Gravely brush mowing pricing

[GLM]

I'm wondering about pricing for mowing brush with a Gravely. I picked up a Gravely(30" brush cutting) this year to supplement my lawns. Whats the verdict one the cost of brush mowing? Thanks Jon.

[jimsmowin]

i intend to buy a dr field mower this spring. i'm gonna start at 25 per hour for about 1 foot and under, over 30.00 per hour. i do bush hog mowing now with 6ft. this is a guess, may have to adjust charge. will probably charge 45. for first hr. and then hourly rate. maybe we can help each other on what to charge.

[Eric ELM]

Around here they were charging around $75 an acre a few years ago to mow empty lots with a 6' brush hog.
I hope this helps.
Eric

[jimsmowin]

should've been more clear get 50. per hr. for 6ft. can mow 2-3 acers per hr. the other pricing was for 26" dr field mower with first hr at 45 and then 25 or 30 for 2nd hr and beyond

[Runner]

Has anyone had any experience with these "DR" field and brush mowers? I know all their other epuipment is on th lightweight side as far as durability and construction. However, the field and brush mowers (atleast the larger models) look like they're built rather well. I wonder how they compare to say, the Billy Goat?

[jimsmowin]

good question. i know a guy who has cheaper one does well, but he does not use it a lot

[Runner]

I know, you see these things on the commercial, and the tractor part of 'em look like their built like a Troy bilt tiller.

[eslawns]

I have a Bachtold 8hp/26" brush mower. I have cut brush taller than I am in one pass. Tall (waist high) thick grass can be cut in one pass as long as the blade is sharp. Bachtold used to make the 24" DR, and is a good machine. The DR has come down in price, but mine was still cheaper, (less than $1200) I recommend you get a lot of insurance for this type of work. The design of these mowers is such that they throw things easily. It's hard to see debris in grass or weeds this high, and the type of people who usually let a yard get this way usually leave things in it for you to hit. I have broken several things, and run over many others. No prize poodles yet :eek:, but I'm trying. Also, if you plan to trim these yards also, I'd get a more powerful trimmer. I use a Husky 232L, but the big Shindy is good, so is the HD Echo. I'm using my old 5x10 trailer to set up a rig just for this type of mowing, so I don't need to load and unload twice every time I get a job.

[Runner]

So, are these DR's made by someone else NOW, does anyone know?

[geogunn]

for what it's worth, I'd never quote an hourly price. no way am I gonna quote an hours worth of work and wage when I can get the same money or better for less time.

GEO

[Skookum]

I use a Troybuilt 34" sickle bar mower for brush. I purchased it for about 600.00 three years ago. I usually charge 75.00 an hour and it cuts an acre in about 1 hour and fifteen minutes. I have been able to get $150.00 an hour on bids where the terrain was trecherous enough that no one else had the equipment to bid on it. No one in town rents them. TruGreen even called me one time to see if I would rent them mine for a day, after they seen how well it did on a property they use to do with poor results.

I looked at a billy goat brush mower, but at $2,200 it was just too much for such limited use. I had seen the DR brush mower, but it too was a little salty. I was concernd about the bush hog type mowers throwing stuff since the reason I was getting one was for a bid on a very busy, very public place where there was always trash, bottles, and big stones hidden in the waist tall brush and always a few kids around feeding the ducks.

I have not regreted getting the sickle bar mower for that reason. It is so much safer to use on those steep slopes where you cannot get a tractor. It never throws anything, and will go over any terrian. It does not chew things up like a rotary mower will, but most people just want the stuff knocked down.