DR Power Pilot XT Trimmer Mower Powers Through Where Mowers Dare Not Go
DR Power trimmer mowers used to be on TV when I was a kid. They looked cool and seemed to really get the job done—with ease. We called in our favorite rancher and country music singer, Eli Mosley , to put some hours on the DR Power Pilot XT Trimmer Mower to see if it could help tame some unruly acreage.
Pros
- Tackles grasses too tall for a traditional mower
- Highly maneuverable
- Strong cutting performance
- Reinforced frame
- Beaver Blade and DuraBlade-compatible
- Constructed in the USA with global materials
Cons
- Some may want stronger performance or upgraded engine found on other DR Power models
Why Use a Trimmer Mower?
The DR Power Pilot XT trimmer mower uses a super-thick trimmer line to cut grass, weeds, or anything else that gets in its way. Thicker than traditional string trimmer line, the Pilot XT uses 175 mil line that manually feeds through the head. 175 mil translates to .175 inches.
A self-branded 174 cc engine lets the Pilot XT produce up to 7 ft-lbs of torque. Even though the Pilot XT uses a string to cut, that torque level matches what we see in typical gas lawnmowers.
How the Trimmer Mower Cuts
We love the design for two very specific reasons. First, the open front lets us dive into any amount of grass we want without fear. You don’t need to worry about blade lift when cutting—the string slices anything in front of it. Grass also never gets clogged underneath the deck.
Secondly, the fact that the front section opens up means we can get this trimmer mower into places a traditional lawnmower body can’t go. It’s far easier to get underneath objects—such as barb wire fencing. It really makes this an effective tool for fence lines and anywhere you expect to run into obstructions or overhangs.
To adjust the cutting height (aside from lifting the mower head) you can insert your trimmer line in any of the head’s vertical slots. You get 5 positions ranging from 1.5- to 3.5-inches.
With the DR Power Pilot XT trimmer mower, you can cut right up against anything you want. Nothing gets in your way. You do, however, need to be mindful that the heavy 175 mil line can damage paint or other surfaces you come into contact with. This trimmer mower is no joke!
We only identified a couple of trade-offs with this trimmer mower. One is that you don’t get finely mulched clippings as you do with a gas mower and mulch blade. The other thing is that you don’t get the option of a self-propelled system.
With that said, do we care? Absolutely not. This tool does exactly what it promises and it’s quite impressive.
DR Power Pilot vs Pilot XT
The DR Power Pilot XT chiefly differs from the standard Pilot in one specific way. It upgrades the frame and adds an aluminum noseplate. The shape looks a bit more streamlined overall. Given that we expect to use this for years out on the ranch, that additional build quality should help extend the machine’s overall service life.
Accessories
You can get a few accessories to add to the Pilot XT and extend its use even further:
- Quick-Lock Trimmer Head—lightning-fast line changes—simply push new line into each slot
- DuraBlades—metal blades capable of taking down brush up to 3/8 inches thick
- Beaver Blade—a circular chainsaw-style blade that cuts trees up to 3 inches in diameter
DR Power Pilot XT Trimmer Mower Performance
We wasted no time getting to work. The DR Power Pilot XT trimmer mower demolished even the tallest grass around our barbed wire fence. The thick line and 22-inch cutting swath combined with the 3400 RPM speed to leave a veritable path of destruction in its wake.
Given that we literally had miles of fence line to trim, our initial concern had to do with the manual nature of this tool. With no self-propelled mechanism, how much effort would it take to do all of that work. In the end, we recognized that a mower would have created more work for us. The 22-inch wheels on the DR Power Pilot XT rolled the unit smoothly and easily over the grass.
DR Power placed the weight (57 lbs) right in the middle, so it pivots and rolls with ease. Also, since the trimmer mower cuts right at the front, we rarely had to reposition it necessarily or go back and forth as we would have with a traditional lawnmower.
Additional Highlights
- Handle adjusts from 29 inches to 47 inches in height
- Cutting height adjusts between 1 1/2-inches to 3 1/2-inches (1/2-inch increments)
DR Power Pilot XT Trimmer Mower Price
The Pilot XT retails for $499.99. DR Power offers occasional discounts seasonally along with free shipping. At the time of writing, we saw it on sale for $459.99. The trimmer mower comes with a 2-year residential warranty and a 90-day commercial warranty.
The Bottom Line
Where traditional gas mowers get bogged down you need something else to get the job done. Before you go for a brushcutter costing upwards of $3,000 or more, consider the DR Power Pilot XT trimmer mower. It took good care of us on the ranch and handled itself with ample power and ergonomics that didn’t leave us sore from a solid day’s work. The Pilot XT works well for this type of occasional cleanup. If you need something with more power and capability, DR Power has a full lineup of products that can fit the bill.
DR Power Pilot XT Trimmer Mower Specifications
- Model: DR Power R43070DMN
- Power Source: Gasoline
- Engine Displacement: 174 cc
- Torque: 7.0 ft-lbs
- Cutting Swath: 22 inches
- Line Size: 175 mil
- Accessory Compatibility: Beaver Blades, DuraBlades
- Dry Weight: 57 pounds
- MSRP: $459.99
- Warranty: 2 years
