Posted: 7/29/2026 5:05:19 PM EDT
| I would like to purchase a forestry mulcher, but I do not own a skid steer. I have a Kubota L3901. Is there anything that works with that size tractor? Or should I hire the job done instead? |
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The FEL wouldn't handle the stress, and most tractor hydraulics wouldnt run one anyway without a PTO power pack. There are 3 pt units from Baumalite and others, but in the videos ive seen they really only hand stuff that a bush hog could have done at a fraction of the price. The mulcher might get closer to the ground though. If I was looking for one anyway for my MX6000, id look at the Loftness PTO model. Eta: from what I understand there's also a lot of risk in a setup like the video, with minimal shielding for the operator and underside of the tractor.  Loftness Battle Ax® Tractor on a KIOTI KL6010 | PTO Mulching Head Demo |
| I also agree that unless money and time aren't a concern or you just want a new toy, hiring it out makes the most sense. Around here they go for about $300/hr (last time I asked a couple years ago), usually won't come for less than a full day, and still they can't keep up with business. A pro can get a lot done in 8 hrs. |
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Originally Posted By Stonia: I also agree that unless money and time aren't a concern or you just want a new toy, hiring it out makes the most sense. Around here they go for about $300/hr (last time I asked a couple years ago), usually won't come for less than a full day, and still they can't keep up with business. A pro can get a lot done in 8 hrs. $300/hr is like starting price now around here, with a minimum time iirc 3 hours. Price per hour goes up depending on if brush/area to be cleared/mulched is light, med or heavy. I haven't used a 3point pto mulcher since I worked for the state park in the late 80s, 5' hooked to a gas 50hp i/h., clearing several acres for large group rental area. It's slow, noisy and dirty, any trees over 6" or so went around and cut later with chainsaw, didn't want to chance fucking up mulcher knocking teeth off, if we didn't have it, we'd of cleared area with axes & chainsaws in Oklahoma summer heat/humidity. |
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Originally Posted By Stonia: The FEL wouldn't handle the stress, and most tractor hydraulics wouldnt run one anyway without a PTO power pack. There are 3 pt units from Baumalite and others, but in the videos ive seen they really only hand stuff that a bush hog could have done at a fraction of the price. The mulcher might get closer to the ground though. If I was looking for one anyway for my MX6000, id look at the Loftness PTO model. Eta: from what I understand there's also a lot of risk in a setup like the video, with minimal shielding for the operator and underside of the tractor.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xDo3_zkYEbMMy neck got sore just watching that. I wouldn't want to be on an open station tractor with that thing either. |
Life's battles don't always go to the stronger or faster man. In the end, the one who wins is the one who thinks he can! - SCI, NRA
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Team Ranstad
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You need 100+ horse power to effectively run a forestry mulcher. Even 100hp is low, 200-300hp is better. Let alone using one on an open station machine is suicidal at best. A forestry mulcher would literally destroy an L3901’s loader frame. |
Direction, not intention, determines destination.
Integrity is the essence of everything successful.
Integrity is the essence of everything successful.
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To reiterate the above, drum mulchers on a tractor aren't really a thing due to required HP, required loader stiffness/strength, how much it would suck on a 3 point and safety. The most popular mulchers that I have worked around have been Cat 299's or Kubota SVL 95/97's with forestry packages (including ballistic glass I believe) with Fecon heads. I've worked around bigger Fecon heads on articulating machines (like a log skidder) or dedicated 250 HP tracked machines, and they are faster, but not nearly as nimble and easy to move around. |
"When you need it and ain't got it, you're singin' a different tune..."
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Baumalite makes 3 point hitch mulchers for tractors. They have some that go down to the compact and subcompact size of tractors with only like 20 PTO HP. Street price starts around $6500 for the small ones. And you'll spend the entire time turned around staring backwards, backing into all the mess you're cutting. I wouldn't want to do even a half acre turned around like that, but it would work. For the money, though, you could rent a skid steer and a front mount mulcher for quite a while.  Baumalight MP348 Brush Mulcher for Tractors - Customer in Action Video |
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Rented a skid steer and a forestry mulcher about 6-7 years ago for 2 weeks. Cost around 9K if I remember correctly. If you go this route, make sure you get the insurance and have them put a door on the skid steer that isn't glass. Damn thing was throwing wood in every direction out to 75 yards or so. |
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Originally Posted By DaGoose: Rented a skid steer and a forestry mulcher about 6-7 years ago for 2 weeks. Cost around 9K if I remember correctly. If you go this route, make sure you get the insurance and have them put a door on the skid steer that isn't glass. Damn thing was throwing wood in every direction out to 75 yards or so. The guy that owns the lot next to my shop had it cleared with a mulcher. I now have chunks of wood on my roof, it was all over my parking lot as well. I heard chunks hit the side of my building and went to investigate, when I saw what was going on we moved all the vehicles away from the carnage. |
Life's battles don't always go to the stronger or faster man. In the end, the one who wins is the one who thinks he can! - SCI, NRA
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Originally Posted By TinSpinner: The guy that owns the lot next to my shop had it cleared with a mulcher. I now have chunks of wood on my roof, it was all over my parking lot as well. I heard chunks hit the side of my building and went to investigate, when I saw what was going on we moved all the vehicles away from the carnage. Originally Posted By TinSpinner: Originally Posted By DaGoose: Rented a skid steer and a forestry mulcher about 6-7 years ago for 2 weeks. Cost around 9K if I remember correctly. If you go this route, make sure you get the insurance and have them put a door on the skid steer that isn't glass. Damn thing was throwing wood in every direction out to 75 yards or so. The guy that owns the lot next to my shop had it cleared with a mulcher. I now have chunks of wood on my roof, it was all over my parking lot as well. I heard chunks hit the side of my building and went to investigate, when I saw what was going on we moved all the vehicles away from the carnage. Someone with a rental or someone who shouldn’t be operating it, was doing so. Don’t rent a mulcher for the love of god. As much as you want to, don’t. Don’t run a mulcher with an open cab. Even in reverse. Just hire it out and brush hog it later. |
Direction, not intention, determines destination.
Integrity is the essence of everything successful.
Integrity is the essence of everything successful.