Shopping for a Bat Wing

I'm shopping for my first bat wing mower.

I plan to use it with a Kubota M9960, 90 PTO HP FWA ROPS tractor (do not use cab tractors due to propensity to drive beneath tree limbs).

I mow only my own property, and the parcels are relatively flat to rolling with a couple of exceptions of steep ground that are relatively small. All parcels are clean so I will not hit rocks, stumps, etc., though I will likely scalp occasionally until I get used to the BW mower. I cut things in first with a 53 HP Kubota L6060 hydrostat tractor and 6' cutter so should never snag a tree at the perimeters.

I've done lots of mowing but only with fully mounted cutters, 5, 6, 7, and 10.5 foot. I've never used a bat wing or any type of trailer mower so am asking advise from those of you who do.

I've shopped Woods, Land Pride and Bush Hog, all of which are available at my local CNH/Kubota dealer.

The largest parcel that I will mow is less than 20 acres. I am looking at both 15' and 12' BW models.

I really like the compact size of the relatively new 12' BW cutters but the 15' cutters do not cost much more so seem to be a better deal, especially as I expect a 15' cutter would be easier to sell at some time in the future. I'm getting up there, so will not be doing this too much longer.

I initially favored Woods, as I have 6, 7, and 10.5' (recently sold) Woods cutters and all have served me well. I like the Woods blade change system, but at my age will likely not change blades again.

After recently reading the latest Bush Hog literature, I now favor Bush Hog as their 12 and 15 foot BWs appear to be of more recent design, and have bushings and grease fittings on the tail wheel pivots, lacking on the similar Woods and Land Pride BWs. Prices of similar BH and Woods models at my dealer are similar with BH being a bit lower due to greater BH sales volume. LP prices are noticeably lower than Woods or BH as the dealer is a Kubota dealer and sells more LP mowers than either Woods or LP.

Final thought: Due to age, I will downsize in the foreseeable future. The first thing to go will likely be the 90 HP M9960 Kubota, as I can do without it if necessary. The last thing to go will be my 53 PTO HP L6060 Kubota hydro, as it is so very convenient and versatile for what I do. It is also easy on me. My 6060 could handle a 12' BW in my conditions but a 15' is too much.

Decisions, decisions.

Thoughts, anyone?

Dean

I ran a JD 1518 behind my Kubota M125 for awhile. That batwing would cut not far away from a finish mower and spread clippings great. My 2 cents.

Thanks OG.

I use my rotary cutters much like heavy duty finish mowers (sharp blades).

Do you know who makes the JD 1518?

Dean

Dean being a KUBOTA dealer I am somewhat bias. Now telling you that up front and I have sold all three brands. First off all three brands make a light,medioum and heavy model cutter so make sure you are comparing correctly. I would encourage you to buy the LAND PRIDE, great warranty, I have less problems over the years with the LP s we have sold. And Land Pride is now a KUBOTA owned company going to be there when you need them. BUSH HOG has been thru two reorganizations in the last 10 years and is still not up to the finical strength of years back. I think if your KUBOTA dealer will work with you he can get the price down about equal.

Thanks, JM.

I do know that Kubota owns LP.

My dealer sells CNH, Kubota, LP, Bush Hog and Woods, among others. LP is the least expensive of the brands that I have shopped but also my least favorite due to design features. My dealer sells more LP units than (probably) BH and Woods combined, and his prices for LP mowers are less than that for comparable BH and Woods models.

I had not considered the financial strength of BH. Would not want to buy a mower with a 5 year warranty only to have the manufacturer declare bankruptcy next year.

Decisions, decisions.

Dean

I will say two things.

Yes, Bush Hog has been through a couple of rough patches, but they are now part of the Alamo Group which also owns Rhino and about thirty or so others brands worldwide. I don't think their stability is a problem. They've been around since 1951.

I don't know what it is like in your area, but here in central VA, 95+% of the roadside mowing contractors use Bush Hog flexwing cutters. They won't consider any other brand, because they get the job done, they don't have a lot of problems, and the parts are priced considerably less than other brands.

If your looking for used auction time had some go cheap last week so you might check them out out. I have 2615 legend bushog and have never had much problems with it.

My cousin bought a new JD 15ft Batwing about 5 years ago,he does custom bush hogging and runs it pretty hard cutting some tough stuff sometimes.So far no problems with it.
He pulls it with a Ford 9000 not that that would matter I don't guess.For resale you're not going to beat JD.On using the trailer type cutters that's all I ever use anymore I
don't care for 3 pt cutters at all.

John Deere makes their own rotary cutters. The Frontier brands is the ones made by other companies and painted green. The Current model of JD 15 foot would be a The Models MX15, HX15 and CX 15. I would rate them this way.

The MX15 cutter is a medium to heavy duty cutter. Where your only talking about running them with under a 100 Horse power you would be fine with this model.

The HX15 cutter is a Heavy duty Farm rotary cutter rated for higher horsepower tractors. This would do more clearing type of work even on smaller trees and such.

The CX15 cutter is a Commercial heavy duty cutter. They are pretty tough cutters. We have one that is 13 or 14 years old. We usually run it on a 200 Plus Horse power tractor. The first year I bought it I had 250 acres of ground that had come out of 20 years of CRP. Any trees under 2-3 inches I just mowed down and ground up with the cutter. When we chiseled plowed the ground I found out I had ground up some 4-5 inch trees. LOL had to get the loader out to carry the stumps off. The cutter has never had anything done other than One U-joint replaced and several new sets of blades.

If you want something to hold value and you will take care of it such as cleaning it off with a leaf blower each time get a John Deere hx15. Get on TractorHouse.com or go to a big auction the Deere mowers will always bring more. If you are going to use it hard and plan on keeping it until it wears out get whatever you feel comfortable with financially. Sounds like you are looking to buy new. Buying new I would look at nothing but green. Used whatever looks the best for the money. Was at Ted Everett?s auction last month (Huge equipment auction ever other month in central Indiana) and the sale was getting stale. A green batwing pulled up to the door and nearly everyone outside flocked in and a decent looking hx15 used minor wear and tear brought over $10,000 to a tin jockey and he trucked it home to make a profit on it which tells me he is asking at least $12,000 probably more

Thanks, JD. I was unaware that JD made their own mowers, aside from Frontier, which is, I believe, made by Howse.

I have not shopped JD because my nearest JD dealer is 30 miles away whereas my CNH/Kubota dealer is only 4.

I did seriously shop the JD 4066R before buying my Kubota L6060 but the person that I spoke with (several times) was arrogant and generally unhelpful so I was turned off. I have not been back.

Dean

I'll buy a new mower as I'm not a real farmer and own neither truck nor trailer. The dealer will deliver it.

Yes, I do clean everything after each use with compressed air before storing inside. Most of my stuff looks nearly new.

Dean