A List of The Best Tow-Behind Mowers of 2017

There are several styles of lawn mowers on the market and tow-behind mowers ore one of the most efficient and easy to use ones. They attach to tractors  or other vehicles that are suitable for large pastures or properties. Tow-behind mowers have no propulsion of their own, and that’s why they have to be towed behind an ATV, a riding mower or a UTV. They are usually pretty heavy, and they can cut vast swaths in just a single pass. Mower materials, engine quality and the available accessories and features are all elements that will impact the pricing and the quality of a tow-behind mower.

Benefits of buying a tow-behind mower

The first advantage of a tow-behind mower is the fact that it’s the perfect solution for landscaping business owners or for people who have significant properties to maintain, such as a golf field for instance.

Saving time is another benefit that comes with having a tow-behind lawn mower. Tow-behind mowers can be hooked up to an existing equipment such as a lawn tractor or a quad, and they will help reduce cutting time in half because the machines can cut large areas with a single pass and you will not have to go over that area again.

Long lifespan is another advantage of a tow-behind mower, but as with any other piece of equipment, the life of such a machine depends on how much you use it, and how well you take care of it. But if you maintain it as instructed, your tow-behind lawn mower will last for many years. A good quality tow-behind lawn mower such as a swisher tow-behind lawn mower will last more than ten years if you provide proper care to the machine. Ideally, such a machine works great on flat to moderately hilly terrain, and if you have a varying degree of rough ground, it’s best not to get a tow-behind lawn mower because it will be more difficult to maneuver and it can break in time.

Factors to consider before buying a tow-behind mower

Tow-behind mowers are available in more styles, designed to meet a variety of needs. These needs primarily involve the type of terrain you plan to mow. There are three types of tow-behind mowers best suited for different kinds of ground: gang reel mowers, finish cut mowers and rough cut mowers.

Gang reel mowers are best suited for mowing golf courses, and you will often see landscapers cutting the grass with these machines. Unlike most lawn mowers, gang reel mowers do not come with an engine, and they are placed behind an ATV or tractor moving at speeds of up to 4 miles/hour. These are very wide mowers, and they come with 3, 5 or 7 reels. They can stretch up to 11 feet wide, and you will be able to mow up to 5 acres per hours. These machines cut like scissors, and they can provide a finish for a really well-manicured lawn. They’re not well suited to cut high grass, brush or weeds.

When buying a gang reel mower, you have to consider the mowing speed. Usually, 4 or 5 mph will be enough to get a quality cut. Faster speeds will cause the mower not to cut or discharge properly.

The number of reels is another factor that you should take into consideration when choosing the best gang reel mower. Three-reel gang mowers are the smallest ones with cutting widths between 4 to 5 feet. Five-reel gang mowers will get the job done much faster with cutting widths of 6 to 8 feet. For more extensive areas of grass seven-reel gang mowers have cutting widths of over 11 feet.

Finish cut mowers, also known as trail mowers, are designed for mowing larger grassy areas. These machines are built more like the modern day lawn mowers featuring a high-powered engine that is mounted on top of a large cutting deck. If your large yard includes lots of trees shedding twigs and pine cones, for example, you will need the extra engine strength to be able to split them. With cutting widths up to more than 5 feet, finish cut mowers are not as extensive as gang reel mowers. On the other hand, the tow bar of a finish cut mower can be offset from the tow vehicle. This means that you will be able to use both the mower deck on your town vehicle and the cutting deck of the finish cut mower. By utilizing these side by side, you will increase the total cutting width. In other words, you will be allowed to mow a maximum of 30 or 32 acres in a day. A tow-behind finish cut mower can keep your lawn looking great, but if you have weeds, high grass or brush that has to be tamed this type of tow-behind mower is not the most appropriate and it’s recommended to use a rough cut mower.

Width is an essential factor you have to consider when buying a tow-behind finish cut mower. They come in three different cutting widths: 44, 60 or 66 inches. If you are towing with a garden tractor, you can increase the cutting width to 66 inches. With a 60-inches finish cut mower behind a 42 deck, you will be able to mow 8.5 feet in a single pass.

The engine is another essential factor to consider and the bigger the finish cut mower, the bigger its engine will be. A powerful engine can easily rip through thick grass and small twigs to provide a finished cut.

Blades as also essential and the 44-inch finish cut tow-behind mowers have two cutting blades, while the 60 and 66-inch models come equipped with three blades. The more blades your mower has, the better the cut’s quality will be.

The third type of tow-behind mower addressed people who have over-grown wild properties that they would like to tame. For them, the best solution is the machete-like cutting action of a trail cutter also known as a tow-behind rough cut mower. Such a machine uses either one or two steel cutting bars that will swing back and forth to cut vegetation that reaches up to 3 inches in diameter. Rough cut mowers come with powerful engines that are designed to thresh thick brush off the path without any issues. They are really useful for cutting through dense brush, but they are not recommended for mowing grass lawns.

Before getting a rough cut mower, it’s important to consider the blades. A rough cut mower is a sturdy machine designed to handle overgrown brush, saplings, and weeds and its blades are not like a traditional rotary mower. Such a machine comes with two hardened steel blades that will swing back and forth just like a pendulum, and they can pulverize branches of up to 3 inches thick.

Articulating hitch is another crucial factor when buying a rough cut mover. When a mower comes equipped with an articulating hitch, it can be offset to the left or right of the towing vehicle. This is essential when you are cutting through brush, so you don’t have to drive straight through the wilderness. An articulating hitch is also useful when you are mowing under low hanging trees or in a ditch.

Tips for choosing the best tow-behind mower for your needs

• Before buying any tow-behind lawn mower, make sure you know the features of the towing vehicle so that you could avoid purchasing a heavier mower than your towing machine.
• Before buying a mower, make sure you consider the type of grass you will have to mow.
• For more extensive lawns, get a tow-behind mower with fast speed operation.
• Check on the availability of spare parts before buying a tow-behind mower to make sure you can change them if needed.
• Rough cut tow-behind mowers are perfect for cutting weeds and thick brush.
• Finish cut tow-mowers can be offset behind your garden tractor to increase the cutting width.
• A finish cut tow-mower that comes with an electric starter will save your shoulders from a lot of pain.
• If you have to mow large lawns, choose a finish cut tow-behind mower for saving time.
• If you own an extensive golf course or a large lawn such as the ones found in athletic fields or learning institution, choose a reel tow-behind mower because it’s easy to maintain and it operates mechanically.
• Gang mowers weigh hundreds of pounds, so they’re best attached to garden tractors or ATVs.

Best tow-behind mower of 2017

Swisher RC11544BS 11.5 HP 44-Inch Rough Cut Trail Cutter

Cutting weeds and thick brush

The Swisher RC11544BS is suitable for cutting dense brush and weeds, and it is mostly used for mowing golf courses with tougher grass. But you can also use it for other significant mowing jobs. The machine is ideal for heavy-duty work.

Dramatically reduces mowing time

The Swisher RC11544BS is backed by the power of more than 60 years of experience, and is designed to reduce your mowing time. The Swisher Trail cutter can easily be attached to your lawn tractor or ATV, and it’s the ultimate time saver for larger jobs because it can mow everything just with a single pass.

Cuts brush up to 3 inches in diameter

This model of tow-behind mower can cut brush that reaches a diameter of three inches. It comes with two 16-inches sealant filled tires, two heavy-duty swinging blades and also with a convenient single-point cutting height adjustment with a range of 4 inches.

Remote operator control console for increased safety

The Swisher RC11544BS includes a remote operator control console that allows you to engage and disengage the machine from a distance for your own safety.

The pros

What to like:

• The machine’s blades are bolted on, but you can pivot the bolt.
• The centrifugal force keeps the blades straight until they hit something that they can’t cut through and then, they pivot to minimize the risk of damaging the blade.
• You can offset the mower to both left and right sides.
• It can successfully cut a field that is over three feet tall.
• The machine’s construction ins string and it comes ready to use out of the box.

The cons

What to consider:

• The Swisher RC11544BS does not work exceptionally well on slopes, but it has no trouble cutting through thick brush and smaller saplings.

CHECK PRICE AND AVAILABILITY

Swisher FC10544BS 10.5 HP 44-Inch Finish Cut Trail Mower

Ideal for larger areas

This finish cut mower can be offset behind your garden tractor to improve your cutting width, and it’s ideal for mowing larger lawns.

Reduces mowing time

The Swisher FC10544BS is perfect for the larger areas of grass, and it is designed to reduce the mowing time.

Doubling the cutting width

The Swisher FC10544BS can be easily attached to your lawn tractor or ATV, and it will act as a wing mower, this way increasing your cutting width.

Cutting desk with rear discharge

This mower comes with a 44-inch cutting deck with rear discharge, and it also features a single-point cutting height adjustment.

Adjustable offset hitch

The easy adjustable offset hitch is great for mowing under low hanging trees and ditches.

Rugged and heavy steel construction

The Swisher FC10544BS comes with a sturdy and heavy steel construction and wide tires for a better flotation stability. It also features exclusive bumper rollers that will protect the trees against damage.

The pros

What to like:

• Once you hit a thick tall tree or bush, it shuts down to prevent damage.
• There is a safety switch inside the belt compartment that prevents the mower from starting if the blades are not disengaged.
• It works excellent on slope areas as well.
• The mower stays put, and it provides a finished cut.
• The Swisher FC10544BS always starts working right up without any difficulties.

The cons

What to consider:

• It would have been better if the machine came with a more substantial gas tank because you have to stop and fuel up more times, but this obviously depends on the surface that you are using the mower on. If the area is not enormous, then the gas tank is large enough.

CHECK PRICE AND AVAILABILITY

Agri-Fab 45-0308 Multi-Fit Univeral Tow Behind Tiller

Powerful engine

The Agri-Fab tiller features a powerful Briggs & Stratton engine that can power through any soil condition. You can quickly prepare the perfect planting bed with the help of this machine, with very little effort.

Enhanced flexibility and convenience

The Agri-Fab mower has forward rotating tines that prepare seed beds very quickly. The controls are very easy to reach from the tractor seat, and you will be able to maneuver the machine effortlessly.

Increased durability

The machine comes with six double edge heavy0duty tines that make tilling your seed beds extremely easy.

Adjustable hitch pin

The machine comes with an adjustable hitch pin that allows an easy fit-up to vehicles without any additional support.

The pros

What to like:

• The forward rotating tines can be adjusted from 1.5 inches to 5.5 inches depth.
• Its powerful engine can handle any soil condition.
• The Agri-Fab pulls impressive behind any mower.
• It works flawlessly even on sandy soil.
• With the help of this machine, gardening becomes much easier.

The cons

What to consider:

• The Agri-Fab is a very heavy machine, and you have to let the carrier know where exactly you want it to be placed because you will not be able to move it on your own. But then again, all tow-behind mowers are really heavy especially the ones targeted at more extensive areas.

CHECK PRICE AND AVAILABILITY

Swisher RC14544CPKA 14.5HP 12V Kawasaki Commercial Pro Rough Cut

Useful for larger overgrown pasture

The Swisher RC14544CPKA is ideal especially for people who have more extensive overgrown pastures. This tow-behind mower can easily be attached to your ATV or UTV, and the machine will turn out to be the ultimate time saver for larger areas.

Powerful engine

The machine comes with a sturdy 14.5 HP electric start Kawasaki engine and two 16-inch pneumatic sealant filled tires.

Cutting height can be adjusted

The Swisher RC14544CPKA comes with two heavy0duty swinging blades, and the cutting height adjustment ranges from 3 inches to 7 inches.

Enhanced safety

The remote operator control console allows you to safely engage and disengage the machine from a distance for increased safety.

The pros

What to like:

• The tow-behind mower starts immediately with just one turn of the key.
• It can chop anything a four-wheeler can drive over.
• The mower arrives well packed in a heavy wooden crate for safety.
• The chopper blades are heavy-duty, and they are made from about ¼ inches thick steel.

The cons

What to consider:

• The back of the mower is angled away from the top of the mower, and this makes it cut into anything the machine is backing toward, and it also prevents it from riding up over anything from the rear. This is not an issue because it’s probably made this way to help things that get chopped up inside to get out during the normal process of moving forward.

CHECK PRICE AND AVAILABILITY

Swisher RC17552BS 17.5 HP 52-Inch Rough Cut Trail Cutter

Ideal for large mowing jobs

The Swisher RC17552BS is just perfect for any large mowing jobs.

Reduces mowing time

This mower is designed to minimize mowing times considerably, and the machine is backed by the power of over sixty years of design experience.

Easily attaches to your vehicle

The Swisher RC17552BS can easily be attached to your lawn tractor or ATV, and it’s also effortless to use and maintain.

Cuts brush up to 3 inches in diameter

This mower can cut brush with a diameter of up to 3 inches, and the 2-inch ball coupler can be adjusted for easier mowing navigation.

Puncture resistant hollowmatic tires

The machine comes with inset puncture resistant hollowmatic tires that are not going to go flat in rougher terrains. The Swisher RC17552BS also comes with two heavy-duty swinging blades, and the cutting height adjustment is between 4 inches to 7 inches.

The pros

What to like:

• The Swisher RC17552BScan cut and shred anything that you can drive over including 2-3 inch saplings.
• The electric start engine makes it work flawlessly.
• The cutting height can be adjusted high enough.
• The tired are incredibly resistant regardless of the terrain you take it to.
• There is no need for complicated assembly.

The cons

What to consider:

• At below 5 mph, it might stall when you are cutting thick and tall grass with it, but at higher speeds, you won’t have this issue anymore.

CHECK PRICE AND AVAILABILITY

Swisher FC14566CPKA-CA 14.5HP 12V

Reduces mowing time

The Swisher FC14566CPKA-CA is ideally used on larger areas of grass, and this commercial pro 66-inch trailer can dramatically reduce mowing time. The machine can easily be attached to ATVs, lawn tractors, and any other utility vehicles to cut larger lawns and meadows really fast.

Resistant blades

The mulching blades are made of commercial grade cast iron, and this makes them extremely resistant.

Finish-cut quality

The machine is powered by a Kawasaki engine that ensures finish-cut quality. The true floating deck reduces scalping for the most professional mowing results even on trickier terrain.

Easy control

The cutting-height adjustment handles are really easy to control for the perfect cut.

The pros

What to like:

• A 66-inch side-discharge deck can cut vast swaths, and it also spreads the grass out to avoid choking.
• The machine comes equipped with a handy 12V key starter, so firing up the motor is easy.
• The universal articulating hitch attaches to any hitch system.
• It comes with a 2.5-gallon fuel tank, and this means less downtime and increased productivity.

The cons

What to consider:

• The Swisher FC14566CPKA-CA is better used on flat terrain rather than in ditches, but people usually get it for obtaining professional results on large flat areas.

CHECK PRICE AND AVAILABILITY

Top recommendation

The clear winner of this roundup is definitely the Swisher RC11544BS 11.5 HP 44-Inch Rough Cut Trail Cutter due to its set of useful features and safety controls. This tow-behind mower is perfect for both smaller and larger areas, and it will significantly reduce your efforts while mowing at the required mowing time. The pneumatic sealant filled tires, the single-point cutting adjustment, and the heavy-duty swinging blades are incredibly well-constructed ensuring a high-quality mowing.