For those who can't get access to a brush hog, get yourself a couple of goats. It's an all natural solution and requires zero human effort. While my kids were in 4H, we had 2 or 3 Nubians, and their ability to clear underbrush is outstanding! They also liked hanging out at the firepit and drinking beer with me. About the closest thing to having friends I've experienced as an adult.😂
When you see all those boulders dating from the last ice age, you automatically become humble. They were there long before you and will be there long after you. We are only modest stewards of a tiny piece of earth.
Couple of comments say that's "a beast". It does a fine job, but I remember a real beast- the old Bachtold we had with about a 5hp Wisconsin engine. It would definitely take the starch out of a teenage boy! Had the old large-diameter wheels and its minimal blade guard didn't chew up the debris as well as your modern machine. There was one forward speed and the only reverse was a hefty heave on the handles. One of life's greatest satisfactions is clearing brush. I wouldn't gripe too much about the small fuel tank. I'd be about ready for any kind of break after running one for 20 minutes...
We had a big electric start DR with a mower deck and snowblower. It's an excellent and rugged machine for sure. Wish I hadn't let my brother talk me out of it lol.
I have seen the Dr advertised and in commercials but never in a real demonstration. It works great and so handy for those tight areas. Thanks Toby for another informative and enjoyable video.
I've got an L Gravely with a 30" mower designed to work like that DR. It works well but weighs a ton and the handles are designed for for someone about 5' 8". I'm 72 and it's a bit much too handle for me. That DR did the job. I enjoy exploratory mowing.
We had an old L model Gravely. Thing was a beast. Like a goat with carbide teeth or something. It would easily cut down 2-3” pine and 1-2” hardwood saplings. Would beat us together in the process but it would get it done. Miss that ol thing…
a walk - behind wheeled weed whip that looks like your DR Brush Mower is a nice compromise for clearing large areas of rough ground if you do not have very many trees and woody growth. It is also more forgiving around rocks and abandoned scrap metal. 😊
Excellent video that mower really chewed through the brush and little trees. Aspen trees root sucker that is why they are in different height stages along a field edge where there are larger aspen trees growing. Keep up the great videos
I agree with Sr. Once you cut down the tree, it will start drying, it will really progress once the bark is off. After it is in boards any extra water will just cause problems, humidity is hard enough on dried wood yet alone water.
That DR works pretty good. I have a similar walk behind A 1960 Gravely Li with a 30" bush hog. A little more heavy duty than the DR, the whole housing is 1/4" steel and the blade is 3/8ths of an inch thick and weighs 11 lbs. It can handle material up to 3". The whole unit with the bush hog bolted on is about 530 lbs.
That DR machine is pretty impressive. It doesn't sound much different when it is just running with no load and when charging through some tough bushes at heavy load.
If you can get a pipe that makes a nice seal onto the fuel type cap area you can actually just put a pvc pipe 2 and a half feet tall and with a coupler for the cap for the gas tank and get that much more fuel in it
Nice video Squatch! Little field land clearing in the summer.... that DR mower punches above its weight like many others said here. Thank you for posting every couple of days and caring about your subscribers!
Hey Sqautch, DR Mower - I have the DR string trimmer which has like 6 rows of strings (12 strings total) and it works amazing as well. I have used the Billy Goat version of the field brush mower and it also had a small fuel tank. I believe the reasoning behind this is because it is very important with field mowers to keep the flying cuttings out of the flywheel cover, for air flow to the engine. Ideally, i use a little brush every time i fuel up to clear what ever has built up against the flywheel cover.
I wish I could use that machine on our property. Where you have soil with rocks, we have soily rocks… areas I have mowed for years still produce tractor buckets of rocks. For now I use the string version so I don’t have to replace a blade after every use. Takes a lot longer.
What a beautiful spot your property is. I can see why you love it. I feel the same way about my little patch of dirt in the forest. Thanks for the video.
My dad bought one of the original DR mowers from out of a magazine ad back in the late 80’s. Its a bit of a bear and a workout to run. Tall narrow spoke wheels, chain drive , no reverse and simple lever to tighten the belts to engage the blade. Briggs and Stratton power. I have it now, it still runs good.
Hello Toby, that is one amazing piece of equipment and as you say that it's just a shame that the fuel tank is not bigger. This did make me think though what area could you cover in 20 minutes. You have definitely made me want to look at buying one of those as it would make my work so much easier with some of the jobs I have to tackle. Hope you are all well and take care. Please keep up with the amazing work you do. Anthony
I have a similar unit that is a Billy Goat brand. A friend asked me if I had any sort of a brush cutter he could use and said sure I’ve got a billy goat you can borrow. He thought it was pretty funny when I sent him a picture of the machine!
These are great machines - No Mow May, June, July, August, and then you cut it all when you have some spare time. I own the Billygoat version. These machines let you choose when you mow the grass!
All these small improvements and eye for detail really pay off. I am sure with your skill and creativity you could fashion a larger gas tank for the DR. It's probably not worth your time but it's fun to think about.
That mower is a beast! Could you install a second fuel tank on the handlebars? If you added a switching valve, the existing tank could be a 20 minute reserve.
I own a Dr Mower Commercial unit (and a D2). I can say the Dr Mower is a nice simple machine that works well on low slopes in dry weather. My Orec tracked flail mower is a true blessing for any terrain.
Mother nature can easy reclaim back what man once had in his possession. The Brush Mower seems to work fine I have a similar one but it's not self propelling. I'm sure you will be expanding the grass area more as the building comes along. Glad you saved that oak tree.
About half of that pile was from trimming the overgrown pine trees in the ditch out front earlier this spring, to make it easier to mow the grass. The rest all came from that corner thicket of scrubby, but densely packed, trees 👍
Squatch253, are you and Sr in Canada ? I’ve always watching all your videos because I love Tractors too but the main thing is “I like the way you explain things specially when you’re doing Tractor or Dozer Restoration !!!
The first consideration before I attempt to clear a new patch of bush is to look for the poison ivy! Any threat of that or poison oak where you are? I'm guessing not since you burn your brush piles, or you have figured out a way to deal with it. We have lots on our property, and about an hour from me in Paris, ON is the world record for the tallest plant. BTW your channel is my favorite on RU-vid and I can't begin to thank you and Sr. for how much I've learned! Congrats on the new building and looking forward to all of your upcoming adventures.
A small fuel tank forces the operator to take a break more often and is why I like a small tank on a chainsaw. :-) A GREAT DR promotional video which should help their sales.
I'm 74 and sally jo is always after me to take a rest break. Told her when I can't work anymore because of health ill take a break. Got in at 8:30 pm yesterday.
Hey Ron chainsaws and other small equipment is designed like that, from memory 20 mins of the vibration is recommended to have a short break, if the works you are doing the fuel lasts longer when it does run out say 40 minutes then that's still 20 mins of vibration so time for the break
What are you doing video when you remove the stumps? We have some to move and would like to see how you go about it. Love the video that machine sure can do the job!
Why did you not leave the hardwood saplings to grow and extend their root system. They would be a good wind break as they grew. I worked in the hardwood logging industry for over 20 years. I loved working in the bush, I'm also a construction equip. mechanic . Just wondering to myself.
Because I’ve already got enough natural regen happening in the woods to make me happy, and aside from the already mature trees that are in this spot, I want open areas of grass to mow 👍
How much would you rent this for including yourself? Up to how much acre? Looking as an idea for a service to earn weekend income and save up for a bigger brush hog tractor or skid
I’ve taken it straight up, plus done side-hill passes on my 45 degree ditch banks and it handles it just fine - but I do have to crab-walk it slightly on that steep of a side hill because gravity is wanting to drift it down. It’s a good workout, to say the least - but straight up followed by reversing back down is a piece of cake 👍
I didn't know where else to post this but how are you doing with all of the rain fall and flooding? You and Senior still high and dry? Are you up or down stream of the dam breach?
Thank you for the concern! Fortunately we’re just fine here, well away from all of the flooding that’s been happening. The dam break is 100+ miles southwest of us, but I am thinking about all the people who are in the path of that potential collapse.
Got a neighbor who has the exact mower and thought he could do some stump grinding. That didn't end well, bent the housing at the spindle mount so badly that the blade was jammed against the housing. He thought the warranty would cover it 😂😂😅😅
"Popple" is a word that has different meaning depending on where you are and where you're from. Are you referring to one or any member of the Birch family or to a member of the Poplar family?
I remember bush hogging as a teen and running over a nest. Never shut off the tractor and ran away as fast as that! Still got a few stings but I'd be way slower these days lol.
Im still at the stage of life where the only break I need is about 2 hours after the sun goes down - that’ll change eventually but right now the sun always gives up before I do lol 👍
Yes,I have multiple videos on the channel operating the Ford 8N and brush hog mower - but the Ford won’t fit in here, and a few areas are too soft to navigate a tractor without getting stuck right now, and in other areas this DR handles side slopes that I’d never take that tractor on. So the old saying, “The right tool for the job.” 👍
