I have had several of these mowers and have some experienced comments. The newer DRs (with the exception of their largest model) have only rear discharge which is inadequate in tall grass as it plugs up. DR did away with the antiwrap shield and so my newer DR can get grass wrap around the spindle. The disc brakes on the newer DRs are great and I recommend them. I understand hydrostatic models are coming this spring (2022)
That's cool, I've got a cheaper Craftsman that's similar but works well. Even though they are self propelled you still have to man handle that thing and quite the workout.
I have a 17 hp DR Mower that I've been using for over 10 years clearing property lines and underbrush from around the homestead. DR recommends up to 2 1/2" saplings for my model but I've pushed it above its maximum just to see what it can really do. I don't advise it because it is extremely hard on the equipment and operator, but I have taken 3" red oaks down with it.
Even with the 5ft bush hog, I hate the banging sound that comes with taking down thick saplings. 14" chainsaw works quick. But this DR mower, I have got to get one. So many places that are too dangerous for the tractor.
@@BonafideToolJunkie They don't make the 17 hp anymore because they have come out with a larger model that is designed to take down 3" saplings, just a note. What I like about it is that it will go where tractors fear to tread. What I learned, the hard way, is don't manhandle the machine. Just put it in gear, hang on and let it do it's job.
These things are beasts. I have one 17 years old and use it to cut blackberries and thick poison oak shrubbery sometimes eight or nine feet tall. It is not a power steering unit like DR makes now, so it takes a bit more effort to turn it. It is heavy and tiring, but it tackles brush only a large tractor with a pull behind PTO brush hog could formerly take on. It mows well on hills going straight up and down, and pretty well going laterally on slopes of maybe 25 to 30 degrees. Any steeper, and it is better to go straight up and down. It takes about two hours to mow two hilly, tough acres. But the reduction in fire danger out here in the dry west is well worth the physical effort. Once you get the tough stuff down, it really only has to be mowed once a year afterwards.
Seems like something that would make more sense to rent instead of own. Once you get the brush cut down then all you would need is a regular mower as long as you kept up with it.
If i wanted to cut small trees & roots flush to ground by extending the blade down further - do you think it would hold up? (Fully aware that is not the intended use/abuse)
I have exactly the same machine. What to geese and oil on this machine? You did mention it you had a transmission problem .Do you need to change the oil, or is sealed? I bought mine used , so I do not have any way to follow. Thanks for the help.
We have a lot of ant mounds, which are not a friendly walk through after cutting their home to pieces. This looks like a great solution but for that one issue.
It all becomes composted over time. You could rake it up in a more manicured area, or burn it where it falls (I've done the latter in grassy areas), but in the woods I let it rot.
We just bought our 5 acre homestead in Sept. 2018 and we're trying to get it cleaned up (mostly wooded, and has a pasture that hasn't been used in years, and we need to clear garden space and keep the woods from seceding). I'm considering getting the 20 hp version of this that will do up to 3 inch saplings (our property is too tight for a tractor). But, I'm wondering, have you tried it on slopes or hills? We have a couple areas that have hills or slopes. And, have you ever tried to go through a thick carpet of blackberry vines? we have more blackberries and black raspberries to clear than anything (one has canes, the other vines). Thanks for any insight you can give.
The new models look even better. Mine will go through blackberry bushes taller than me and obliterate them. I don't get stuck by thorns because I'm behind the monster muncher. I can't recommend it highly enough. It will destroy brush.
I'm clearing a small forest with mine. You wouldn't dare take a tractor through the places I'm taking my DR through and I say that as a guy that loves tractors.
I love when all these videos from different people get to big bushes the video skips to the bushes being mowed. You don't get the sense that the work was easy or hard...just dissapears right as you get to big bushes. 4th video by different people that they skip all that.
