Your thoughts Brush Mower Options

[Elakeind]

I am a new owner of about 40 acres of mostly wooded, somewhat hilly property in south-central Indiana. I have a few acres of lawn that I mow with a ZTR finish mower. I want to clear trails through the mostly untended woods, which are a mix of hardwoods and some cedar. The undergrowth is mostly saplings, some kind of thorny vine and lots of poison ivy!

I already have a 25hp New Holland tractor with a cat. 1 3 pt hitch and a loader. I also have an ATV and Gator. All of these would be candidates for motive power for a brush mower of some kind.

I am mostly considering a flail mower or a sickle bar mower because I don't like the large storage space needed for a rotary-type brush mower and I don't like the prospect for hi-velocity projectiles.

Is a sickle bar an appropriate choice for rough-cutting sub-1.5 inch saplings and other brush? Is a sickle bar a high maintenance item? How does one sharpen a sickle bar?

Any thoughts on a flail mower for this job? I like the idea of being able to use a flail mower to mulch leaves in the fall, too. All tow-behind (not 3 pt hitch)flail mowers that I have found are sold only in Europe. Anyone know of a US source?

I also have pond edges and slopes that need maintenance, so the ability to offset a mowing implement to keep the motive power on flatter, dry ground would be very helpful.

Thanks for your advice!

Jon

 

[bcp]

Most sickle bar mowers cut beside the tractor. That can be a problem in trees and single lane roads or trails.

Bruce

 

[buickanddeere]

Rotary cutter is the only way to go.
My JD MX6 isn't bad for tossing projectiles with the chain shields. Only thing I wish is was I had ordered the 7 footer instead.
Or clear the trails with a chainsaw. Running the tractor through the trees with ruin the paint, dent the sheet metal, smash grills, bust lights and poke sticks into vital components.

 

[ovrszd]

I'm with buickanddeere, Rotary Cutter.

I manage and create a LOT of timber trails for 4 wheeling. If clearing thick, thorny vines and small saplings I back in. If you need something that cuts to one side you can get an offset hinged Rotary Cutter but they are pricey.

As for projectiles, I also have chain guards as mentioned above. Nothing, I mean nothing comes out the front of my Rotary Cutter.

Excuse my shoddy work cause I made my own guard. But here's what we are talking about.

 

[Ken45101]

I agree with a rotary cutter. With 25 hp, (probably 22 to the PTO), it should handle a 4-5' cutter. The usual rule of thumb is 5 pto hp per ft of cutter.

Hopefully the tractor is 4wd? You will want that for any steep hills.

 

[KYDan]

Echoing the prior posters a rotary cutter is your best choice. I had a 5' Fred Cain behind my L2900 and that was all it wanted. Since you are cutting trails the 4' may be your best choice. A good heavy duty mower is nice, but expensive and if you will only be using it occasionally an inexpensive one may suit your needs and save you some money. HD mowers will last longer with fewer problems, but they will work your tractor harder as they are heavier. Flail mowers are expensive.

 

[jeff9366]

I already have a 25hp New Holland tractor with a cat. 1 3 pt hitch and a loader. I also have an ATV and Gator. All of these would be candidates for motive power for a brush mower of some kind.

I am mostly considering a flail mower or a sickle bar mower because I don't like the large storage space needed for a rotary-type brush mower and I don't like the prospect for hi-velocity projectiles.

Is a sickle bar an appropriate choice for rough-cutting sub-1.5 inch saplings and other brush?

Any thoughts on a flail mower for this job?

If you update your personal information with tractor model, horsepower and weight you will receive replies better tailored to your tractor.

Sickle bar is a hay cutter.

Flail mower come with several types of flails/cutters, some have fine cut knives where lawn work is priority, some have coarse knives where chopping through woods is priority, some in between. I am sure rotary cutters outsell flail mowers by 10:1 but flail owners seem to love 'em. Flail owners claim flail residue is mulch size so debris pick up is minimal.

If you SEARCH "FLAIL" here on T-B-N you will find plenty of advise and opinions. One flail thread has 1,300 replies.

Your tractor one size smaller than my Kubota B3300SU. It will likely take a 48" rotary cutter. The blade on a 48" rotary cutter revolves at lower velocity than blades on 60"-72"-84" cutters. I try to keep equipment as simple as possible. There are few implements simpler than a 'hog. I pull a 48" King Kutter rotary cutter. Clears 1-1/4" saplings fine. I have a good amount of debis pickup after mowing to achieve a groomed apearence.

Small tractors do not have Position Control. If you go with a 'hog, inure yourself to adding Zerco check chains to substitute for Position Control, holding the implement at a height held by the chains.

You will likely want a dumping trailer with flotation tires for the Gator. Monroe Tufline makes two that appear ample size and weather resistant.

LINK:

Landscape UC20 Series Utility Cart - Monroe Tufline

 

[jeff9366]

The undergrowth is mostly saplings, some kind of thorny vine and lots of poison ivy!

Thorny vine is probably multiflora rose. You have to dig out the bulbs/corms or spray repeatedly with Roundup/Glycophosphate.

LINK:

Multiflora Rose

 

[Elakeind]

Thank you all for your advice!

By the way, the tractor is a 2003 New Holland TC25D with just over 600 hours, and it is 4WD.

I visited a local implement dealer today and looked at rotary mowers. Guess that I'll just have to buy a slightly longer trailer to accommodate to extra length of a rotary mower.

Jon

 

[Rustyiron]

Thank you all for your advice!

By the way, the tractor is a 2003 New Holland TC25D with just over 600 hours, and it is 4WD.

I visited a local implement dealer today and looked at rotary mowers. Guess that I'll just have to buy a slightly longer trailer to accommodate to extra length of a rotary mower.

Jon

Although not exctly ideal, but when I was a kid (no money) doing bush hogging, I'd let the mower hang off the rear or send it up over the tongue of the trailer. As long as you keep your hitch heavy (good tongue weight) you'll be ok. Throw a flag on any hangover over a foot or so, to be safe. A new trlr. just to fit the mower on makes it expensive mowing.