Rotary Cutter What is the biggest stuff you cut with a 48" brush hog?

[howie70]

As the title says, what is the biggest stuff you cut with a 4' brush hog?
The reason I ask is I just had a somewhat unpleasant conversation with a dealer. I will not mention their name because they are an advertiser on here, (which was one reason I called them) and it seems most have had favorable experiences with them.

I called and was asking about a 42" & 48" cutter. I was asking about specs such as weight, width, deck thickness etc since this company doesn't have anything on their website. The gentleman started off saying he didn't know much about them because cutters were in the other store but he would try to answer my questions. When I ask about the maximum cutting diameter he told me no one lists that on their cutter. I said that some do. For example Land Pride lists 2" for the RCR 42" & 48". He came back and ask 2" what? 2" pine? 2" oak" 2" walnut? I said they don't go as far to specify what type of 2" sapling. I just want to know if this cutter I was asking about lists a maximum recommended cutting diameter. He then proceeded to tell me I had no business trying to take a cutter that small over a 1" sapling. Although he never ask what tractor I had, he said my tractor couldn't handle it and again said I had no business even attempting it. He seemed to be a little ticked off. I know that the 4' are lightweight cutters, but I have seen the specs on some give a maximum recommended cutting diameter. This guy went from not knowing of he could answer to telling me I had no business attempting something with a tractor that he knew nothing about. I finally just cut him off and told him thanks for his help but that his prices were higher than another I was looking at anyway.
I was actually trying to support an advertiser on here due to the all the helpful info I have gathered here lurking and since joining. Won't happen with this one again.

 

[Midniteoyl]

The DR Field and Brush will take down 3"-4" stuff with a little effort.. and its a 30" single bladed 17hp machine...

 

[LD1]

You sure that guy wasnt mistaking and thinking a finish mower??

If you cannot even mow a 1" sapling (which is pretty easy with a cheap $10 machete), then whats the point of even owning a rotary cutter:laughing:

Sounds like the guy was totally un-informed and a complete idiot.

As to the question about what the max a 4' cutter can handle......

AS you know, it depends on the cutter/mfg. And it is usually based on how big(robust) of a gearbox they put on it.

I'd probably guess that most are 2" max though. And my interpretation of that means that an occasional 2" sapling is no big deal. Just dont go cut a field full of em an you'll be fine. But 1", on ANY cutter, I wouldnt even bat an eye.

 

[DFB]

I easily hammered 1-2" maple and poplar plus 2-3" pine trees right down to nothing with my little 4 ft JD while reclaiming an old pasture and horse paddock once....makes one heck of a racket. Best use a slip clutch

 

[beckmurph]

I had a LandPride RC42. It cut 3" saplings. I cleared 7 acres with it behind a BX25! and a b2620.
I now have a Woods BB48. IT will cut 3" with no problems.
Not to mention blocks, bricks, rocks, that I did not want to cut.

 

[jeff9366]

I pull a "regular" King Kutter 48" Rotary Cutter behind a Kubota B3300SU. Not a heavy duty implement. I limit my cutting to 1-1/4" mixed saplings. It might do more but I do not want to break anything; repair parts are very expensive.

 

[clemsonfor]

I have a J-bar 48" cutter that i use behind my 24hp yanmar (20hp pto) It is the perfect match for the tractor as far as power. I could run a 5fter but it would drag the tractor down in tall and thick stuff.

I reclaimed acres of neglected fields at my place and just a few big dents is all. Its got a grade 2 shear pin in it thats not broken once. I have cut 2" pretty regular and maybe a 3"er but for that size i lift the cutter and place it down on the treee allowing it to chew it down. As for a 1" tree i will mow those at full speed, oak/pine/sweetgum it does not matter, just run over them hear some banging and thats it. The 2"ers are the ones that can make some dents but not as bad of dents as when i pick up a rock and it slings it into the side. I have a small welder from harbor freight and i have sticked a few holes back togeather in the deck on the sides where rocks have split it, and the bottome runners where one was tearing or something and i bent the back support brace so i reinforced it, but no trouble out of the cutter. FOr what i paid for it i cant complain, i have gottem my money worth out of it. When just cutting grass there is no wear on it, the trees and saplings will put wear on it pretty fast but its not that bad. As long as you dont mow more than say 20 acres of solid trees or anything you should be fine. And once you get them mowed you need to herbicide them and they will grow back very fast in the case of hardwoods.

Just this weekend i mowed the edges of the field in 2 places that has been getting missed for years and had sumacs or some other junk tree in them. I think a few of them may have been 2"s, i think i got a 2" ceder as well?

 

[855atty]

I have had 2 Rhino 4 foot cutters; got the first in '95 and used it for the first 15 years--the second is now 3 years old. They are pretty tough cutters. I have cut 2 to 2 1/2 inch pines with no problems. 4 inch sabal palms slow it down a bit and make alot of noise but no problems. I usually saw down Brazilian peppers, let 'em dry out a couple of weeks so i can handle about 3 inch max. ust last week i ran over a 4 inch treated fence post that has been laying out for about 10 years--pulverized it. The cutters have shear pins and i have never had to replace one yet. i have the most trouble with 1 1/2 to 2 foot diameter 10to12 inch tall fireant hills!! but they all get flattopped.

My first Rhino died when i ran over an old car fan in my neighbor's yard. It came up through the little rusted deck in several places. I am thinking of cutting out a section of rear deck, sharpening the blade ends and cutting down bigger palm trees as i back into them.

It all depends IMHO that the strength of the cutter will be determined by the gearbox. I always check the witness holes and feel the box after an hour or two to see if it is heating up. I use 80/90 wt hypoid gearoil and add some STP every couple of years. [yeah, i put Marvel Mystery oil in my diesel too] So far, i've had nothing more than just a little warm.

For me the 4 foot cutter is perfect for my JD855-19/20 pto hp.

 

[ssls6]

Going by "Bush Hog" spec's...all their 4 footers are limited to 1" diameter. Their 5 footers and above come in different specs. The lighter duty models can do 1.5-2" while the heavy duty models go 2.5-3".

 

[Soundguy]

i'd pull a 42/48" cutter over 1" all day. 1.25" too. I imagine a non steady diet / 1 of....1.5" flexible greeny wouldn't jar your teeth too much.. but i'd try to run those down with a tire..

bigger cutters? liek my 10'? they cut 2" fine. even knock out 3-4" and fence posts if you don't turn sharp enough..