Should You Get a Mid-Mount Mower Deck or a Rotary Cutter for Your Tractor?
The key to a well-kempt property is the right mower. Sure, mowing the grass is only one aspect of the work, but can your land ever truly look like a million bucks if the fields aren’t properly maintained? And, more than just aesthetics, mowing can make working the fields more manageable. But the bigger your property gets, the more important it is to be working with the right tools. You can’t rely on your old walk-behind forever.
That’s where getting the right attachment for your tractor becomes essential. Utilizing your tractor can make this task much easier, but you’ll need to decide if you want to use a mid-mount deck or a rotary cutter. We can help you with that. Middletown Tractor Sales has provided some advice on which option is right for you.
Then, when you stop by one of our locations in Fairmont and Buckhannon, West Virginia, or Washington and Uniontown, Pennsylvania, you can let us know where you’d like to start your tour.
What’s the Difference?
Let’s start with some basics. Your tractor is only as useful as the attachments that go along with it. It should come with some basic hitching technology so you can easily switch between a variety of implements. One such type of implement is mowers.
Mid-mount mower decks, or belly decks as they’re sometimes referred to, can be attached to the underbelly of the tractor, so you’re essentially sitting over them. Different manufacturers have these attachments connect to the tractor in different ways, but you often will drive over them and connect them after you’ve properly placed the tractor in the right space.
Rotary cutters are designed to be dragged behind the tractor. They’re not necessarily the only type of mowing attachment that you would pull behind your machine, but they’re certainly one of the most common ones.
Mower Deck Benefits
If there’s one area that mid-mount mower decks excel it, it’s that perfectly manicured lawn look. They’re an excellent choice for turf and professional landscapers, which can also make them particularly well-suited to compact tractors. And, of course, when you don’t have anything sticking out behind you, you’ll be more compact in general, once again lending themselves to yards and turf fields, which may have tighter corners to maneuver around.
Speaking of easier to maneuver, a mid-mount mower is going to be closer to the turning axis than any other option. This means getting around your property and turning is going to be much easier with one of these options.
Rotary Cutter Benefits
When you’ve got a field that needs a lot of TLC, a rotary cutter, or bush hog, is likely the better choice. They can handle taller blades more easily, including things like cheatgrass. Even if you don’t have fields of your own, if you work for a company that regularly clears up properties or builds up parks and roadsides, a rotary cutter is more equipped to handle these tougher tasks.
Which One to Choose?
Some of you might already have your answer, but some of you might be thinking that both sound like a good investment. Of course, we recommend investing in all attachments that you’ll use regularly, but when you’re deciding which one to buy first, consider what kinds of tasks you do most often on your property. Remember that attachments can often be rented, so think about buying the one you’ll use more often—whether it’s to maintain your fields or groom your yard—and then making other arrangements for the other until you can buy it as well.
Speaking of which, if you’re ready to start looking at your options, contact Middletown Tractor Sales. We have a wide range of tractor attachments that you can look at, including all your essential mowing implements. Visit us today! We also serve Pittsburgh, PA, and Morgantown, WV.