Hydraulic Boom with 5' Sickle Brush Mower, FH-BRM150 Review

Overview

The Hydraulic Boom with 5’ Sickle Brush Mower (FH-BRM150) is a heavy-duty, tractor-mounted attachment designed for clearing thick brush, overgrown fields, and roadside vegetation. Priced at $4,052, this isn’t a mower for manicured lawns—it’s a serious tool for property owners, land managers, and contractors who need to tackle dense saplings, briars, and tall grass with precision and reach. Its hydraulic boom arm and sickle bar design make it ideal for hard-to-reach areas like ditches, slopes, and fence lines.

Who Should Buy This

1. Rural landowners with 5+ acres of overgrown fields or pasture – If you’re tired of fighting waist-high weeds and brush with a bush hog or string trimmer, this mower’s 5’ sickle bar and boom reach can cut through thick growth along roadsides, pond edges, and treelines.

2. Municipal or county road crews – The FH-BRM150’s hydraulic boom allows for safe, precise mowing along ditches and steep embankments without putting a tractor at risk of tipping.

3. Farmers managing fence lines and irrigation ditches – Keeping these areas clear is a constant chore, and a sickle mower on a boom lets you reach over fences or into tight spaces without manual trimming.

4. Contractors specializing in right-of-way maintenance – If you bid on jobs for power lines, pipelines, or highway shoulders, this mower’s durability and reach make it a cost-effective alternative to larger, more expensive flail mowers.

Key Features Breakdown

• Hydraulic Boom Arm – This isn’t just a fixed sickle bar. The boom gives you vertical and horizontal reach, letting you mow up slopes, over ditches, and around obstacles. The hydraulic controls (requires tractor auxiliary hydraulics) allow smooth, on-the-fly adjustments—critical for uneven terrain.

• 5’ Sickle Bar Cutting Width – A 60-inch cut is efficient for clearing wide swaths, but the sickle bar design excels at cutting dense, fibrous material like saplings up to 1-inch thick and heavy brush. Unlike rotary mowers, it doesn’t fling debris, making it safer near roads or buildings.

• Heavy-Duty Construction – Built with a steel frame and robust sickle sections, this mower is meant for commercial use. The cutting bar uses replaceable sections and guards, so you can field-repair a damaged blade without welding.

• PTO-Driven (540 RPM) – Standard on most compact and utility tractors (20-50 HP recommended). The PTO powers the sickle bar’s reciprocating action, while the boom’s hydraulic functions come from your tractor’s remote hydraulics.

• Adjustable Cutting Angle – The boom allows you to tilt the sickle bar up to 90 degrees, so you can mow vertically along fences or horizontally on slopes. This versatility is a game-changer for ditch maintenance.

• Breakaway System – If you hit a hidden stump or rock, the sickle bar can swing back to avoid catastrophic damage. This is a must-have for brush mowing where obstacles are common.

Pros

1. Reaches where other mowers can’t – The hydraulic boom lets you mow steep banks, over guardrails, and into tight corners without putting your tractor in danger.

2. Cuts thick material cleanly – The sickle bar slices through saplings, briars, and tall grass without wrapping or clogging, unlike rotary mowers that can stall on heavy growth.

3. Low maintenance compared to rotary cutters – Sickle bars have fewer moving parts and don’t require heavy gearboxes. Replacing sections is straightforward and cheap.

4. Safer near roads and structures – Because it cuts with a scissor action rather than flinging debris, you won’t send rocks or sticks flying into traffic or windows.

5. Durable build for commercial use – The steel frame and replaceable cutting sections mean this mower can handle daily abuse on rough terrain.

6. Versatile angle adjustments – The ability to tilt the bar from horizontal to near-vertical makes it useful for everything from ditch bottoms to fence tops.

Cons

1. Requires a tractor with auxiliary hydraulics – If your tractor doesn’t have rear remotes, you’ll need to add them, which adds cost and complexity.

2. Slower cutting speed than rotary mowers – Sickle bars move at a walking pace (around 3-5 mph). They’re not for mowing large, flat fields quickly.

3. Not for fine lawns – The sickle bar leaves a rough, uneven cut. It’s designed for rough vegetation, not turf. Don’t expect a golf course finish.

4. Heavy and cumbersome to transport – At several hundred pounds, this isn’t a mower you’ll easily move by hand. You’ll need a tractor with a loader or a trailer to get it to job sites.

Bottom Line

The Hydraulic Boom with 5’ Sickle Brush Mower (FH-BRM150) is a specialized tool that excels at one thing: clearing heavy brush and vegetation in difficult-to-reach areas. It’s not for suburban lawns or quick mowing sessions—it’s for landowners, farmers, and contractors who need to tame ditches, slopes, and fence lines without risking their tractor or spending hours with a trimmer. At $4,052, it’s a serious investment, but for those with the right tractor and a real need, it pays for itself in time saved and safety gained. I recommend it for anyone managing rough terrain that a standard rotary mower can’t handle.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What size tractor do I need to run this mower?
A: You’ll need a tractor with at least 20-25 PTO horsepower, a standard 540 RPM PTO, and rear auxiliary hydraulics (two remotes) to operate the boom. A compact utility tractor in the 25-50 HP range is ideal. Smaller sub-compacts may struggle with the weight and hydraulic demands.

Q: Can this mower cut saplings and small trees?
A: Yes, it can handle woody material up to about 1 inch in diameter, like young saplings, multiflora rose, and blackberry canes. For anything thicker, you’ll need a brush cutter or chainsaw. The breakaway system helps protect the bar if you hit something larger.

Q: How do I maintain the sickle bar sections?
A: The cutting sections and guards are replaceable and should be checked after every heavy use. Look for dull or broken sections, and replace them with bolt-on parts. Keep the bar lubricated with a light oil to reduce wear. With proper care, a set of sections can last a full season of commercial use.