Mowing with a Big Red?

[RDavis29]

I was wondering if anyone uses one of those tow behind filed mowers with their big red? If so, I'd like to hear more, or better yet see some pics. If i could mow my fields with the big red, i might sell my tractor.

Thanks;
Rob

[tri again]

I've dragged almost everything with BR.
including a 'powered' brush hog. kinda heavy and not much faster than a tractor.

Those powered mowing decks look lighter than a hog but if you're like us,
you blink and the hay is anywhere from 2 to 9 feet tall.

Not uncommon to cut 8 foot hay 'down to' 4 feet first and on down.
Sickle bar mowers are cool and will drop any height crop but also have . what. 30-40 teeth that need sharpening?

We try to mow a little every day, sometimes 2x.

If I had the extra time, a powered deck would be fun as a premower, ya know,
knocking down foot tall stuff before using a ride mower.

I just don't know their height limits, or what they are actually designed for. A fun toy?
If you can bog down driveshaft tractor powered blades , I wonder what it could really do.

If I sharpen the blades on my 5 foot brush hog, I can lower that thing to
cut like a golfcourse mower.
3 rd gear in the '47 JD is a brisk walking speed so not too bad.

On the other hand, dragging a spike tooth harrow with the tractor in 3rd gear
takes 30-40 min in the riverwalk area,

The BR does it in under 10min. and wickedly fun.
Smiles ALL around.
less fuel too.

[79fordblake]

I use my 185s to pull the yard sweeper, lot more fun than using the lawnmower, lol. Anything but first is to fast though.

drjoe171, what kinda '47 Deere you got? I got a 37 A, 44 A, and 48 A. Along with other tractors also, lol.

[tri again]

I use my 185s to pull the yard sweeper, lot more fun than using the lawnmower, lol. Anything but first is to fast though.

drjoe171, what kinda '47 Deere you got? I got a 37 A, 44 A, and 48 A. Along with other tractors also, lol.

I got hooked on 'm' models but they didn't come up with a true 3rd point till later into the 50's.

we might get blasted into the open forum so I apologize..hey wait
our tractors are technically 3 wheelers, right?

[RDavis29]

Thanks for the info. I too am a tractor guy, I have a 1955 Oliver Super 55 as my working tractor on the farm, and cut with a 5 foot brushhog. I do not feel comfortable letting my wife or son use the Oliver tractor though. They both would like to help me, so I was considering the swisher type field or trail tow behind mower to be towed by the 1985 Honda 250ES Big Red.

I have a couple fields to keep mowed in the summer, maybe a total 8-10 acres approximately. It just needs to be knocked down, not a lawn quality cut. We keep horses in the fields, and they keep most of it pretty thin, so I think a trail mower would cut that just fine. Outside of the fields the grass gets less pressure, and can get thick and tall if i don't keep up with it.

I do think it would take less gas with the trail mower and big Red. so that's a plus. and I think the equipment would be safer.

What would your opinions be on safety for this type of set up?

Rob

[tri again]

well, nothing is safe.

I ran over a bees nest in the ground once,
mowed into the night once and the next day I walked around to see a hornets nest the size of a 5 gal bucket I missed by inches.

Had my hat and earmuffs knocked off by a tree branch and had just enough time to see them run over by
the brush hog blades.

If you're dragging anything that spins, it would be good to have one of those
jet ski kill switches that kills everything if you fall off.

Dragging pallets and a spike tooth is great and works beautifully but all you have to do is hook
a tiny tree stump and it's instant wheelie with just enough mousetrap effect for the
tow vehicle to pin oneself onto the towed object.

Pls don't ask how I know this.

Americas funniest home videos is a good educational resource too and shows how much safer quads actually are (NONE!)

Just be careful, have fun, go slow and make sure you all have radios, cell phones or at least a .38 for signaling and no one runs equipment unless someone else is home and aware enough to notice if the machine stops running and can make sure
there's no surprizes.

We do it all the time but never when home alone (we call 'em chainsaw rules')