scootr
Super Member
- Joined
- Aug 9, 2022
- Messages
- 5,051
- Location
- Temecula California
- Tractor
- Kubota MX5200 HST, 773 Bobcat, Cat forklift
Too funny now - my buddy just called and sold me an old Brush Hog model 12 mower for $200.
Let us know how it turns out, I would really like to see how it handles 6" - 8" small trees and saplings, more how it processes them verses the skid steer/ CTL with brush cutter.Too funny now - my buddy just called and sold me an old Brush Hog model 12 mower for $200.
We all have our own opinions, I'm glad that the setup used in your country works good for you guys, we don't do to bad over here with what we use.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.
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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Shields?Most people don’t buy a skid steer for the sole purpose of running a mower. Buying a cutter for a CTL that you already own is a lot cheaper than buying a dedicated setup. I already have a skid steer for my construction business and a $6,000 cutter turns it into a pretty capable brush cutter. A forestry tractor would be dang near useless for the rest of my needs. If you already own a tractor you’d probably buy a tractor mower but a tractor needs tens of thousands of dollars of shields to be used like that where the skid steer is a lot more capable in stock configuration.
Shields?
Usually a row of safety chained gets it done. If you’re really into some serious junk, you can get double rows of chains.
I’ve probably bush hogged 10,000 hours and never had an object hit the cab with any force to break anything with 1 row of chains.
Really not much of anything has hit the cab.
I did spend a very precarious hour trapped in a stalled skid steer with a mower blocking the door. That scared the excrement out of me.
Definitely a skid steer is better than a farm tractor in the woods, but still vulnerable to windshield breakage, rollover, or losing a track on a log or stump, as I have found out.I meant shields for the tractor itself. A regular tractor is a long way away from being forestry equipment.
A regular skidsteer is too. If you dont have a forestry package/ lexan door you are playing with fate every time you turn on that mower.I meant shields for the tractor itself. A regular tractor is a long way away from being forestry equipment.