Posted: 2/4/2011 8:12:26 PM EDT
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Hi guys.
I bought 72 acres last year. I would like to take some brushy areas andd convert them to food plots for whitetails (with additional benefit of being convertable to food production should teh economy warrant it). I need some method of knocking down weeds and brush (to roughkly 1/2" diameter) and maintaining these areas (as well a trails). A tractor is definitely preferred. However, I do no wish to spend $15,000 on a tractor and an additional $2000 on brush hog. I can, however, get a decent used DR mower here forr $1000. Question: Anyone here actually PERSONNALLY used one? If so, what are your observations? Useful tool or junk toy? \ |
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I can give you a partial answer - I have one - bought it new - so far I have only used it in rather "tame" areas of my yard and have not yet attacked the overgrown 3 acres in the back. My impression is that it's "a good thing". I bought the heavy brush mower blade for mine, and I expect that it will do the job.
Of course it won't get rid of roots... But how can you go wrong for $1K? There's a picture of mine on arfcom somewhere - I'll see if I can find it... ETA: That thread was here: http://www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=10&f=1&t=639794&page=1� |
| We have one on the farm and they tend to ride over very thick brush like stickerbushes and then settle halfway down on top of it. they work really good on steep or rough terrain that i wouldnt take my riding lawnmower on and ours has no problems with saplings about an inch or two across |
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Not to get off subject, is there not anyone i your area who 'hire's out' tractor/bushhog work? My FIL just got him a new tractor with bushog and is doing more work than he can do until he retires in a few months. Back to your question- I have newver used one, but a cousin of mine had one and he said it did a pretty decent job of getting most of what he wanted chopped, but like said earlier it would settle in briars and stickers and what not..grass and brush, ok-tangle-not so much.. |
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around here, used farm tractors in the 40 HP and under range are less than $6000. i saw a massey in half decent shape last week for $1000. brush hogs in craigs list start at about $300.
you have 72 acres, soooner or later your gonna need a tractor. you can get the plows, discs and maybee a loader, a PTO genny and a log splitter and be set up for way under the $15000 that you dont want to spend. |
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One of my neighbors cuts his pasture with a DR pulled behind a quad. He has no issues but he's cutting finished pasture, not clearing brush.
If you can get a DR pull-behind for $1000 it would be worth a trial even if it proves inadequate. You can always sell it if it doesn't work. The one big drawback with the DR is there is no way, that I'm aware of, to raise and lower it automatically like a bush hog on a 3-pt hitch. Being able to jack the bushhog up with the throw of a letter has kept me from getting stuck on many occasions. Of course, being able to lift the bushhog up can also give one a false sense of confidence when cutting boggy areas (ask me how I know.  )
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I cleared food plots at my place using a sthil weed whip with the saw blade attachment and a mower. The area was overgrown with brush and samplings. Did a fine job for very little $$$. The sthicl with blade setme back about $250, new. The mower I had. The sthil does a good job at taking down the thick the 1/2" bruchy stuff, but sucks in grass. Cut the big stuff ou, then just hammer over it with the mower. The mower does a fine job. Is it hard on the mower, sure. But its an old mower than when it pukes, I'll throw away. Went from overgrown chest high brush to ready for disk in about 4 hours. That was an area about 100' x 50'. Not huge, but a start.
So I would go the route I went for much less money. The stihl has many other uses, where the DR is only good for one thing. |
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Quoted:
You can still find an old 8-9N Ford in good condition for a few grand. All you need is an over-running clutch on the pto shaft and it will run a brush hog just fine. I second this. You are gonna kill yourself trying to work 72 acres with a 36" wide walk behind anything. You can find an older tractor and bush hog for $2500 to $3000, less if you can do your own repairs. 9N and 8N parts are easier to find than trouble, and are cheap. Ops |
| If you have any extra money I would start looking for a small tractor like a massey 135, ford 8n, or even an older kubota. Like someone else said, if you have 70+ acres you will need a tractor eventually, and if you shop around you can find a nice older tractor that will provide you with good service for weekend chores. Around here I see 135's between $3-5k commonly and nice restored 8ns for $2-4k. 5 ft bushhogs can be had for as little as $300 regularly. Even if you get a DR mower, you will still need a way to plow, till etc. |
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I considered a trail cutter to pull behind an ATV, but I can hire the work done for $500 a pop. I need it done 2 or 3 times a year, so for the time being, it's cheaper for me to go that route.
If you do go the DR route, I'd suggest hiring the first cut and then maintaining it with the lighter-duty mower. |
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My wife bought herself a commercial grade walk behind. I laughed. Now I get the job of mowing the fence lines on 20 acres. It works well for this application. Thick blackberry brush, heavy brush/ trees up to 2"
mud/rocks it will eat most anything with an extra pass. It is a work out though, who needs a gym. Mow large acreage, well you could look like young Arnold Swartzwhatchamacallhim. |