Review This Product

Overall Rating:

1 / 5

worst product I ever bought from Northern,

October 19, 2009

By Gator99

from Missouri

"This is easily the worst product I have ever purchased from Northern. The welds came apart at that junction in the middle of the tongue. Then they started coming apart where the tongue attaches to the mower. But that's minor. I've made darn sure the blades always swing free (I have *never* found them locked up), yet the wimpy frame metal where the spindle goes through to the blades almost completely cracked off, and I had to really reinforce it with strong steel. Then the lower bearing on the spindle just broke off while I was mowing. I have to go so slow with this unit that it's overly hard to get my 4-wheeler to pull it that slow. I use a lawn tractor to pull it. Seriously!! What an embarrassment. And this is a TRAIL mower? I complained to Swisher and they gave me half off a BIG bill for repair parts, but pretty much implied that I abused the machine or let the blades get out of balance for a long time. Wrong. This would be great if you just want to mow tall weeds on a flat, even lawn but don't kid yourself into believing that this is any sort of a "brush" cutter or that you should take it over a rough "trail."."

What is your level of technical expertise? Professional

Share this Review:

Overall Rating:

1 / 5

Money Hog, not bush hog,

September 30, 2009

By Stonedci

from Greenville, SC

"I bought this 13 months ago, I wish it was 12 months and I would try to return it. I used the mower on a 3 acre field that is usually cut for hay the first day. Both tires went flat. I patched the tires and went out the next day to cut some roads on my hunting land, the tires went flat again. It has sat in the barn for a year now, and I have patched the tires a few times and they will not hold air. Looking to replace them if I can find a place that has something better (will not use a Swisher Tire) I got it out yesterday and spent about an hour and never could get it to start. I'd love to just sell it for scrap at this point. Unless you can fix small engines yourself, and enjoy doing it, or use it on a regular basis, I would not buy this product. And if there are any briars where you plan to cut, plan to have the tires go flat that day."

What is your level of technical expertise? Home Handyman

Share this Review:

Overall Rating:

4 / 5

Great for brush,

July 22, 2009

By insurecalh

from Dover, AR

"I have a Swisher I bought five years ago. It will cut anything I can pull the ATV over . The Briggs & Stratton engine always starts-hot or cold. Had to replace the fuel line 2 years ago (rotted). Had no problems with the belts for the first 4 years, but it has started eating belts. Haven't figured out the problem yet. Great for cutting brush. Doesn't like tall thick grass. Have to slow way down and sometimes go back to mow over-especially thick fescue.

I would purchase again. Overall, it is a great item for the price."

What is your level of technical expertise? Home Handyman

Share this Review:

Overall Rating:

5 / 5

Excellent mower,

July 20, 2009

By Brantley

from Central Wisconsin

"Recomend buy, I bought this mowing deck about 2 months ago, it was very easy to assemble took me 30 minutes to get mowing. I mow a 2 acre parcel with a significant grade. I pull this with my 4 wheeler with no trouble at all. I was able to clear out 4 and 5 ft tall weeds with no problem. The mowing deck is easy to clean and mower has plenty enough power. The break away blades are nice to for the unepected stump or rock. 5 stars"

What is your level of technical expertise? Home Handyman

Share this Review:

Overall Rating:

5 / 5

trailcutter,

March 23, 2009

By gramps300

from webster ny

"i have hunting land, have many trails to keep cut, this machine fits the bill. wish it had a bigger gas tank. over all its a great machine, and the price is right."

What is your level of technical expertise? Home Handyman

Share this Review:

Overall Rating:

1 / 5

Swisher Trailcutter,

March 8, 2009

By colonelK

from Vidor, TX

"I have been so disapointed with the trailcutter. the first thing that went bad was the drive belt, It lasted about 8 hours. Had to buy belt from Swisher and it didnt last three hours. Now the trailcutter sits in the barn not used due to drive belt problems, also have had problems with hitch and control unit."

What is your level of technical expertise? Professional

Share this Review:

Overall Rating:

4 / 5

Swisher 44 Trail Cutter,

September 25, 2008

By Bypass

from Thomaston, Georgia

"I bought the mower about 3 years ago to mow the roads and food plots on the 900 acres we lease. I also maintain the roads and power lines on 44 acres I own. The mower works as good as I could expect for one towed with an ATV. Anything my 400 can run over or push down up to a point will be cut, 2" soft or less diameter trees, including rough grass and other things grown in the South. I could not expect it to do more unless I used a large Tractor and large Bush Hog to cut the property.
I noticed some had problems so I will list the things I encountered. Out of the crate my electrical was shorted and would not crank but it wasn't a problem to fix, the wire was shorted when the plates were bolted in front of the motor. Sometimes I have hard cranking if it sets up for several weeks so now I just squirt some starting fluid in before I crank it up, no problem. I have changed 2 belts in the 3 years, the first when I locked the drive up by getting a large limb hung under the deck. The other also melted when an unseen stump locked up the drive. As far as the hitch goes, I took it off after the pin broke and added a 1 7/8 inch regular trailer hitch, works great. The pin breaking also pulled the cable and wiring out of the shifter mounted on the back rack. This problem was fixed by making a 12 inch t-bracket and mounting the start and shifter on the deck, works great. I grease the tire rims each time I use it and have not had any problems with the sleeve bearings. I would prefer to have a more substancial roller bearing wheel assembly for long life.
In the future I plan to get a finishing mower to keep the roads cleaner and mowed lower than I can now. This is a very good product if it can withstand the torture that I put it through."

What is your level of technical expertise? Professional

Share this Review:

Overall Rating:

3 / 5

brush mower,

August 19, 2008

By medicchip

from Vienna,GA

"I bought this product to use on cutting heavy brush. When i bought it was in a crate and it was a little agravating putting it together. This product didnt cut as low to the ground as it advertised and the two blades didn't work as well as the one I have seen that had only one blade. But for someone who is just looking for a mower to just cut a path through some woods or something in that nature this product would be a good buy. But I was wanting to something that cut a lot lower to the gound."

What is your level of technical expertise? Home Handyman

Share this Review:

Overall Rating:

5 / 5

Excellent performance,

August 18, 2008

By wjrae

from Louisiana

"My husband and I purchased the Swisher Trailmower a few years ago. It has definitely been put through the test and passed with a A+. The terrain in which it has been used is quiet rough, but it has gotten the job done beyond our expectations."

What is your level of technical expertise? Home Handyman

Share this Review:

Overall Rating:

2 / 5

Disapointed,

July 29, 2008

By CJ1968

from Andover, MN

"I bought the Swisher Trailcutter with hopes to maintain about 5 acres. I only use it to cut weeds and clover. When the weeds get about knee to waist high, I will mow it. I have only used this machine twice. The problems that I have had were with the height adjustment coming completely apart when twisting the knob to adjust it. The machine is very heavy, and it was not easy to put back together again. After using this for about 16 to 20 hours or 2 days worth of use total, the belt already needs to be replaced, because it is so badly worn that the blade won't even engage any longer. It just smokes when I try to engage it. I tow the machine slow and stop occasionally to let the blade digest the material that it is cutting. It is set as high as it will go, and the blade never hits dirt, rock, or wood. So there shouldn't be any reason for a belt to go bad after just a couple times out. I guess I had higher expectations and thought that it was a good running machine up until the belt went out prematurely. It is supposed to have a 1/2" x 50" V-belt. I am going to try a smaller belt to see if that works better, and maybe even belt dressing to prevent it from wearing out so quickly. I couldn't imagine cutting wood or brush with it like they claim that you can, I would expect a belt to last about 4 hours cutting saplings or small tree's with it.... The belt drive seems to be the "weak" link in this machine."

What is your level of technical expertise? Home Handyman

Share this Review:

1-10 of 25