Re: Horsepower needed for bushogging

Posted by Eldon (WA) on July 12, 2007 at 22:02:45 from (67.185.93.219):

In Reply to: Horsepower needed for bushogging posted by Sunny 4 acres on July 11, 2007 at 09:58:18:

I do custom brush hogging with a 7000# Allis Chalmers 175D (4-248 perkins diesel) and it is the best tractor I have found for mowing. I use a LandPride 6 foot mower and it can take all of the 67hp in swamp grass or in the hills. Usually it just lopes along using 1 to 1.5 gallons of fuel per hour. I make $800 to $900 per tank of fuel (19 gallons).

Sure I could use a larger mower, but that means I can fit between fewer trees, fences, rocks, etc., and I would have to go slower...this time of year I like to keep my ground speed up in order to stay ahead of the dust and chaff! Yes these are basically big fans and they kick up a miserable cloud when it's dry out!

I believe a larger diesel (at least to a certain size) is much more efficient than overworking a smaller one and is a lot easier on everything mechanically. I also found that running loaded tires uses less fuel as they act as a big flywheel and help power the mower thru the tough spots.

As to a 7 foot mower, it costs 50% more than a 6 foot, is longer and heavier (so it will scalp more often) and takes more room to turn around and haul on a trailer.....I'll stick to a 6 foot! There's a reason they don't sell many 7 footers! An 8 foot would be a better upgrade as it has twin gearboxes making it much shorter and the rotation of the blades picks up the grass smashed down by the tires.....but it is 4 times the price of a 6 footer and HEAVY!

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