Something comparable to the Rhino TS12. Specifically meant for use on smaller 35-50hp tractors. Looking for something to mow a generally well maintained rolling field of 40 acres. No large brush.

I run an 8ft on a 50hp tractor and have to go rather slow when I get into thick weeds/wildflowers doing clean up work in the spring. This is on ground I normally bale hay on later in the year.

Do you already have a tractor, or are you looking for both a shredder and tractor? If you already have something less than 50 hp, look at a smaller cutter for sure.

Would rec tractor be closer to 50hp than 35hp

Tractor Time with Tim on youtube has a few videos with a flex wing 10' rhino ag. Maybe a start by watching some of his videos. He uses a 2038R JD to pull it.

Currently looking for tractor and mower

Only advice I can give is whatever HP tractor you are thinking about, go bigger. Also go 4wd. You won't regret it down the road

I use a Rhino 10 ft bat wing which is a good fit for the number of acres (about 40) and the number of trees, fences and other obstructions on the property, plus it easily fits through gates, etc. The tractor is 65 HP (55 PTO) and could easily handle a larger shredder, but the larger the shredder the more unwieldy it is.

John Deere builds the E series called the E12. It is a nice flex wing rotary cutter in 12 ft. Land Pride makes a light and medium duty 12 ft. My uncle works for the Highway Department in Arkansas and they exclusively use Bushwacker brand that is made in Little Rock. I believe it is called an M144. If you compare specs it is a really well built unit and is priced competively. It compares to the Schulte Brand in features. My uncle says they have had all the brands and Bushwacker holds up the best for them. If you are using it where you might hit rocks or stumps I would stay away from the " dog bone" style blade carrier like Rhino and Land Pride use. According to my uncle they don't hold up like the circular stump jumper type of blade carrier. He says they had some Rhinos and the carrier would sometimes break from impacts.
I don't know if Bushhog builds a light duty 12' or not. Believe that the Alamo Group owns Rhino and Bushhog now.
I bought a new 15' last year. After shopping and looking at all of them I narrowed it down to Bushwacker and Bushhog. I ended going with the Bushwacker. It was about $600 more than the Bushhog but had the thickest decks and had suspension on all axles and hydraulic depth adjustment on the wings instead of turnbuckles and was rated up to 4" cutting capacity....an inch more than anyone else in that class.....it also had the heaviest rated gear boxes.
If I was looking at a standard duty 12' I would go with either JD or Bushwacker.
Have fun shopping and get the one you like the best.

I have a Rhino Icon 5150 and it is nails.

How does the rubber suspension hold up? Our neighbor had a 4150 and in one year the rubber bumper suspension had fallen apart and Rhino told him it was not covered under warranty. Does the 5150 use the same suspension?

We run a 15' rhino when we shred the pastures. Granted, we are running a JD 4850 when we do, but there is close to 800 acres of pasture that we shred.

We will run a 12' behind a 4430 also, really depends on who has free time as to if we will run that one. It's usually reserved for hay duty, but pressed into service when needed and there is someone with time (the longest spring break ever) found my 12 year old in a tractor either plowing, shredding or moving hay bales most every day after schoolwork was done.

They are claiming you can run a 12 footer on only 35-50 hp? I was always taught you need about 5 hp per foot so a 35 hp wouldnt want to go over 7 feet on the shredder, seems like a good way to tear up a transmission really fast if your tractor is on the lower end of your range.

For 40 acres of pasture I'd go with a 10 foot and pick a tractor on the higher end of your horsepower range.

Modern Ag out of Beaumont makes a good 12' flex wing. One of their differences is that the entire unit is galvanized. I think the 12' Predator unit can run on a tractor with as low as 40 hp. I run this unit on a 75 hp tractor and have had no problems. Unit is well built and from what I can remember was cheaper than the Rhinos, Land Pride, etc. units sold with comparable specs.

jtp01 said:

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Granted, we are running a JD 4850 when we do, but there is close to 800 acres of pasture that we shred.

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With 190 horses at the PTO, you could shred a redwood forest with that machine.

OP, you'll feel "horsepower inadequacy" when you have to shred tall, thick, dense (and sometimes wet) weeds. I know I sure do.

If you stay on top of things and never let yourself get in that position, you can do OK with less powerful tractors.

If you don't mind buying old and used equipment, you can get a 'running' International or Ford with 100 HP for less than $10K if you shop around and don't need to have the prettiest tractor on the block.

Most of the used equipment dealers now are posting videos showing the tractor running, the PTO engaging, the 3-point lift working, etc. One of my buddies buys stuff that way but always make sure he can return it within 30 days if something is too messed up to deal with.

Not that I am aware of. But maybe.

Thanks for the recommendation for Tractor Time with Tim. He knocks out some tough pasture with a 38HP tractor and a 10' flex wing!