after looking for over a year at many models and brands, i settled on a CID extreme 72" brush cutter. this is the model with the 100hp gearbox, and three blade carrier. i received it in about three days and the fun began. 
i promptly latched it on my trusty Case 70xt, and headed out to the woods. we mowed approx. 12-14 hours with it so far. my initial impression was that the brush cutter is very well made, and heavy built. it has a iron backing plate on the back instead of chains so you are well protected from objects flying back at you. the front push bar also offers some protection from flying debris. it is definitly a step above our rhino 172 tractor mower.
i have cut osage orange, cedars, elms, and cottonwood. it will cut trees and brush at a very impressive rate. runs smooth and clean when cutting a tree. you can tilt the cutter and trim off a freshly cut tree stump flush with the ground. i do like how they designed the push bar and notched the deck for cutting trees.
my Case 70xt is rated for 2000 lbs. operating capacity. the CID mower weighs 1526 lbs. and my Case handles the weight of the mower just fine. we have a small creek that runs through our hay meadow. i used the mower to cut trees of 2" to 10" on the creek bank and let them fall in the creek. you can angle/tilt the mower down a slope such as the creek bank and leave the skid setting up on the bank. works much better than a tractor/brushog combo. also fits under trees with low hanging limbs and fits down narrow atv trails.
i installed my grouser tracks in anticipation of using the mower on the other side of our farm, which is quite sandy. havent made it over there yet, still finding cedars to take out.
running the mower going foward and being able to raise the deck and mulch trees without tearing up a trailing wheel is very nice.
i promptly latched it on my trusty Case 70xt, and headed out to the woods. we mowed approx. 12-14 hours with it so far. my initial impression was that the brush cutter is very well made, and heavy built. it has a iron backing plate on the back instead of chains so you are well protected from objects flying back at you. the front push bar also offers some protection from flying debris. it is definitly a step above our rhino 172 tractor mower.
i have cut osage orange, cedars, elms, and cottonwood. it will cut trees and brush at a very impressive rate. runs smooth and clean when cutting a tree. you can tilt the cutter and trim off a freshly cut tree stump flush with the ground. i do like how they designed the push bar and notched the deck for cutting trees.
my Case 70xt is rated for 2000 lbs. operating capacity. the CID mower weighs 1526 lbs. and my Case handles the weight of the mower just fine. we have a small creek that runs through our hay meadow. i used the mower to cut trees of 2" to 10" on the creek bank and let them fall in the creek. you can angle/tilt the mower down a slope such as the creek bank and leave the skid setting up on the bank. works much better than a tractor/brushog combo. also fits under trees with low hanging limbs and fits down narrow atv trails.
i installed my grouser tracks in anticipation of using the mower on the other side of our farm, which is quite sandy. havent made it over there yet, still finding cedars to take out.
running the mower going foward and being able to raise the deck and mulch trees without tearing up a trailing wheel is very nice.
