Buying guide
Ditch-bank heads articulate — they swing out and tilt so the tractor stays on level ground. MechMaxx limits VAM to green or tender grass (0.9 lb hammers, two remote pairs, four hoses). Replacing a roadside rotary with a VAM is the misuse the manufacturer forbids. Prices verified 2026-08-05.
Ditch bank vs side shift
Hydraulic side shift (Woodmaxx FM-H, MechMaxx NAM-H/KDK) moves the deck left or right while it stays level. That is enough for fence lines, tree wells, and pond edges where the ground under the tractor is flat.
Ditch-bank articulation adds swing and tilt — up to 90° up and ~60° down on VAM models — so the head follows embankments while the tractor drives on the shoulder. You need two rear remote pairs (four hoses). Hammers are 0.9 lb versus NAM’s 1.8 lb — steel proof this is grass-only.
If your slopes are gentle and you only need lateral reach, side-shift flails cost less and setup is simpler. Woodmaxx FM-62H or FM-78H are the premium side-shift alternatives when you do not need tilt.
Top pick
Best overall ditch bank
65″ cut with hydraulic swing and tilt for 30–60 PTO HP tractors. At full reach the head offsets up to 85″ from centerline. VAM65 is the widest VAM (65″ cut), not a middle child between 48 and 60. Grass-only. Two remotes.
Also consider
VAM48 ($2,499) — 48″ ditch-bank head for 25–50 HP compacts. Same swing-and-tilt package in a lighter frame. Best when embankments are narrow and your tractor is Cat 1.
VAM60 ($2,699) — 60″ cut for longer roadside runs where the VAM48 feels slow. Same tilt range, more coverage per pass on 25–60 HP utility tractors.
When side shift is enough
Woodmaxx FM-62H and FM-78H offset hydraulically without tilt — simpler hydraulics, lower price, and a 2-year warranty. They will not follow a steep embankment, but they handle orchard rows and pond edges on level ground.
Best side-shift flail mowers →Spec-level splits: VAM65 vs NAM68H (tilt vs 16″ shift) and VAM65 vs FM-78H (tilt vs 70″ Woodmaxx H).
Full catalog
MechMaxx
65″ ditch-bank flail with hydraulic offset and tilt, but MechMaxx limits the VAM use case to green or tender grass.
MechMaxx
48″ VAM ditch-bank mower with hydraulic offset/tilt, strictly positioned for green or tender grass by MechMaxx.
MechMaxx
60″ VAM ditch-bank mower with hydraulic offset/tilt, useful for tender grass banks but not brush or brambles.