Are Flail Mowers Better Than a Brush Hog, Rotary, or Finish Mower? Frontier FL1161 Review & 1st Use

Thinking about upgrading your mowing setup for your compact tractor? In this video, I share my first use and honest review of the Frontier FL1163 flail mower — and why I finally ditched my so-called AutoConnect belly mower.

I’m using this on my 2023 John Deere 3033R with a cab, and after way too much frustration with the mid-mount deck, I decided to explore better options. I’ll explain why I chose a flail mower over a finish mower or bush hog, how it performs on both grass and tall brush, and how well it cuts compared to a finish mower — a big question people always ask.

This mower checks a lot of boxes for me:
✅ Cuts grass beautifully
✅ Blazes new trails with ease
✅ Mulches small sticks
✅ Stores compactly in the barn
✅ Offset reach for better access around trees and fences

🚜 If you’re running an off-grid homestead like mine here in Michigan (60 acres of untamed land!), this kind of versatility is a game-changer.

📹 Footage includes: mowing thick grass, reclaiming a trail that hasn’t been touched in years, and some smooth aerial drone shots for a full view of the results.

💬 Drop a comment if you’re considering a flail mower or had issues with your AutoConnect system — especially if you’re on a 3033R!

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Link to Frontier FL1163 Manual Offset Flail Mower: https://www.deere.com/en/cutters-shre...

Link to Stump Wrecker Stump Bucket from ‪@GoodWorksTractors‬ https://www.goodworkstractors.com/pro...

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