Pros and cons

[r vessar]

I would like to know the pros and cons of brush hogs between the pull type and the regular 3 point .I am going to buy my first one in the spring.

 

[davejoe]

Hi, get the three point, it is easier to service. Dave

 

[Lanse]

From all my years of experience (grin), i like the 3pt ones. Never used a trailing one however. You can ajust the cutting height from the tractor, lift it over rocks and stumps, and use if for ballast when using a loader. Good luck!!

 

[old]

Both have there good and bad points. The pull type you can set up to run off to the side so your cutting in an area where your tires aren't which is good if you have a lot of thorns. 3 point type you can cut off bigger stuff because you can lift it up and back over the stuff and slowly let it down. Pull types are hard to use in tight places but 3 point type work well in tight places. Also depends on your tractor as to which one is better
Hobby farm

 

[kyhayman]

Im not sure I can address all the pros and cons. As to my own bias, I dont want anything on a 3 pt hitch that I can put on a drawbar. Its just so much easier to line up and hook up a single pin than to get and keep a 3pt working right. In fact, I only even leave the arms on 1 tractor for 3 pt work.

As to brands, like anything else you get what you pay for. If its light duty mowing (big lawn mower) then I really cant speak to those. I've got rocks, stumps, bumps, humps, and all kinds of irregular terrain. For routine mowing my preference is a 2615L Bush Hog with the laminate tires, 15 foot, two wings and a cutting machine, thorn proof, heavy duty, and good parts support. I'd like a 20 foot machine but in some locations I mow thats too much weight for the tractors I have. Normally mow in good ground with a 7600 Ford with unloaded rear tires and 400 pounds of iron ballast on the front, and the pump juiced 2 turns. For extreme mowing I use a 7600 Ford, rear tires full loaded with 600 pounds of CaCl plus 85% water fill in each, 1000 pounds of iron ballast on the front, and the pump juiced a 1/2 turn. In a pinch I can pull the front weight bar and add a front loader bucket full of gravel, kept real low to the ground.

For really extreme mowing I use an ancient 8 foot Sidewinder with the pneumatic drive and used aircraft tires filled with foam. It will grind up anything it can get over.

 

[JoshuaGA]

I would prefer a three point mower. They can get closer into corners, can pick up higher, and can use as extra weight. Pull types only advantage is being able to pull a bigger deck with a smaller tractor. Otherwise, they only make more difficulties. My observations.

JoshuaGA

 

[JT]

There is nothing I have found on a pull type that gives it a real advantage over a 3 point. A 3 point is easier to work on, ease of use, it is a lot more manuverable. you can adjust HOC from tractor. A lot easier to back in to places if needed. The only drawback is the 10 foot behind tractor that is mounted and you can take out posts and buildings if you don't pay cloase attention when turning, and when you turn, a 3 point does not follow tractor well as a pull type, but, use will get u used to it.

 

[Larry59]

My friend has a 5' bush hog. It is an older one and you have to tow it. But on the rear one had to turn the handle to raise or lower it for cutting and towing. ... He and another guy cut that part out and put in a cylinder so they can raise and lower with the tractor hydraulics. Works real good.

 

[Mark - IN.]

With a 3pt, you sure can raise it when you need to, and when going over a hill and the nose of the tractor dips, hog sure does raise up accordingly. But then again, hogs aren't finish mowers. Nothing's perfect. I've got 3pt and even on its worst day, completed job looks better than when I started, which is what I meant to do, even if it does look like a haircut with garden sheers. I can always say, "Yeah, but you should've seen what it looked like before I started" and they can reply, "Yep, guess it does look better than it used to" and then we can toast to that. I've never had or used a pull behind hog. They might be the cats meow. But I aint complaining about what I have.

 

[Leroy]

First question is what make and model tractor?
Second question is what size of mower?
Third question is what are you wanting to mow?
Fourth question is what type of terain?
Each of these requires specific requirements and without knowing them nobody can give you a good answer. Some tractors will only work with a pull type. Do you need an offset mower or one only as wide as the tractor?

 

[Mike M]

Don't know what you are mowing ? But if it is not full of trees your trying to chop a flail mower will cut alot better and safer than a brush hog type. You can find good used ones pretty cheap.
As for pull type verse 3pt. if you have a tractor with a 3pt. then don't mess with a pull type unless you get a deal on one or you have to go really wide cut then all you can get is pull type.

 

[keh]

Other posts cover it well. In addition, 3 points are cheaper.
Need to be careful when using 3 point on uneven ground. When tractor goes down in a dip, the mower comes up. When the tractor goes up out of the dip, the 3 point mower has to carry part of the tractor weight, so attention must be paid to raising and lowering the 3ph. Some users get around this problem by using a chain in place of the top link.

KEH

 

[Anonymous-0]

Not a good idea. A chain for a 3rd link leaves you vulnerable for the mower to tip forward on you. Yes it can happen. I was mowing a road ditch and the front of the mower caught a high spot (a mound where a badger or skunk had been digging), and the front of the deck plowed into it and caught. Usually it will level them off.
I had the mower straight up in the air in an instant before I got stopped. Never would have happened had I been using my 3rd link. It was only by shear luck the mower didn't come over center right on top of my head and this is a heavy 7 foot wide job. Not one of those little cheap things some people buy at Tractor Supply.
My mower (and any good quality mower) has built into it a way for the tail wheel to flex up and down without losing control of it as I did.
The only reason I used a chain was because I have to share a third link with another tractor and I was in too much a hurry to go get it. Never again!
As far as pros and cons of 3pt vs pull-type, I've used both and 3pt wins hands down.
The only place a pull-type works well is in large open fields or pastures and even then you waste a lot of time turning them around.
If you plan to mow in yards around building, machinery, fences, bins or any road ditch mowing, then you want a 3pt mower for sure.

 

[r vessar]

To answer Leroys questions I have a
AC D17
6ft mower
i want to mow pasture with small trees
It has dips and hills
And I dont want or need to off set it
Also I did make it 3 pt so I can run either pull or 3 pt

 

[Mark - IN.]

Thank you Sir. I'd never thought of using a chain for a top link before, and at first it seemed plausible until I read what you said. Have caught mounds more than once, and a stump or two didn't know was in there and looked back to see the hog coming way way way up too. You're right. I'd have been dead without knowing it was coming, which would probably be better than knowing its coming. But could be dead just the same. Thanks for posting. Nothing wrong with a friendly reminder to bring me to my senses once in a while.

 

[E.B. Haymakin']

I have one of each, and agree with Joshua. All the points here are valid. Having to do over I would buy the three point, and not have the pull behind unit.