Light, medium, or heavy-duty rotary cutter?

[coss]

I'd like advice from folks about what I need.

I'll be mowing 14 acres of overgrown fields. They have not been cut in 3-4 years, but after the first cutting, I intend to cut them twice per year. At present, there is some multiflora rose of less than 1" diameter, but there are some saplings along the field borders up to 1.5-2" diameter. The rest of it is weeds and grass.

The ground is mostly flat or gently sloping. There are few or no rocks, but there a few 1 foot deep ditches where Hurricane Irene added to geologic erosion in its one-shot trip through the northeast. I don't think there are many stumps.

I haven't purchased a tractor yet, but that's coming in the next couple of weeks (craigslist is a great resource). I could live with models strong enough to drive either 5 or 6 foot cutters.

Assuming the tractor is matched to the size of the cutter, would the experts recommend a light, medium, or heavy duty rotary cutter for the work described?

 

[Bluegill]

I cut saplings up to 1.5" or so with a med duty Land Pride 5" cutter and it handles them fine. I'm cutting 40-50 acres yearly, but sometimes use a 6' med duty. Keeping the blades sharp works best for me.

Over the years we've worn out 4 light duty cutters, so I now avoid those.

 

[bcbull378]

I have a John Deere 580 I use behind my Grand L3830 Ive cut willows and wild walnut up to 2 " , mowers are like anything else you get what you pay for . I suggest buy as heavey duty a mower as you can aford and it'll last you for years .

 

[Eric McCarthy]

Let find out what kind of tractor you end up buying first, then we can help suggest a properly fit bush hog from there. Light, medium and heavy duty bush hogs all vary in weight behind a tractor. I wouldnt tell you to put a heavy duty bushhog behind a little Bx series Kubota.

 

[TripleR]

Forget labels such as " light, medium, or heavy duty" and just go by the specs, it seems some manufacturers tend to blur the lines or not even use the term.

I prefer to buy more than enough rather than just enough.

 

[Bulldog]

Forget labels such as " light, medium, or heavy duty" and just go by the specs, it seems some manufacturers tend to blur the lines or not even use the term.

I prefer to buy more than enough rather than just enough.

Well put, totally agree.

 

[gpreuss]

Go for the weight. The heavier, the more steel. Get a 40+ horsepower gearbox. Choose one with a stump-jumper disk holding the blades.
As for the tractor, you will forever thank yourself if you get a FEL and mid 20's+ PTO horses. Orange is good.

 

[Bulldog]

When you go to look at the specs on cutters look at the blade tip speed. I wouldn't want one lower than 13,000 feet per min. 15K fpm would be even better.