Anyone have experience with skid steer brush cutters? I have ordered a Deere 333G with hi-flow hydraulics and need to purchase a brush cutter for it. The brush cutter will be used for clearing fence lines and mowing ~30 acres of thick, tall grass once or twice a year.

Part of the fenceline clearing is alongside an 8' wooden privacy fence. Because of this, I'm inclined to go the closed-face route to keep from launching anything through the wood fence. The closed-face cutters I've seen don't have near the hydrailc flow or cutting power of the open-faced. A friend mentioned a cutter that has a hydraulic opening face, but I can't seem to find one. Anyone have experience with one of these? Also, prices seem to be anywhere from $3,000 to $20,000.

I won't be using this a ton, and it won't be used to make money, but I don't want to get something cheap or underpowered that's going to give me problems.

Bonus internet points if anyone knows a good dealer in the Dripping Springs, or surrounding, area to buy one from.

I'm looking at needing to use one of these soon, so this is interesting to me, but do you already have the skid steer? Would it make more sense to rent the whole thing for a day or two each time you need tonuse it?

A brush cutter isn't ideal for mowing, unless you are talking about a mulching head...in which case you and I need to be buddies so i can borrow it from you.

Edit - was thinking of a brush or tree shear instead of a shredder

schmellba99 said:

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A brush cutter isn't ideal for mowing, unless you are talking about a mulching head...in which case you and I need to be buddies so i can borrow it from you.

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Same. I may have about 6 acres and a half mile of fence line i need to get right soon.

Watch out for cooling capacity of the machine. I'm running an older Bradco I bought used on standard flow and the machine can get hot. Used it to mow about 7 acres and had to slow down to keep temp down on a New Holland.

Wonder what a high flow mower would do to the machine in regard to the temp.

Only benefit of skid steer mower over tractor is maneuverability and tracks.

Ambusher makes a ground shark type that the front will open up on if needed I think. Mine is fixed front.

I run it one way for grass and backwards for brush. Not sure if all models can be ran either direction to keep better edges on grass blades.

If you won't be using it much, it may be better to contract it out.

I have a Diamond 6' shredder that'll cut brush up to 4" diameter and it works great for the type of work you're looking to do. If you don't have the shatterproof glass on your machine, make sure and tilt the front end up slightly so the "shrapnel" exits away!

Paging CrossTimbers! Paging CrossTimbers!

As a piggy back, I may have about a half mile of fence line that needs to be cleaned up as well as about 4-6 acres of thick stuff that needs to be cleaned up. Anyone have recs on this in SE Texas? The one I definitely can't handle in my own would be the acreage underbrush clearing.

I'm starting to look at a skid steer also for brush control mostly and cleaning up a place.

I'm curious what the one you ordered cost? Email me at username at gmail if you'd be willing to talk privately.

From my research, I've heard pricing is about $1,000 per horsepower. And that gets you in the ballpark. That seem reasonably close?

1. You wont need to get a high flow attachment in order to accomplish what you are trying to do. You can run it on standard flow. If you buy something with standard flow rating, DO NOT run it on high flow, you will burn it up. Just bc it says high flow, it will not impact the standard flow attachment production.

2. If you are cutting anything under 4", I would get a closed-face, something like this: https://www.landpride.com/products/6616/SC60-Series-Skid-Cutters

they make high flow versions too, from my experience and what you described needing, it is overkill.

3. If you buy a brush cutter style mower, make sure it has a self stopping system/brake for the blades, if not you will have to shut the hydraulics off and wait for the blades to quit running before you turn of the equipment. If you just shut the skid steer off, you will burn up your mowers motor.

4. Unless you are true land clearing like this, have 5 figures and know how to repair hydraulic equipment, I wouldnt touch the open face attachments. https://www.bluediamondattachments.com/drum-mulcher/

Buddy has a Terex that he bought used for $85k. Has the open face and the drum roller attachments. Handy to have around. Has a pressurized cabin to keep the dust out, but he has broken a few windows on it.

I have a Rut mfg terminator Xp high flow for over an year. Cuts up to 10inch trees but I try to stay 6inch and below. It's been a beast.

30 acres a couple times a year shouldn't be a problem for the closed face skid steer cutters. It won't be a pretty cut as it will wind-row pretty bad if it is so thick.

Here's what i run on my 259D, using standard flow:
Jenkins Iron & Steel Brush Mower Attachment for Skid Steers (jenkinsironandsteel.com)

chris1515 said:

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I'm starting to look at a skid steer also for brush control mostly and cleaning up a place.

I'm curious what the one you ordered cost? Email me at username at gmail if you'd be willing to talk privately.

From my research, I've heard pricing is about $1,000 per horsepower. And that gets you in the ballpark. That seem reasonably close?

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A well-optioned, high-flow Cat 299D3 (98 HP) was $108K and similar-optioned, high-flow Deere 333G (100 HP) was $104K when I ordered last November. The only significant difference in options is that the 333G has a pressurized cab whereas you have to move up to the 299 Land Management package to get a pressurized cab in the Cat.

I know a guy that's owned a dirt contracting business for 20+ years. I thought he ran all Cat equipment, but I asked him what I should get and he said "Cat is the gold standard, and you won't go wrong with the Cat 299. Personally, I like the Deere 333G. The bucket on the Cat has to be completely flat to open the cab door and the Deere has a pressurized cab, so you don't get as much dirt inside. I also like Deere's quick attach system better than the Cat." Due to his advice, I limited my shopping to Cat and Deere. Honestly, for my non-commercial use, any brand would probably be great.

I went with the Deere because the dealer said they had one coming mid-December that someone else had ordered and backed out on. Once they had my deposit, they said the person that ordered it ended up buying and mine would arrive at the end of February. Cat delivery time was late February at that time, so I ended up not saving any time going with the Deere over the Cat. The Deere dealer is a lot closer to me though. Both were well below sticker price even though they're sold out 3+ months. If you're willing to pay sticker, which is $130-140K, some dealers had them in stock when I was shopping in November.

Thank you to everyone who responded. I'll research the brush cutters linked.

I'm not buying the skid steer solely, or even primarily, to run the brush cutter. It will be one of many attachments used. Based on my research, a tractor and shredder is far better for mowing than a skid steer with a brush cutter, but I'm trying to avoid purchasing a tractor since I would likely only use it for mowing a couple of times per year.

And back when I was looking in the summer of 2018 the 333 was $73k. My how Biden has changed things...I'm waiting for cattle prices to catch up.

Man, I just came here on this thread out of envy. I'm in the same boat with some acreage and though I cannot justify the cost, I sure would like such a setup (skid steer and brush cutter setup).

So yeah, my post isn't helpful other than wishing I were buying this stuff.

I don't have a lot of experience with brush cutters such as the OP is referring to but I do know the JD 333G is a beast of a skid steer! I've had the luxury of operating one pretty regularly the past 4 years and I'm impressed. The power is second to none and there is quite a bit of room in the cab especially compared to my CAT 259D. I think I've put around 600 hours on the JD since the ranch bought it and the only problem we've had was the speed sensor in both tracks threw codes about 2 years ago. It cost about 2k to have the JD house in Hamilton to fix it but in talking to my cousin, who is a field mechanic for RDO, he said it is really random and not too common of a problem. I've had no issues with the DEF fluid or anything else. When I replace my CAT, I'll likely go with the comparable JD model whenever that time comes. I think you'll be impressed but take your time as you learn how to operate it if you're not familiar with running a skid steer. I told somebody recently that I compare the 333G to a car with a big block in it. If you're not careful or used to it, things can get away from you real quickly. Once you learn your way around it, there's not much you can't do.

I've got a 333G as well and run a John Deere RC60 on mine. I've only had the opportunity to use it a couple times so far but it's worked great for what I've done with it. My work sounds a lot like yours. Mainly grass with a few small diameter trees. Keep it away from concrete or rocks or you'll be replacing blades regularly.

If your interested in a slightly used one, message me and I can get you pricing on another unit that we have in our rental fleet that might be available (that's where I got mine from).

I bought my skid steer used but I'm loving it so far. Way more versatile than my tractor.

Sea Speed said:

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As a piggy back, I may have about a half mile of fence line that needs to be cleaned up as well as about 4-6 acres of thick stuff that needs to be cleaned up. Anyone have recs on this in SE Texas? The one I definitely can't handle in my own would be the acreage underbrush clearing.

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Former co worker started his own business. He was a superintendent for a construction company we worked for. Very knowledgeable about land clearing and dirt work. Really good dude, will do a good job. Not sure where in SE Texas you are. He lives in Brookeland(near Jasper) now, but he does work all over the area. He has a Facebook page for his business with pictures of past jobs.

Justice Land Services Unlimited
Jace Justice
713-231-8063

Thank you I'll check that out

If you're not cutting through brush larger than 2.5" diameter, the closed face, lesser expensive option is more than enough. It sounds like you'll be going over the same places once or twice a year. If this is true, then the closed face is perfect, so long as the first pass is not in 3"+ diameter brush.
Most of the closed face brush cutters do NOT require high flow hydraulics and you should not run it with your high flow activated.
Several of the open face option are also designed for standard flow as well believe it or not.

I have a Landpride 72" brush shredder on my Kubota SVL75hp. It'll cut down some thick stuff.

I have a Cat 299 with high flow and is Skidpro open face
I do believe ope face helps me take out trees much easier and the way it's built can go right next to a fence and never grab it
Also, don't look for anything to be pretty after shredding with it but it will cut it down

We used this to mow the 83 acre farm my old man bought last year. It took us a couple of months to get it all done. Very hilly terrain with a lot of overgrown brush and trees. Other than ripping the hoses off, it worked flawlessly. I'd love to own it but at $15K and the fact our plans for the property don't include a lot of mowing, we couldn't justify it. We did end up buying the skid steer though to use at the property and on our construction sites.

The T76 definitely did struggle with cooling issues while running that mower in the heat of the summer. If it's over 95 degrees outside, forget mowing, even if you clean all the filters every couple of hours.