Buying guide
Hydraulic side shift moves the deck left or right without repositioning the tractor — essential for fence lines and tree wells. Pond banks that drop away from the tractor are the VAM line. 7 models in our catalog as of 2026-08-05.
Tom BrennanI put this together so you can match a flail to your tractor.Side shift vs ditch bank
Side-shift flails offset laterally while the deck stays level. One rear hydraulic remote is usually enough. They excel when the tractor drives on flat ground but the cut needs to reach under fences or along a tree line.
Ditch-bank heads (MechMaxx VAM) add swing and tilt so the cutting deck follows embankments. Choose VAM when the tractor must stay on the shoulder and the slope is steep enough that lateral shift alone will not reach the vegetation.
Top picks by use case
20–45 PTO HP
55″ cut with hydraulic offset for fence lines and orchards on compact tractors. Needs one rear remote. This is the only hydraulic side-shift under 30 PTO HP in this catalog. The FM-62 comparison explains when to skip the H suffix.
FM-62H
55″ · 20–45 PTO HP · $4,230
30–65 PTO HP
70″ coverage plus hydraulic offset — the width-and-reach combo for utility tractors clearing open acres and perimeter work. Width-matched value H is NAM72H (45 HP floor).
FM-78H
70″ · 30–65 PTO HP · $4,620
50–90 PTO HP
85″ cut, hydraulic side shift, and serious weight for large-acreage operators who need every inch of coverage.
FM-96H
85″ · 50–90 PTO HP · $5,825
45–85 PTO HP
72″ NAM-H with ~16″ of side-shift travel at a price well below Woodmaxx FM-78H. Accept the 1-year warranty for width-per-dollar.
NAM72H
72″ · 45–85 PTO HP · $2,999
50–75 PTO HP
Cat 2 KDK deck with a heavier frame and 2.7 lb hammers. Total hammer mass is 43.2 lb vs NAM72H’s 50.4 — upgrade is hitch and steel, not more rotor mass.
KDK72H
72″ · 50–75 PTO HP · $3,699
Compact value alternative
NAM68H gives you 68″ of cut with hydraulic side shift for roughly $1,400 less than the FM-62H — at the cost of a lighter deck and 1-year warranty. We compared them directly for compact-tractor buyers weighing width against build quality.
FM-62H vs NAM68H comparison →Utility width match
The 70″ Woodmaxx H (name ≠ cut) starts at 30 PTO HP. NAM72H is a true 72″ slider from 45 HP with 16″ of travel, not PTO-edge reach. Cat 2 buyers should skip both and read FM-96H vs KDK72H.
Full catalog
Woodmaxx
Cuts 55″. The number in the name is not cutting width.
55″ Cat-1 flail with hydraulic side shift for fence lines, orchards, and pond edges on 20–45 PTO HP tractors.
Woodmaxx
Cuts 70″. The number in the name is not cutting width.
70″ Woodmaxx flail with hydraulic side shift for edges, fences, and orchards.
Woodmaxx
Cuts 85″. The number in the name is not cutting width.
Largest Woodmaxx flail. 85″ cut, hydraulic side shift, 50–90 PTO HP class.
MechMaxx
68″ NAM hydraulic side-shift flail with 16″ total lateral travel for 30–60 HP tractors.
MechMaxx
72″ NAM hydraulic side-shift flail with 16″ total lateral travel for 45–85 HP Cat 1 tractors.
MechMaxx
63″ KDK Cat 2 side-shift flail that steps up from NAM-H with a heavier frame, 2.7 lb hammers (14 × 2.7 = 37.8 lb total vs NAM68H’s 50.4), 6″ rotor.
MechMaxx
72″ KDK Cat 2 side-shift flail for buyers who want NAM72H width in a heavier Cat 2 frame. Individual hammers are 2.7 lb; total hammer mass is 43.2 lb vs NAM72H’s 50.4.