We’ve got several 3 point mowers, and are thinking about getting rid of those and adding a mid mount deck mower instead. That way we could have another implement hooked to the back and still be able to mow. Will we regret this? Can it be disconnected very easily?
What size tractor do you have?
JD has subcompact tractors with an automatic mid-mount system:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oFSLHfDFYuc&feature=youtu.be
You drive over the mower deck and it hooks itself.
With the bigger tractors, that would be harder.
My tenant has a “belly mower.” It does a good job. I don’t know how much work it is to hook or unhook as I’ve never seen him do it. Most of the time it just stays attached.
I’ve got a 3 point hitch finishing deck. On my last round of fence repair I moved the lower strand of the electric fence up a few inches on a bunch of runs, such that I can get the mowing deck under the fence. By careful driving I can do a lot of “under the fence” mowing meaning weedeater time is dramatically reduced. I don’t know how I could do that with the belly mower.
Each has it’s good and bad points. I guess it’s what works for you! 
G.
I had a mid-mount mower for my small Kubota originally…it was a pain in the toukus to install and remove and not the best thing to have onboard while using other ground engaging attachments. I sold it and bought a ZTR for mowing. Now, this was before there were “drive over” mid-mount mowers available like there are today on current generation machines. And while that deck cut very nicely, it wasn’t as nice as the ZTR with the faster blade speed, etc.
I investigated this add a mower option - I determined quickly it WAS NOT EASY &
something I did not want to struggle with.
- My future life objective = is to make barn maintenance EASIER.
Good Luck OP …
Our tractor came with one; we took it off and have never used it. Not enough ground clearance when doing things like moving the manure pile, etc. Or even going over bumps, like from the ring to the barn.
As I said in another recent thread, it’s not an easy hookup job for a lot of tractors. Thinking about buying a tow behind mower and taking my mower off permanently. Now, if you can get the one Bluey was talking about it might be okay.
I don’t think anyone replied in the other thread to my question: are the drive over mowers easy to hook up or is the PTO hookup still a PITA?
I had one of the earlier drive over to hook up belly mowers.
Didn’t work too well because the tractor, even with a little FEL, was way too wimpy for other, so didn’t keep it.
The driving over and off to hook and unhook was quick and easy, but it only clicked to hang under there, you had to get off and connect the hydraulic hoses, easy enough, but eliminated the “easy to just drive over and you are set to go”.
The latest ones at least, connecting to the PTO directly when driving over to hook up, that seems like a better mousetrap.
I don’t know about those, just have heard of them.
We use a zero turn for yard and around barns and edges under fences, the larger brush hog to mow where we have bigger stuff to mow on rougher ground, like barditches and out in pastures and fences.
It depends what your needs are.
Many places will let you take home a demonstrator mower.
That is how we tried one.
See if you can try some and which one you like best.
We have a JD drive over mower deck, but not that super slick auto engage one that Bluey linked. Yeah, it’s still kind of a pain to connect the PTO. Long skinny arms are helpful.
