I need a strong wire, or something; to fish the chains under the piles of vines, roots, and tree limbs; so I can wrap and hook the hook to the chain, then pull them out to the field. Seems like I had a 1/8 inch thick wire here, gonna look for that tomorrow.
That's a good idea. I used to install security systems and have fished my share of wire in suspended ceilings. I'll have to add that to the tub of stuff I carry around with me. I have a big ol' roll of aluminum wire in the garage.
I've been laying the chains out on ground, then straining myself, to roll the pile on the chain; and tonight sitting here I was "thinking", a stiff wire would slide under pile and then just pull chain under, and tighten and hook; would be way easier than the other way, I've been having to do it.
I've done that, too. I ran into a deal on a used cultivator rake that does a good job of grabbing that stuff so I can drag it away: I forget what I paid for it. I'm a patient bottom feeder. That's how I got the post hole digger & auger for so cheap. And I don't care about cosmetics. I carry my chains, hooks, gloves and other stuff in a cheap oil drain pan I got from Harbor Freight. It wedges perfectly on the floorboard between the front and rear shrouds.
That's a pic from a current Craigslist ad. That guy wants $200, but his is painted. I know I didn't pay that much. Mine is Natural Rust. I imagine you could search for (and effectively use) any 3 point hitch rake or cultivator. I could not find a style like that pic when I did a general web search for "cultivator," but that's what they call those things around here in Craigslist. The true cultivators have spikes sort of like the box blade. This is more like a small rake with spring-like times. There are a couple on Craigslist "not close to me" for $200, and another one just like the pic for $175. The $200 ones have been listed for about 10 days. The $175 one has been in there for 17 days. Right Place/Right Time, huh?
Good luck! For a while there, I was trolling the Farm & Garden section of Craigslist on a regular basis. As I said, the only thing I could use is a bush hog. And maybe a finish mower. The belly mower is "OK," but it's slow and does not cut a nicely as a zero turn. I think a finish mower is somewhere in between. The belly mower stays on the tractor because it's such a pain in the butt to install & take off. If I had gone the next size up (72" vs 60"), the belly mower would have been "drive over" rather than "drag under sideways" to install. It's a heavy beast! But I didn't know.
That's what happens to me, I find out after the fact; and get to regret the mistake. Totally happy; about; not this time with my tractor, and all that came with it, plus he even delivered it to me, free of charge. Hope you can get what you want to make it easier.
Now that I've used this one for a while, there are features I don't have that I wish I had known about. Live & learn, huh? I've been looking at a slightly used zero turn at a dealer. For my 5 acres, I need entry-level commercial. They will finance it for me, but I cannot justify $11,000+ for a friggin' lawn mower, although it will keep the hours off of my tractor and it will take less time to cut and it will do a better job and it will let me keep the belly mower off of my tractor. But I could do a whole bunch of other things for that money. COVID has really screwed up pricing on stuff.
They are expensive; and you are right about COVID screwing prices, and the current people in the office, are not helping anything; but making prices worse, for all of us. Can't see $11,000.00 for any mower.