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Post by terrifictom on Jun 15, 2019 7:07:07 GMT -6
If you are going to use it for putting in plots, get a Honda Rubicon. Liquid cooled and a straight rear axle. They just plain get the work done. My 03 Rubicon has not failed me for food plot work.
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Post by Freeborn on Jun 15, 2019 7:15:29 GMT -6
I have a Polaris at the farm and we have two Hondas at the cabin,all have been great. The reason I purchased the polaris for the farm is the sealed front compartment and dump box, both those options are hard to find on a Japanese unit. The Polaris is an open country unit and I don't pull heavy with it, so far it's been a great machine.
The hondas are a foreman and a Rubicon, other than the medal racks which I hate, they run flawless and are real workhorses.
Kooch's comments on size are spot on. If your in the woods you want something nimble and light so if you have to horse the rear end around you can.
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Post by sd51555 on Jun 15, 2019 7:50:24 GMT -6
If you are going to use it for putting in plots, get a Honda Rubicon. Liquid cooled and a straight rear axle. They just plain get the work done. My 03 Rubicon has not failed me for food plot work. Mine is going to be primarily for mowing, lots and lots of mowing. I've also got to keep the weight down as much as possible. The dirt on my land can't hold up shit until maybe June 1st. Before that, you sink straight through the top soil, even with your boots. When I ran the billy goat back there last weekend, the plot soil carried it fine, but my trail going back there was dicey. I think a week earlier and the goat may have been swallowed. Pending a dealer visit to talk options, I think the Rancher is the right one for my setup. The Recon seems too small, and the Rubicon seems too big as far and weight and turning radius are concerned.
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Post by Freeborn on Jun 15, 2019 7:57:48 GMT -6
If you are going to use it for putting in plots, get a Honda Rubicon. Liquid cooled and a straight rear axle. They just plain get the work done. My 03 Rubicon has not failed me for food plot work. Mine is going to be primarily for mowing, lots and lots of mowing. I've also got to keep the weight down as much as possible. The dirt on my land can't hold up shit until maybe June 1st. Before that, you sink straight through the top soil, even with your boots. When I ran the billy goat back there last weekend, the plot soil carried it fine, but my trail going back there was dicey. I think a week earlier and the goat may have been swallowed. Pending a dealer visit to talk options, I think the Rancher is the right one for my setup. The Recon seems too small, and the Rubicon seems too big as far and weight and turning radius are concerned. You might want to look at power steering, It would be handy at times and allot less wear and tear on the shoulders.
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Post by Foggy on Jun 15, 2019 8:04:36 GMT -6
Mine is going to be primarily for mowing, lots and lots of mowing. I've also got to keep the weight down as much as possible. The dirt on my land can't hold up shit until maybe June 1st. Before that, you sink straight through the top soil, even with your boots. When I ran the billy goat back there last weekend, the plot soil carried it fine, but my trail going back there was dicey. I think a week earlier and the goat may have been swallowed. Pending a dealer visit to talk options, I think the Rancher is the right one for my setup. The Recon seems too small, and the Rubicon seems too big as far and weight and turning radius are concerned. You might want to look at power steering, It would be handy at times and allot less wear and tear on the shoulders. And I'd order one with a power inverter on it so you can have some real power at your place. (grin)
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Post by sd51555 on Jun 15, 2019 9:18:16 GMT -6
Mine is going to be primarily for mowing, lots and lots of mowing. I've also got to keep the weight down as much as possible. The dirt on my land can't hold up shit until maybe June 1st. Before that, you sink straight through the top soil, even with your boots. When I ran the billy goat back there last weekend, the plot soil carried it fine, but my trail going back there was dicey. I think a week earlier and the goat may have been swallowed. Pending a dealer visit to talk options, I think the Rancher is the right one for my setup. The Recon seems too small, and the Rubicon seems too big as far and weight and turning radius are concerned. You might want to look at power steering, It would be handy at times and allot less wear and tear on the shoulders. I called the mower dealer this morning and talked to them about it too. One thing they brought up was front end weight with the mower. They said the smallest wheeler they've put one on was a 400cc. Rancher isn't much bigger at 420. They said there were a couple things you could do to make sure you can lift it, one is counter weight in the back, the other is heavier front springs. Price tag is still at $3,995 for that beast. If this guy would have left it raised up on the first pass, he could have gone through there at a better pace.
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Post by Foggy on Jun 15, 2019 9:32:26 GMT -6
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Post by sd51555 on Jun 15, 2019 10:01:54 GMT -6
I think you are nuts for considering that unit at that price. Buy a swisher or similar unit. Maybe something in a solar model out there? For the price of that flail mower and the ATV to run it.....you could likely buy a small tractor with a 3 point cutter - if you shopped carefully. Maybe could even have money left over for grid power? ( ) "They strike at the sheppard so that the sheep may scatter."We've been down this road before, but beings that I'm home this weekend, I'll recap all the reasons why that won't work. 1.0 My land is too wet for a tractor. I'd need a second one to pull the first one out, and tillage equipment to fix the ruts. 1.1 Tractor will take up more space than I willing to give in the stab garage. 1.2 Rotary mower would have to sit outside due to it's size. 1.3 A tractor worthy of running a mower is gonna be $3,000+ 1.4 You can't give people rides to the stand on an 8N. 1.5 Old tractors don't have cup holders. 2. I'm getting a four wheeler anyway, so that cost is irrelevant. 3. This doubles as a lawn mower, so take off $2500+ for a rider that could also handle plot and trail mowing. 4. This obsoletes a planter, and any additional tillage equipment. Let's take off $500 for that. 5.0 A three point mower is still gonna run $600+ dollars. 5.1 A swisher brushhog is gonna be $800-$1600+ and I'm still walking. 6. Any kind of rotary mower is going to windrow my debris and turn it's mulch mat into a problem instead of the backbone of my program. 7. This unit will take up less space than my push mower, or any other mower I'd have to store in addition to my wheeler. Storage space is too valuable to get wrong. 8. I don't want to walk behind a brush hog anymore. 9. Profit. 10. I can't figure out why this won't work perfectly for my setup. Frankly, I can't afford to not do this. Space, consolidated functions, fewer engines and tires, cost, and weight cannot be beat here. With so little equipment, a guy wouldn't need a full machine shop to maintain his toys.
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Post by Foggy on Jun 15, 2019 10:11:15 GMT -6
The swisher mower is a pull type bush hog. Find a good used one for $1000 or so....and you and your wheeler are golden. What you need is a swisher trail mower type....usually 44" wide cut. Don't buy a finish mower....unless you want two mowers. Do your homework. OR....but a new one at FF. Check out the competitive one they have to the Swisher.
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Post by Freeborn on Jun 15, 2019 10:11:52 GMT -6
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Post by sd51555 on Jun 15, 2019 10:22:58 GMT -6
The swisher mower is a pull type bush hog. Find a good used one for $1000 or so....and you and your wheeler are golden. What you need is a swisher trail mower type....usually 44" wide cut. Don't buy a finish mower....unless you want two mowers. Do your homework. OR....but a new one at FF. Check out the competitive one they have to the Swisher. Let's say the roles were reversed... Someone says, "hey, I'm thinking about buying a flail mower for my atv." I would come in with this response. "Instead of getting that ATV flail mower, have you considered buying a tractor, drill, disk, 3-pt spreader, packer, riding lawn mower, rotary mower and an extra building instead?" Fore!
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Post by Foggy on Jun 15, 2019 10:51:24 GMT -6
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Post by biglakebass on Jun 15, 2019 12:11:26 GMT -6
I have a Polaris at the farm and we have two Hondas at the cabin,all have been great. The reason I purchased the polaris for the farm is the sealed front compartment and dump box, both those options are hard to find on a Japanese unit. The Polaris is an open country unit and I don't pull heavy with it, so far it's been a great machine. The hondas are a foreman and a Rubicon, other than the medal racks which I hate, they run flawless and are real workhorses. Kooch's comments on size are spot on. If your in the woods you want something nimble and light so if you have to horse the rear end around you can. One of mine is a grizzly 450. Does a lot of hard work AND nimble.
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Post by sd51555 on Jun 15, 2019 12:16:47 GMT -6
Just back from a trip to my Kubota dealer for filters and oil. Saw a NICE small JD 855 with loader that would be great for a small property. Turf tires too! Just sayin. This would likely last a long time if a person took care of it. FORE! Where do the floaties attach? Rancher - Is this where passengers sit?
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Post by biglakebass on Jun 15, 2019 13:44:18 GMT -6
People have mentioned the solid rear axle as well.
Definitely a plus versus squashing independent rear suspension if carrying a heavy load or something with high tongue weight.
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