Neil, in less than 10 seconds I finally got a good reason why the return needs to goto sump, which is how I am plumbed. Some interesting features for sure. I have 'the other brand' and I love it. For those who can't see the functionality, I don't use this thing to 'cut grass', not that you can't. Where it really shines is keeping woods lanes open, cutting side brush and young trees, also branches hanging down over the top of the road. I don't know how we would maintain all of our woods roads w/o it.
I have a first generation and really like it. I primarily cut limbs and thick brush. It really beats trying to back a bush hog up and keep your neck contorted all day. You can start out high and gradually lower the mower to completely mulch the privet hedge, saplings, etc. Turning it sideways to go down a narrow road/trail to cut limbs works like a charm.
Neil, thanks for the video. I have this model and have had it for about6-7 months. On your over all width negative, if you tilt the unit to a vertical (90 degree), it is not much wider than the tractor by itself and also brings the weight closer to center so does not bounce as much. I do this when I need to drive a distance without using like you were on the road in the video. Should mitigate that negative. Also, there is a comment about transport. If you are going to transport attached to the FEL, the vertical position might (depending trailer width) allow that as well and when you lower all the way it would rest on the trailer for stability during transport. I do have a few hours of use so may comment on others questions.
Those are good points! I have more questions, too because this would be ideal for my property. I wondered why he didn't go to the 90° position when transporting down the road, because that does make sense in getting it narrow again. With the rear hydraulic unit mounted, does that balance the tractor out weight wise and give the rear of the tractor more stability? Would you recommend liquid in the tires or does the rear hydraulic unit providing enough rear weight? It would have been nice to see the hydraulic cylinder run the mower up/down at different angles for an example. I have a 57hp LS tractor, would that be sufficient to run this unit?
@@elricofarmer1561 have had this for a while and it works well. I have had it at its highest height and it feels very unstable but have not had any issues. That said, I use the rear hydraulics AND have liquid in tires. At the highest point you need as much weight as possible.
I'm in north central Mississippi where the rainfall total creates a rainforest like condition and my property is very hilly. With current 3-point mower, it's difficult to maintain the sides of driveway and fence lines. Trees on neighbors side overhang continuously and it's difficult to keep pathways clear.
I like this newly improved Gen 2 model. The rear roller makes it better b/c it's less weight dangling off of the FEL and less stress on that loader when the roller is down on the ground. I also like the auxillary hydraulic oil pump power pack. That auxillary hydraulic pump seems that it would allow you to save your tractor's pump from overheating. I want one for the brush cutting land chores. Thanks for the review and a big thumbs-up for a fine domonstration. NEW SUBSCRIBER!! 👍🏽👍🏽🤠 4/6/23
While I could love to have something like this, I also see the possibilities of too many bad things happen. You have to outthink stupid, but sometimes stupid finds you. This is a machine that I think could find you with this. I’ll wait till about generation 5 and revisit it. I think you almost need a counterbalance
Always love your videos Neil. One thing I don’t think you mentioned was the limited down angle of the mower. I was already to buy one to do the interior of pond banks but then through further investigation realized it wouldn’t angle down far enough for that. I also called the company when I was researching it and wasn’t impressed with their service
My Hardee rear mount side mower just uses a chain at the end of a lever controlled by a cylinder mounted lower down. It can go from straight down to straight up.
Good to hear. We are planting a macadamia orchard and as I result I am thinking how the nuts will be collected off the ground. A harvester fitted to a tractor's front end loader is appealing, especially if it can be offset like this mower is. The harvester could then be pushed underneath the trees while the tractor is in the center of the row, away from the spiky leaves and branches. I think it could work.
@@paullambert2668 yes many macadamia harvesters use finger wheels to pick up the nuts. The story is a macadamia grower from Australia went on a holiday to California in the early 1990s. He saw a machine picking up golf balls on a driving range and thought a golf ball is kind of similar in size to a macadamia nut. So when he was back in Australia he worked with an engineer to build a harvester. This was a revolution as nuts had been picked up by hand. Suddenly one person driving a harvester could collect more nuts than in an hour than a hundred collecting by hand in a day. What I was getting at is if the harvester is offset from the tractor the tractor can drive down the centre of the row while the harvester is collecting nuts under the trees.
Would like to see it working at 90 deg and also see some sort of spring load in the arm for the inevitable bump of a solid tree or unseen stump. Great that it shuts off but would like to see something to keep the arm from being bent.
It made me run for cover when you lifted the implement and the blades were still rotating. The driver of the passing vehicle probably didn't realize he was in danger. Great that it's made in the USA, but not for me thanks.
That seems like it would be difficult to transport. Especially on a trailer. Can you show how that might be possible. Even if you take it off the tractor its still looks cumbersome.
Could you use the hydraulic power pack on the back to run a front mount snowblower or posthole digger, I know you mentioned most tractors don't have the flow for those things, but would this run them?
post hole is no big deal, most tractors can do that. Snow blowers are a different animal, you'd need a power pack at least double the size of this one.
Yes and great for raising canopy on field edge but your ballast is very critical and you must be very cautious at full FEL height. I have used it at full height and it’s a little nerve wrecking having a flail mower 12-13 feet above your head!!!!
many companies already make that. Generally not a great idea though. To be useful they need to be wide enough to cover the tractor width, and you'll have horsepower issues doing it hydraulically.
It still surprises me that you don't have hedgecutters in the US or a at least more commonly like the ones we have have here especially as the majority here are made by brands of the Alamo Group as the make them with different heads though the majority are flail as even our small on that we have had on our Ford 4600 has about a 17 and a half foot reach which helps keep brush back out the way around field margins to prevent damage to combines and other equipment and neaten up embankments and ditches.
I have TB Flex with less than 15 hours use on a John Deere 3046R. I powered it from the Tractor Hydrolics but I believe it is turning too slow. It will not cut 8" tall grass and the blades keep locking up with one on top of the other. I have to hammer them apart. If I put the rear power pack on it will it cut grass ?
What would the compelling reason be to look at buying this product over the lane shark which articulates any which direction? Seems like the lane shark would be more versatile.
I noticed that the power pack for this unit does not have a cooling fan addition for the hydraulic fluid like so many of the PTO Hydraulic Power Packs out there do. Is it because the Trail Blazer power pack is smaller and therefore heat isn't an issue?
It looks like you were using a MX5400. That's the Tractor I own. I really need one here in my farm. Will this operate good with my MX5400? And can I cut the inside of my pond and drainage ditches with it? Or would you recommend something different? Thank you for this important video, your time, and giving your viewers the price. Devoted follower. Andy Lamm
These are discontinued, and we just started stocking the Lane Shark version. I have one setup on an MX to film with shorty, new videos will be 4-6 weeks out.
Neil: Thanks for doing this video. Will Messick's have the TB-MAX available any time soon? It looks like you just carry the TB-FLEX and FLEX JR, and of course the powerpack. Also It looks like the TB-MAX has a float setting but does not have the rear heavy duty roller. Can a roller be added to the TB-MAX as an option?
I appreciate the video and it's a very interesting piece of equipment, but I really cant see a big market for them. I've been wrong many times before tho lol
That's the beauty of the equipment market. There's room for really niche attachments like this. Certain applications will really benefit from it, but it's certainly not right for everyone.
I have one and it will not replace a regular brush cutter but it could. The benefit for me is 1) managing field canopy encroachment, 2) contouring which I need some of, 3) the big one- clearing brush because it can take down a 3” tree with the spring loaded front plate - unlike PTO, if it gets into more than it can handle it stops functioning and revs down vs trying to drive through and sheering or clutching. It’s not your everyday cutter but very useful.
I’d be far more comfortable with the implement behind the machine especially with a rops tractor. Dpf’s, seat belts, safety switches x100 and rops won’t be any help when that wants to eat you lunch.
Not having it on the loader defeats the whole purpose of the implement. I guess you could get a 3 point boom mower but its going to cost 2x to 3x as much and youll need a much larger tractor.
![Felix "Unfair" | [Stray Kids : SKZ-PLAYER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Oswujxm2Ag0/mqdefault.jpg)
Neil, in less than 10 seconds I finally got a good reason why the return needs to goto sump, which is how I am plumbed. Some interesting features for sure. I have 'the other brand' and I love it. For those who can't see the functionality, I don't use this thing to 'cut grass', not that you can't. Where it really shines is keeping woods lanes open, cutting side brush and young trees, also branches hanging down over the top of the road. I don't know how we would maintain all of our woods roads w/o it.
I have a first generation and really like it. I primarily cut limbs and thick brush. It really beats trying to back a bush hog up and keep your neck contorted all day. You can start out high and gradually lower the mower to completely mulch the privet hedge, saplings, etc. Turning it sideways to go down a narrow road/trail to cut limbs works like a charm.
I see possibilities for it. Thanks for the price breakdown
Neil, thanks for the video. I have this model and have had it for about6-7 months. On your over all width negative, if you tilt the unit to a vertical (90 degree), it is not much wider than the tractor by itself and also brings the weight closer to center so does not bounce as much. I do this when I need to drive a distance without using like you were on the road in the video. Should mitigate that negative. Also, there is a comment about transport. If you are going to transport attached to the FEL, the vertical position might (depending trailer width) allow that as well and when you lower all the way it would rest on the trailer for stability during transport. I do have a few hours of use so may comment on others questions.
Those are good points! I have more questions, too because this would be ideal for my property.
I wondered why he didn't go to the 90° position when transporting down the road, because that does make sense in getting it narrow again.
With the rear hydraulic unit mounted, does that balance the tractor out weight wise and give the rear of the tractor more stability? Would you recommend liquid in the tires or does the rear hydraulic unit providing enough rear weight?
It would have been nice to see the hydraulic cylinder run the mower up/down at different angles for an example.
I have a 57hp LS tractor, would that be sufficient to run this unit?
@@elricofarmer1561 have had this for a while and it works well. I have had it at its highest height and it feels very unstable but have not had any issues. That said, I use the rear hydraulics AND have liquid in tires. At the highest point you need as much weight as possible.
I'm in north central Mississippi where the rainfall total creates a rainforest like condition and my property is very hilly.
With current 3-point mower, it's difficult to maintain the sides of driveway and fence lines. Trees on neighbors side overhang continuously and it's difficult to keep pathways clear.
Thank you for giving out the price along with a great review.
Not cheap, but most commercial things never are.
That looks like a much better design than the earlier model was. The ability for it to float makes much more sense.
I like this newly improved Gen 2 model. The rear roller makes it better b/c it's less weight dangling off of the FEL and less stress on that loader when the roller is down on the ground. I also like the auxillary hydraulic oil pump power pack. That auxillary hydraulic pump seems that it would allow you to save your tractor's pump from overheating. I want one for the brush cutting land chores. Thanks for the review and a big thumbs-up for a fine domonstration. NEW SUBSCRIBER!! 👍🏽👍🏽🤠 4/6/23
Very cool, saw your first video on this mower, I really want one some day
While I could love to have something like this, I also see the possibilities of too many bad things happen. You have to outthink stupid, but sometimes stupid finds you. This is a machine that I think could find you with this. I’ll wait till about generation 5 and revisit it. I think you almost need a counterbalance
Im waiting on the TB12 model, i hear its the GOAT
Love the flubs ;)
Always love your videos Neil. One thing I don’t think you mentioned was the limited down angle of the mower. I was already to buy one to do the interior of pond banks but then through further investigation realized it wouldn’t angle down far enough for that. I also called the company when I was researching it and wasn’t impressed with their service
Correct. The hinge point being closer to center is going to limit the travel.
If a RUclipsr has bought one, please post his channel. I want to see it in action, because it is such a mesmerizing sight.
I just bought one. It will take me a couple weeks to get a video out
I can see a third function hyd cyl in place of the link, being handy. Can you get a third function kit with a "float" position.
I'm sure you could build one, but its not a stock thing.
I thank WR Long built one
My Hardee rear mount side mower just uses a chain at the end of a lever controlled by a cylinder mounted lower down. It can go from straight down to straight up.
Need an option for wheels (castering) on the deck and let it "float" with the wheels controlling cut height.
It has a roller on the back.
Could a heavy weight on one side of the loader, offset, possibly bend the loader’s boom arms?
the weight itself, probably not. Now if you hit something with it at speed?
Good to hear. We are planting a macadamia orchard and as I result I am thinking how the nuts will be collected off the ground.
A harvester fitted to a tractor's front end loader is appealing, especially if it can be offset like this mower is. The harvester could then be pushed underneath the trees while the tractor is in the center of the row, away from the spiky leaves and branches. I think it could work.
@@kdegraa I thought people used a device like a golf ball picker-upper from a driving range?
@@paullambert2668 yes many macadamia harvesters use finger wheels to pick up the nuts. The story is a macadamia grower from Australia went on a holiday to California in the early 1990s. He saw a machine picking up golf balls on a driving range and thought a golf ball is kind of similar in size to a macadamia nut. So when he was back in Australia he worked with an engineer to build a harvester. This was a revolution as nuts had been picked up by hand.
Suddenly one person driving a harvester could collect more nuts than in an hour than a hundred collecting by hand in a day.
What I was getting at is if the harvester is offset from the tractor the tractor can drive down the centre of the row while the harvester is collecting nuts under the trees.
Would like to see it working at 90 deg and also see some sort of spring load in the arm for the inevitable bump of a solid tree or unseen stump. Great that it shuts off but would like to see something to keep the arm from being bent.
It made me run for cover when you lifted the implement and the blades were still rotating. The driver of the passing vehicle probably didn't realize he was in danger.
Great that it's made in the USA, but not for me thanks.
You should look at Lane shark. Very similar cutter for the front compact tractors. Would be great to do a comparison review on the two cutters.
The lane shark Falls in front and we'll go vertical
Can this mower deck be folded up 90 degrees so I cut willows that hang out into our trails?
yes
@@MessicksEquip Wouldn't that reduce width for travel too?
@@paullambert2668 yes it would. He should have showed us how it works at 90deg.
They need a version of this that uses a spool of weed trimmer cord. The full spool. For rocks.
That seems like it would be difficult to transport. Especially on a trailer. Can you show how that might be possible. Even if you take it off the tractor its still looks cumbersome.
You would want the TB-Max in that case. This is cheaper because it does not swing.
@@MessicksEquip What is the price of them with the power pack? also this would be going on a 5075m John Deer.
I noticed the big chunk of grass jammed into the back unit on the bottom lol!
And the paint chipped off on the brackets
Could you use the hydraulic power pack on the back to run a front mount snowblower or posthole digger, I know you mentioned most tractors don't have the flow for those things, but would this run them?
post hole is no big deal, most tractors can do that. Snow blowers are a different animal, you'd need a power pack at least double the size of this one.
Let’s see the max in action.
Will it cut in the vertical position? If not why? That is needed in a lot of cases for field edges and etc.
Yea
Yes and great for raising canopy on field edge but your ballast is very critical and you must be very cautious at full FEL height. I have used it at full height and it’s a little nerve wrecking having a flail mower 12-13 feet above your head!!!!
Do they make anything to just take the place of a rotary cutter for on a loader. One that is stationary on the loader. Thank you.
many companies already make that. Generally not a great idea though. To be useful they need to be wide enough to cover the tractor width, and you'll have horsepower issues doing it hydraulically.
@@MessicksEquip I have a 40 hp tractor. Even running it off the rear pto. I would have enough to run a 5 or 6’ rotary cutter. Thank u
30 pto hp.
at the PTO yes. running it hydraulically on the loader is a different animal.
Just curious is that thing skid loader compatible or is it just for tractors
it is, although you should be cautious. Its a bit light duty for a skid loader.
@@MessicksEquip what does it require for gallons per minute to run it I don't recall you saying anything about that
12-14
@@MessicksEquip okay thank you for your reply and thanks for doing the videos they are very helpful and informative.
Can it be put in a vertical position for trees over growing the fields and roads?
What type of hydraulic fluid do you add to the unit in the back of the tractor? Is there a certain viscosity it requires?
This is the trailblazer power pack. I believe there is a sticker on the tank that tells you what to use.
It still surprises me that you don't have hedgecutters in the US or a at least more commonly like the ones we have have here especially as the majority here are made by brands of the Alamo Group as the make them with different heads though the majority are flail as even our small on that we have had on our Ford 4600 has about a 17 and a half foot reach which helps keep brush back out the way around field margins to prevent damage to combines and other equipment and neaten up embankments and ditches.
So not a b series attachment?
I would not want to.
What size tractor would you recommend for a front mower like in your video.
3000lb or larger.
@@MessicksEquip what Kubota tractor would you recommend I'm looking to buy a tractor to maintain my 30 acre property
What would you list a 2010 Model 1635 Massey Ferguson tractor with a Trailblazer Max front end cutter attached?
I have TB Flex with less than 15 hours use on a John Deere 3046R. I powered it from the Tractor Hydrolics but I believe it is turning too slow. It will not cut 8" tall grass and the blades keep locking up with one on top of the other. I have to hammer them apart. If I put the rear power pack on it will it cut grass ?
Will this cut overhanging tree limbs
What would the compelling reason be to look at buying this product over the lane shark which articulates any which direction? Seems like the lane shark would be more versatile.
Titan sells another version of this mower, the max which also does those things. This one's about $1,000 cheaper.
I noticed that the power pack for this unit does not have a cooling fan addition for the hydraulic fluid like so many of the PTO Hydraulic Power Packs out there do. Is it because the Trail Blazer power pack is smaller and therefore heat isn't an issue?
seems like it needs another pivot point to swing it to centerline / other side of the machine
It looks like you were using a MX5400. That's the Tractor I own. I really need one here in my farm. Will this operate good with my MX5400? And can I cut the inside of my pond and drainage ditches with it? Or would you recommend something different? Thank you for this important video, your time, and giving your viewers the price. Devoted follower.
Andy Lamm
These are discontinued, and we just started stocking the Lane Shark version. I have one setup on an MX to film with shorty, new videos will be 4-6 weeks out.
Hey Neil, what is the cost in 2023 for the TB max and power pack? ( Not the Flex )
Things have gotten a lot more complicated since this video was made. Best to call our office and talk to Nate Glessner.
can you still get the 32 inch?
Will you be doing or have you done a video for the TB MAX? I am looking for one for my tractor which I will be purchasing in the future.
I plan to, haven't gotten it all together yet.
Where TF is your snow, Neil. We have too much lol
Video was made 2 months ago. The ground has been covered for the last 4-5 weeks solid.
How does this compare to the Lane Shark? This looks more "heavy duty" but does it lock into a vertical mode?
They are very similar. TrailBlazer has going though more iterations of their design, feels a bit more polished to me.
@@MessicksEquip Thanks for the reply and input. Does the TB lock into the vertical position for cutting lanes?
Is there a version of this with a float feature AND it can slide to center AND it floats lower for steeper ditches?
Not really. The adjustable ones don't float as well.
It should come with counter balance weight just like the side boy mower we use on the farm
Could you run this in conjunction with a traditional bush hog in order to achieve a wider cut?
Potentially yes
Neil: Thanks for doing this video. Will Messick's have the TB-MAX available any time soon? It looks like you just carry the TB-FLEX and FLEX JR, and of course the powerpack. Also It looks like the TB-MAX has a float setting but does not have the rear heavy duty roller. Can a roller be added to the TB-MAX as an option?
We have the max in stock also
Can these work on a skid steer? How many gpm do they require?
Yes, need a medium flow model cutter. 14-20gpm
You quit selling these? Can’t find on website
Company is no longer in business, see Lane shark for an alternative. We sell those now.
Check out Hardee Bush Tiger. Better than this and the Lane Shark in all aspects.
I appreciate the video and it's a very interesting piece of equipment, but I really cant see a big market for them. I've been wrong many times before tho lol
That's the beauty of the equipment market. There's room for really niche attachments like this. Certain applications will really benefit from it, but it's certainly not right for everyone.
One possible market is for orchardardists, mowing under trees in rows.
I have one and it will not replace a regular brush cutter but it could. The benefit for me is 1) managing field canopy encroachment, 2) contouring which I need some of, 3) the big one- clearing brush because it can take down a 3” tree with the spring loaded front plate - unlike PTO, if it gets into more than it can handle it stops functioning and revs down vs trying to drive through and sheering or clutching. It’s not your everyday cutter but very useful.
the max will let you go to either side? would it be ok on a kubota mx4800?
The max only goes to the right. Great fit on an MX. That's what I'm using here in this video.
@@MessicksEquip do any allow you to go to either side?
Can it be positioned directly in front of the tractor?
Not flex, see TB-Max
Neil, I know you run this with an auxillary hydraulic unit, but how much GPM does it require to run, like say on a skidsteer on a normal circuit?
hi @messicks i have contacted the dealership and they had me on hold for like 5 mins
email sales@messicks.com we will reach out.
How does it work in float mode on the loader or do you have to always suspend it?
I can't see it working well that way. Too much ground pressure.
Thanks Neil!
It needs a 3rd function instead of that adjustable bar..
Would be peanuts to add a cylinder.
Needs HYD. TILT
Have had nothing but problems with this rig on the third spindle wouldn’t recommend mowing much more than grass
I’d be far more comfortable with the implement behind the machine especially with a rops tractor. Dpf’s, seat belts, safety switches x100 and rops won’t be any help when that wants to eat you lunch.
Not having it on the loader defeats the whole purpose of the implement. I guess you could get a 3 point boom mower but its going to cost 2x to 3x as much and youll need a much larger tractor.
@@fooseballs308 this is true, they may also increase life expectancy.
Interesting but not for me.
You should probably wear a helmet and face shield.
Meh, pass me some herbicide spray.
Glysophate and 2-4-D would definitely be cheaper and less noisy.
that things garbage . you might as well just use your bucket and scalp it all down then throw some grass seed down .