Thick weed clearing on 3/4 acre

Most of them these days have 13+ HP engines, often V-Twins. The Twins are much easier to start manually, as electric start isn't universal on this type of machine.

The disadvantage to using a commercial walk-behind is that it will be more difficult to upgrade tire size for rougher terrain, and most belt-drive walks (the cheap ones) are small tire diameter to begin with. Plus, many fixed-deck units leave something to be desired for ground-clearance, although jacking it up to 4"-5" may mitigate that. No big deal to throw 22"+ tires (for better ride) on a cheap riding mower and mow at 4-6". They're all electric start, too. It'll hold up just fine if mowing at tall heights and not doing 10+ MPH over rock walls. The key is to mow regularly and not load it down mowing 2 ft tall grass 2-3x year.

 

Another option - if money isn't the issue - is something like a BCS tractor. Some may remember machines like the Gravely or David Bradley two-wheel tractors. BCS is pretty much the only game in town for these now, often marketed as HD Garden Tillers. If you can find a vintage Gravely with a brush hog type mower or a sickle mower attachment, that'll work pretty well and only need to be done a few times a year. Plus the machine is plenty useful around other areas of the farm or even for snow removal. Just keep in mind that most of these are going to be 40-50 year old machines at this point, unless you get a BCS.

Heck, the BCS even offers a flail mower - but I'd be looking for that configuration in a rental. May certainly be worth asking around to see if any rental shops have a BCS with the rotary brush hog or flail mower just to get the area under control. Flails are pretty vicious and leave fine debris that breaks down quickly.

Attachments - BCS America



The same advantage of utility applies to slightly larger vintage garden tractors from Deere (think 200/300 series), Gravely, Cub Cadet/International, Toro/Wheelhorse, etc. Not nearly as maneuverable as a two-wheel tractor but it could certainly do more all year long other than just keep the weeds down.