I have read as much as I can about flails on this site, and a few years ago I was in communication with leonz. At that time, based on my research and messaging with leona I decided a flail would best suit my purposes. Now I am finally in position to make a purchase (see below for Xmas present card from my creative wife). I am looking for advice on size and brand.
I want to keep about 13 acres of lawn/field looking very nice year round. My property is fairly hilly for Maryland but the ground itself is pretty flat. Not golf course flat, but at 5-6 mph on the Grasshopper it is a pretty smooth ride. Right now, I use my Grasshopper 72 inch around the trees and around the house, have some of the acreage hayed by a neighbor, and I use a 6 foot bushhog for the rest. The bushhog takes quite a while because it is small, and it looks pretty bad with the windrows. The haying schedule is unpredictable because, understandably, I am low on the list of the neighbor's priorities, and I usually end up mowing all of it occasionally with the bushhog.
With the flail I plan to mow every 10 to 30 days depending on time of year and the part of the property. All areas are sapling free and rock free. I will still use the zero turn for some areas but hope to use the flail for the open areas and hope to get away with mowing every 2-4 weeks in these areas.
I have a Kubota M7060 12 speed. I had originally planned on a 12 foot Vrisimo based on my research from a few years ago, but I now wonder if that is a mistake:
1. The M7060 manual says go no bigger than a 10 footer and no more than 1760 pounds. The 12 ft orchard model weighs 2370lb. The 10ft comes in a ligher duty model that weighs 1440lb, or the orchard model at 2140lb.
2. Vrisimo has no real presence on the east coast, although there is a dealer about 90 minutes away who will sell one to me if I want it. Also, Everything Attachments sells them.
So, my questions/thoughts are:
1. The tractor can probably handle a 12 footer given the light growth it will see, but perhaps the ten footer light duty is better anyway. 13 acres is not a lot of acreage to mow so the time difference with extra 2 foot is not much, the 10 footer will give better cut on the occasionally uneven ground, and it痴 about $2-3k cheaper. Vrisimo also makes an 11 footer. Thoughts?
2. I was attracted to the Vrisimo because of its reputation, made in America, and looks relatively easy to change blades. However, I知 a little nervous about being the only person east of the Mississippi who owns one. Thoughts?
3. Who else makes a 10-12 foot flail that is made mainly for lawn/orchard use (as opposed to crop shredding)? I can稚 seem to find any other brand.
I want to keep about 13 acres of lawn/field looking very nice year round. My property is fairly hilly for Maryland but the ground itself is pretty flat. Not golf course flat, but at 5-6 mph on the Grasshopper it is a pretty smooth ride. Right now, I use my Grasshopper 72 inch around the trees and around the house, have some of the acreage hayed by a neighbor, and I use a 6 foot bushhog for the rest. The bushhog takes quite a while because it is small, and it looks pretty bad with the windrows. The haying schedule is unpredictable because, understandably, I am low on the list of the neighbor's priorities, and I usually end up mowing all of it occasionally with the bushhog.
With the flail I plan to mow every 10 to 30 days depending on time of year and the part of the property. All areas are sapling free and rock free. I will still use the zero turn for some areas but hope to use the flail for the open areas and hope to get away with mowing every 2-4 weeks in these areas.
I have a Kubota M7060 12 speed. I had originally planned on a 12 foot Vrisimo based on my research from a few years ago, but I now wonder if that is a mistake:
1. The M7060 manual says go no bigger than a 10 footer and no more than 1760 pounds. The 12 ft orchard model weighs 2370lb. The 10ft comes in a ligher duty model that weighs 1440lb, or the orchard model at 2140lb.
2. Vrisimo has no real presence on the east coast, although there is a dealer about 90 minutes away who will sell one to me if I want it. Also, Everything Attachments sells them.
So, my questions/thoughts are:
1. The tractor can probably handle a 12 footer given the light growth it will see, but perhaps the ten footer light duty is better anyway. 13 acres is not a lot of acreage to mow so the time difference with extra 2 foot is not much, the 10 footer will give better cut on the occasionally uneven ground, and it痴 about $2-3k cheaper. Vrisimo also makes an 11 footer. Thoughts?
2. I was attracted to the Vrisimo because of its reputation, made in America, and looks relatively easy to change blades. However, I知 a little nervous about being the only person east of the Mississippi who owns one. Thoughts?
3. Who else makes a 10-12 foot flail that is made mainly for lawn/orchard use (as opposed to crop shredding)? I can稚 seem to find any other brand.
