How to choose the best brush hog for your tractor

The best brush hog is one sized to your tractor’s PTO horsepower and rated for the thickest material you plan to cut. A common starting point is about 5 PTO hp per foot of cutting width, so a 5-foot cutter needs roughly 25 PTO hp and a 6-foot cutter needs roughly 30. Choose a cutter at least as wide as your tractor’s rear tires so you are not driving over uncut grass, and match the duty class to the job: light duty for pasture, medium duty for regular brush and heavy duty for saplings and overgrown ground.

Get those three decisions right and almost any reputable brand will serve you well. This guide walks through sizing, duty classes, the features that protect your tractor and what to check on a used brush hog before you buy.

What is a brush hog?

A brush hog is a tractor-mounted rotary cutter that uses heavy, free-swinging blades to cut tall grass, weeds, brush and small saplings.

The cutter hooks to the tractor’s three-point hitch or drawbar and is driven by the power take-off (PTO) shaft. A gearbox turns a spindle under a steel deck, and the blades spin fast enough to shred material that would jam a finishing mower. Brush hogs are the go-to tool for pastures, fence lines, overgrown lots and roadside ditches.

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Is it bush hog or brush hog?

Both terms describe the same machine, but Bush Hog is a registered brand name, while “brush hog” and “rotary cutter” are the generic terms.

Bush Hog built its reputation on rotary cutters, so its name became shorthand for the whole category, the same way people say “Bobcat” when they mean any skid steer. When you shop, search for rotary cutters to see every brand.

What size brush hog do I need?

You need a brush hog that your tractor can power at full PTO speed, which for most compact and utility tractors means a cutter between 4 and 7 feet wide.

Tractor PTO hp	Typical cutter width	Duty class
25 to 30 hp	Up to 60 inches	Light to medium
30 to 40 hp	Up to 72 inches	Medium
40 to 60 hp	72 to 84 inches	Medium to heavy
60 hp and up	84 inches and wider	Heavy

Sizing ranges based on dealer guidance from Koenig Equipment. Always confirm the manufacturer’s minimum PTO hp for the specific model.

Treat 5 hp per foot as a minimum, not a target. Heavy-duty cutters need far more power than that rule suggests. Bush Hog’s 6-foot 326 model, for example, calls for at least 60 PTO hp because it is built to cut material up to 4 inches in diameter. Going too big for your tractor causes the PTO to bog down, leaves a ragged cut and adds wear to the driveline.

Larger operations can step up to 10-foot drawbar cutters, which typically need 85 hp or more, or flex-wing cutters up to 20 feet wide for high-horsepower tractors.

Should you buy a light, medium or heavy-duty brush hog?

Buy a light-duty brush hog for regular pasture mowing, a medium-duty cutter for mixed grass and brush, and a heavy-duty cutter if you cut saplings, clear fence lines or reclaim overgrown land.

Duty class	Cutting capacity	Best for
Light	1 to 1.5 inch material	Pasture maintenance, lawns and lots cut a few times a year
Medium	2 to 2.5 inch material	Regular pasture and brush work
Heavy	3 inch material and up	Brush clearing, fence lines, contractors

Pushing a light-duty cutter into heavy brush is the fastest way to bend blades, crack a deck and damage a gearbox. If you are unsure, go one class heavier than you think you need, as long as your tractor has the horsepower to run it.

What features matter most on a brush hog?

The features that matter most are the gearbox rating, deck strength, driveline protection, a stump jumper and a durable tail wheel.

1. Gearbox rating. The gearbox horsepower rating should meet or exceed your tractor’s PTO horsepower. Heavy-duty cutters carry much higher ratings; Bush Hog rates the gearbox on its 326 and 327 models at 210 hp.
2. Deck construction. Thicker steel and reinforced decks resist cracking. Heavy-duty models often use 7-gauge steel or add internal reinforcement.
3. Slip clutch or shear bolt. Both protect your tractor when the blades hit a stump or rock. A slip clutch absorbs the shock and keeps working, while a shear bolt breaks and has to be replaced. Slip clutches cost more but save downtime on rough ground.
4. Stump jumper. A stump jumper is a round plate on the blade carrier that rides up and over stumps and rocks, protecting the blades and gearbox from direct hits. It is a must for brush and fence line work.
5. Tail wheel. Laminated or semi-pneumatic tail wheels last longer than basic solid rubber wheels on mixed ground, and an easy height adjustment saves time.
6. Safety guards. Chain or band guards at the front and rear help contain thrown debris, which matters near roads, buildings and livestock.
7. PTO speed and hitch. Most small and mid-size cutters run at 540 rpm, while some heavy-duty models require 1,000 rpm. Confirm your tractor’s PTO speed and hitch category match the cutter.

What is the best brush hog brand?

There is no single best brush hog brand, but Bush Hog, Woods, Land Pride and John Deere all have long track records, and the best choice is usually the brand your local dealer supports.

Blades, blade bolts, gearbox seals and tail wheels are wear items, so fast access to parts matters more over the life of a cutter than small differences in price. Value brands can make sense for light pasture work on a small property, but check parts availability before you buy.

Should you buy a used brush hog?

A used brush hog is one of the best values in farm equipment, as long as the gearbox, deck and driveline pass a careful inspection.

Rotary cutters are simple machines, and a well-maintained used cutter can run for years. Before you buy or bid, check these items:

1. Gearbox. Look for oil leaks at the seals, check the oil level and listen for grinding when the cutter runs.
2. Deck. Inspect the welds, especially around the gearbox mount, for fatigue cracks.
3. Blades and blade bolts. Worn blades are cheap to replace, but damaged blade bolts or a bent blade carrier point to hard use.
4. Stump jumper. Heavy gouging shows the cutter spent time in rough ground.
5. PTO shaft. Check the u-joints for play and make sure the shielding is intact.
6. Slip clutch. Confirm it has not been rusted solid or bolted tight, which defeats its purpose.
7. Tail wheel. Check the bearing and pivot for play.

You can compare current inventory on the Ritchie Bros. used brush hogs and brush cutters page. If you are still choosing a tractor to run it, our guide to the best tractor for a small farm and our overview of tractor types and sizes will help you match horsepower to the work.

How often should you sharpen brush hog blades?

Sharpen or replace brush hog blades at least once a year, and more often if you cut heavy brush or hit rocks regularly.

Dull blades tear grass instead of cutting it, and they make the tractor work harder. When you sharpen, remove the same amount of steel from each blade to keep them balanced, and check the gearbox oil, blade bolts and deck welds at the same time.

The bottom line

Choosing the right brush hog comes down to horsepower, width and duty class. Match the cutter to your tractor’s PTO horsepower, go at least as wide as your rear tires and buy for the thickest material you plan to cut. Add a slip clutch and stump jumper if you work rough ground, and pick a brand your dealer can support with parts. Do that, and your brush hog will keep your pastures, fence lines and lots under control for years.

See also

How to pick the best skid steer grapple for the job