds... but I only had 540 equipment. That chain cutter does look sweet.

It runs on 540 PTO rpm.

 

[scootr]

I want one... But I don't see one for sale in the USA

 

[scootr]

I want one... But I don't see one for sale in the USA

Has anybody converted a blade BH to chains?

 

[Rustyiron]

I've sure thought about it. My only concern is I run a twin spindle 8' cut and not knowing any better it's easy to envision the chains (although timed) contacting each other. Then there seems to be a "hub" type center that the chain's attach to that's much closer to the ground. (The blades have about a 2-3" drop to be close to the level of the ground skids/deck apron.

 

[scootr]

I've sure thought about it. My only concern is I run a twin spindle 8' cut and not knowing any better it's easy to envision the chains (although timed) contacting each other. Then there seems to be a "hub" type center that the chain's attach to that's much closer to the ground. (The blades have about a 2-3" drop to be close to the level of the ground skids/deck apron.

I'm tempted to find an old BH to experiment with. I've sold a couple over the yrs. Wish I had kept one now