About Rough Cut Mowers
Rough cut mowers are the beasts of landscape care. They mow up to 32 acres a day and will easily shred twigs, pine cones, and other minor obstacles. Tow-behind trail cutters will cut brush and saplings up to 3” thick and are most appropriate for overgrown, wild property like forests or overgrown fields. DO NOT use a rough cut mower on a well-manicured residential or commercial lawn. Taking blades intended for rougher organic material will result in a ratty, rugged finish--a lawn that you or someone else takes pride in visually will not be pleased with the results of a rough cut mower.
If you already use an ATV or heavy duty mower (like our zero-turn mowers) to complete tasks on your (or your clients’) property, a tow-behind mower deck will easily fit into your workload. Tow-behind mowers can be easily hitched up and hauled behind as you trek over your overgrown field or pasture, slashing down whatever stands in your path. Tow-behind mowers by design cannot propel themselves, and our rough cut tow-behinds range between 530 and 780 pounds. From there, you have the option of a 44 inch deck with either an electric or recoil start, or a 52 inch deck with an electric start. The 52 inch deck will considerably reduce your cutting time if you plan on mowing anything more than 2 acres.
A walk-behind rough cut mower is ideal for smaller spaces, like a yard that’s growing wild, or a plot with lots of trees that will need to be maneuvered around. Our rough cut walk-behind mowers are self-propelled, which means that once the engine is started, all you need to do is tag along to steer it--and maybe apply the brakes once in awhile. Another major benefit of a walk-behind mower is that they are small, so you don’t need an industrial-sized storage shed to lock it up in. They are also cost efficient for smaller areas--if you don’t save more than 15 minutes or so by buying a tow-behind deck that costs thousands of dollars more, it’s pretty much a waste of your money. Walk-behind mowers can also maneuver around bushes, trees, and tight corners.
If a walk-behind mower sounds right for you, there is only one more question to ask yourself when selecting the appropriate model: Do you need a commercial pro mower, or a standard residential mower? The answer depends on how much time you intend to spend using the mower. If you only use the mower once a year or once a month, a residential mower might work just fine for you. But if you intend on using this machine on a daily basis, or a weekly basis, season after season, you might as well spend a little bit more for a more durable, hardy product that will withstand wear and tear. Our Swisher Commercial Pro Predator Talon 24 inch rugged trail cutter is perfect for any small or medium cutting job. The 11.5 HP Briggs engine has both electric and recoil start, and the unit will clear the densest undergrowth and saplings up to 1.5 inches in diameter. Its single, fixed hardened-steel blade zips through brush with ease, and handlebar mounted controls are easily accessed for total control and safety. Front and side safety deflectors protect against flying debris.
We offer both electric and recoil start rough cut mowers. There is no real difference between how these mowers operate besides how they engage the starter, but repairs tend to be a little more costly and complex with an electric start. Bigger engines are more convenient to start with an electric start, so once you’re looking at the higher horsepower engines, you might lean a little more toward an electric start.