What implements?

[Joemac8]

I have decided to let emotion rule over logic and am getting a JD 3039R. I have 20 acres in northern Wisc that is mostly wooded with my home and garage and about an acre of grass. The road through my property is a large loop that is blacktop and probably 1/4 mile long. A problem I have is encroachment on my road by brush and saplings. I want a tractor to cut grass and brush as well as have a FEL. Now understand, I am an old fart and my use of a tractor has an expiration date. I do however, have a daughter that has several horses and will be buying a place in the next few years to board horses and grow some hay. This is the real reason the Warden is at last, agreeing with buying a tractor.

I have a quote for a JD 3039R along with an H165 loader, a 60D auto connect center mower, and a Frontier RC2060 lift type rotary mower. I also am getting the iMatch quick hitch. Now to the questions:

Is the Frontier RD2060 just a glorified grass cutter? Will it cut brush and saplings that are 1 1/2" diameter? Obviously I don't need two mowers. Will implements from other manufacturers hook up to my iMatch or 3 point hitch, or did JD make it so you can only use their branded implements?

 

[JK22]

That looks like it should chew through brush just fine. Looks to be a legitimate brush hog. I would ditch the center mower unless you need to mow tight spaces around the house. Put that money toward a ballast box or real blade or.... something more useful.

 

[motownbrowne]

I'd agree about ditching the mid mount mower (MMM). Should be able to buy a cheap riding mower to do an acre of grass. Either that or a rear finish mower (RFM) from Craigslist.

 

[JK22]

Or just hit the grass with the brush hog. It won't be the prettiest cut, but who cares... is it landscaped grass or just native grasses?

 

[Joemac8]

Or just hit the grass with the brush hog. It won't be the prettiest cut, but who cares... is it landscaped grass or just native grasses?

It is just native grass. I thought it too long to cut grass in and out and around trees, but maybe I'm overthinking everything.

 

[nybirdman]

I would skip the MMM and purchase a regular lawn mower(about the same money).The bush-hog will take care of all your rough cutting.Most impements will fit on to the three point(they don't need to be Green);I Match I don't know much about.

 

[JK22]

It is just native grass. I thought it too long to cut grass in and out and around trees, but maybe I'm overthinking everything.

Hard to say without seeing the property. If area is too tight, then I might go ahead and get the MMM. Riding mower might be a fine alternative to a MMM, but takes up more room than a MMM, which you can build a shelf and slide it under. I built a shelf that I can store my MMM under, then two shelfs above for my bucket or grapple and plow (one FEL implement stays on the machine). I didn't have the room for a bush hog, but if I did, I would be using a bush hog to mow.

 

[MinnesotaEric]

I have decided to let emotion rule over logic and am getting a JD 3039R. I have 20 acres in northern Wisc that is mostly wooded with my home and garage and about an acre of grass. The road through my property is a large loop that is blacktop and probably 1/4 mile long. A problem I have is encroachment on my road by brush and saplings. I want a tractor to cut grass and brush as well as have a FEL. Now understand, I am an old fart and my use of a tractor has an expiration date. I do however, have a daughter that has several horses and will be buying a place in the next few years to board horses and grow some hay. This is the real reason the Warden is at last, agreeing with buying a tractor.

I have a quote for a JD 3039R along with an H165 loader, a 60D auto connect center mower, and a Frontier RC2060 lift type rotary mower. I also am getting the iMatch quick hitch. Now to the questions:

Is the Frontier RD2060 just a glorified grass cutter? Will it cut brush and saplings that are 1 1/2" diameter? Obviously I don't need two mowers. Will implements from other manufacturers hook up to my iMatch or 3 point hitch, or did JD make it so you can only use their branded implements?

Consider a Woods cutter. I rarely hear of anybody complaining about Woods cutters. Woods cutters have a decent rear bumper for bending material over and making it into bits. The equivalent Woods cutter is a BB60X, and the next step up to a much heavier cutter is the BB600X. Whatever cutter you get, spend the extra money on chains for deflectors. Chains add extra material to the bumpers for bending material over without damaging the backend of the cutter as well as doing a good job of deflecting material. These brush cutters do a good enough job at rough-cutting tall grass.

Skip the belly mower for a nice zero turn (unless you have hills) and consider a suspension seat on the mower for a nice, plush ride.

A rake is better than a blade at surface grading of roads if your driveway is gravel.

A grapple is a very good thing for material handling

Pallet forks.

iMatch is the same thing as a Quick Hitch. SpeeCo makes a good quick hitch as do many others.

Something you have not mentioned that I think is better than buttered bread on a tractor is a hydraulic top link for the three point.

 

[Fastball]

I'm new to working with a tractor as well...and I'd sell my granny for a grapple and bush hog.

 

[WVH1977]

Agree on the grapple. Ditch the MMM and get a grapple right off the bat. Especially since you said it is mostly wooded. It will pay for itself in a year or less.