One of my all time favorite skid steer attachments of all time is the skid steer brush mower, what an awesome machine for clearing or cleaning up property. When searching for a skid steer mower at first it may look like they are all the same however once you begin to do your research you will see that you really do get what you pay for in most cases. Finding the correct mower for your needs is easy once you understand the 4 basic factors that separate these mowers from one another.

If you plan on using your brush mower for clearing areas that have thick heavy grass, underbrush and saplings it’s important to make sure it will take the punishment. The first thing to look at is how the mower deck is reinforced since the basic strength of the entire mower is supported by the deck. What I look for is strong support on all 4 sides of the hydraulic motor as well as in the back where it attaches to the skid steer.The most important areas for support are in the center where your power source is attached as well as in the back where the mower attaches to the skid steer. There should also be good integrity along the front of the mower as well and in the four corners but the primary stress will come right around the motor.

I’m sold on using the hydraulic direct drive instead of gear boxes because there is less to go wrong. It should also be mounted on heavy gauge steel plating to reinforce the deck strength. This extra piece of steel along with the rigid supports on all 4 sides will provide enough strength in case you hit rocks or other hard objects with your mower. The elimination of the gear box seems to be a good idea since it’s one less thing that can be damaged by impact or simply by wear and tear over time. Combining the direct drive system with proper brake and pressure release systems can ensure that your mower doesn’t get pushed past it’s structural limits.

If you anticipate using your skid steer mower in adverse conditions even if it’s only on occasion another important aspect is the flywheel. A heavy flywheel allows you to maintain speed through tough spots because it carries greater momentum. If you have to slow down or stop when you get in heavy conditions it may be caused by a lack of hydraulic pressure or a light flywheel. A solid flywheel combined with heavy properly designed blades will make cutting a breeze because of the increased efficiency. I like combining a 250+ pound flywheel with 3 updraft blades instead of two, that seems to be the best combination. I’ve heard the 3 blade design allows you to cover 30% more ground because of the increased surface area of the blades, combine this with updraft blades and you’ve got the ultimate cutting machine!

If you have questions on skid steer mowers or any other skid steer attachments just give Josh Sanden a call at SkidPro – 1-877-378-4642 anytime Monday – Saturday. They are awesome to deal with!