Lyndale
New User
Hi, we are about to swap our compact tractor / flail collector for a quad with self powered flail, but last minute cold feet so wanted to see if there was any input from anyone that has had both?
After we moved a few years back we rented some adjacent paddock, so currently have about 4.5 acres to look after. The ride-on mower took far too long so we quickly managed to scrape enough together to buy a used Chinese Compact Tractor and a collecting Flail Mower. This is far faster than the ride-on, but as nearly 2 acres is more garden (still rough pasture in terms of ground) with plenty of trees / obstacles we have found that we whizz around the open areas, but then have to hand mow a fair proportion (so overall it is not much better, sadly). We also find the tractor flattens a lot with it's wheels before the flail gets to it, so it pops back up by the next day leaving the cut quite scruffy.
The attraction of the tractor (apart from that it was a tractor and it was red of course!!) was the PTO and our belief that it would be versatile. The trouble is that the 3 point hitch and PTO is a bit of a faff, so we've found ourselves leaving the flail permanently attached - so effectively it's a lawn mower.
Recent thinking has got us to the brink of losing a bit on the purchase of the tractor and P/X it and the flail for a decent used quad (eyes on a Polaris 500) and a tow flail (self powered with the same cutting width as the PTO flail). Our idea being that the hitch is simple so we can swap to trailer, roller or such much easier (so might do it!) and the quad will be a lot lower / more agile than the tractor - flail combo so we should be able to do more of the grass in amongst the trees etc. We have the fields harrowed, seeded etc. by a local farmer - so we just need to do the general mowing / maintenance.
We literally are just about to pull the trigger on the deal, but then cold feet as I recall so many people saying that a tractor is the best thing since sliced bread! Don't want to regret the move so thought I'd post quickly and see if anyone has any guidance / thoughts that has used both?
Thanks for any replies - as really are struggling to know what to do at the minute...
After we moved a few years back we rented some adjacent paddock, so currently have about 4.5 acres to look after. The ride-on mower took far too long so we quickly managed to scrape enough together to buy a used Chinese Compact Tractor and a collecting Flail Mower. This is far faster than the ride-on, but as nearly 2 acres is more garden (still rough pasture in terms of ground) with plenty of trees / obstacles we have found that we whizz around the open areas, but then have to hand mow a fair proportion (so overall it is not much better, sadly). We also find the tractor flattens a lot with it's wheels before the flail gets to it, so it pops back up by the next day leaving the cut quite scruffy.
The attraction of the tractor (apart from that it was a tractor and it was red of course!!) was the PTO and our belief that it would be versatile. The trouble is that the 3 point hitch and PTO is a bit of a faff, so we've found ourselves leaving the flail permanently attached - so effectively it's a lawn mower.
Recent thinking has got us to the brink of losing a bit on the purchase of the tractor and P/X it and the flail for a decent used quad (eyes on a Polaris 500) and a tow flail (self powered with the same cutting width as the PTO flail). Our idea being that the hitch is simple so we can swap to trailer, roller or such much easier (so might do it!) and the quad will be a lot lower / more agile than the tractor - flail combo so we should be able to do more of the grass in amongst the trees etc. We have the fields harrowed, seeded etc. by a local farmer - so we just need to do the general mowing / maintenance.
We literally are just about to pull the trigger on the deal, but then cold feet as I recall so many people saying that a tractor is the best thing since sliced bread! Don't want to regret the move so thought I'd post quickly and see if anyone has any guidance / thoughts that has used both?
Thanks for any replies - as really are struggling to know what to do at the minute...