Spring is here and things are growing…

I got a 49 8N last fall, runs great so far, but now it is time for it to earn its keep so I need to buy a mower! I’m mowing a field road in Western Washington, about 1-1/2 miles long, parts of which get tall grass, small willow trees and of course very aggressive blackberry bushes.

Thinking about a Brush Hog SQ84T which to me has the desirable property of a 9” offset so I can mow well outside the rear wheel. Very handy for dealing with the shoulder of the road.

But it weights 720lb and is looking for a 25-50hp tractor. Seems kind of marginal?

Other option is a NH 918L flail mower which also has an offset but I am concerned about high grass and those pesky willows which are ¾ to 1” in diameter vs a relatively fine cutting flail mower.

Any comments? Any experience? Alas both will cost me more than the tractor and a whole lot less cute.

Thanks

JMHO

Joel B.

I really don;t need a 7ft wide mower, my width goal is really only to mow all the way to the edge of the road without driving in the ditch (dangerous) or going back by hand wiht a brushcutter (the way I do it now that takes about 2 days)

Thanks