MechMaxx
VAM48
48″ VAM ditch-bank mower with hydraulic offset/tilt, strictly positioned for green or tender grass by MechMaxx.
- Cut
- 48″
- PTO HP
- 25–50
- Hitch
- Cat 1 · Grass-only bank
- Price
- $2,499$52/in · 6.3 HP/ft
MechMaxx VAM Ditch Bank Flails: Grass-Only
Articulating heads for tender-grass banks
VAM48/60/65 keep the tractor on level ground with hydraulic swing and tilt. MechMaxx limits the line to green or tender grass — not tall grass, shrubs, vines, or brambles. Two rear remote pairs. Offsets 69/77/85″.
Who this series is for
VAM ditch-bank heads keep the tractor on level ground while the cutting deck swings and tilts. The job is roadside maintenance, pond-bank mowing, ditch-line grass, and municipal road edges — situations where the wheels stay on flat pavement or a field track while the head reaches down or up a slope. MechMaxx limits the line to green or tender grass; hammers are 0.9 lb on a 4.3″ rotor at 2,356 RPM. That spec supports reach mowing in grass, not brush.
Two rear remote pairs are required — four hoses total, one pair for swing and one for tilt. Before ordering, confirm your tractor has the couplers and routing clearance; running the head with only one remote pair disables one axis entirely. Add front ballast to offset the cantilevered weight when the head is extended.
If your banks are overgrown with brush, vines, or woody growth, the VAM is not the right tool — the manufacturer caveat is unambiguous. See the full ditch-bank guide for context on what to expect from this class of mower.
Not sure you need tilt? Side-shift flails offset laterally but stay level — enough for fence lines and tree skirts without the hydraulic complexity of a full articulating head.
VAM48 vs VAM60 vs VAM65
| VAM48 | VAM60 | VAM65 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cut width | 48″ | 60″ | 65″ |
| Max offset | 69″ | 77″ | 85″ |
| PTO HP | 25–50 | 25–60 | 30–60 |
| Machine weight | 613 lb | 657 lb | 701 lb |
| Hammers | 20 × 0.9 lb | 24 × 0.9 lb | 28 × 0.9 lb |
| List price | $2,499 | $2,699 | $2,999 |
Tilt geometry is identical across all three: 90° up, 60° down. All require Cat 1 hitch, two rear remote pairs, and a 1-3/8″ Z6 PTO shaft. 1-year warranty.
3 models in VAM
MechMaxx
VAM60
60″ VAM ditch-bank mower with hydraulic offset/tilt, useful for tender grass banks but not brush or brambles.
- Cut
- 60″
- PTO HP
- 25–60
- Hitch
- Cat 1 · Grass-only bank
- Price
- $2,699$45/in · 5.0 HP/ft
MechMaxx
VAM65
65″ ditch-bank flail with hydraulic offset and tilt, but MechMaxx limits the VAM use case to green or tender grass.
- Cut
- 65″
- PTO HP
- 30–60
- Hitch
- Cat 1 · Grass-only bank
- Price
- $2,999$46/in · 5.5 HP/ft
Common questions
- What can the MechMaxx VAM actually cut?
- Green or tender grass only. MechMaxx explicitly states the VAM cannot cut tall grass, shrubs, vines, or thorny brambles. The 0.9 lb hammers and 4.3″ rotor are built for reach and contour on grass banks — not brush clearing.
- How many hydraulic remotes does the VAM series require?
- Two rear remote pairs — four hoses total. One pair drives the swing/offset, the other drives the tilt. Plan coupler matching and hose routing before ordering; running the head with only one remote pair disables one axis entirely.
- What is the difference between the VAM48, VAM60, and VAM65?
- Width and offset reach. VAM48 cuts 48″ with a 69″ max offset (25–50 HP, $2,499). VAM60 cuts 60″ with a 77″ max offset (25–60 HP, $2,699). VAM65 cuts 65″ with an 85″ max offset (30–60 HP, $2,999). All three share the same 0.9 lb hammer, 4.3″ rotor at 2,356 RPM, and 90° up / 60° down tilt geometry.
- Can the MechMaxx VAM replace a brush hog on overgrown banks?
- No. The VAM is a reach-and-contour grass mower, not a brush hog. For overgrown brush, vines, or woody growth on embankments you need a heavier rotary cutter or a brush-rated flail head. The manufacturer caveat is unambiguous on this.
- What tractor hitch and HP does the VAM require?
- All three VAM models use a Category 1, 1-3/8″ six-spline PTO shaft. VAM48 needs 25–50 PTO HP; VAM60 needs 25–60 HP; VAM65 needs 30–60 HP. Add ballast to compensate for the offset cantilevered weight.