Haven't used the Howard brand but I do use a CCM 90" for pasture and hay fields. Also have an electric seeder mounted on the back and a hitch for a cultipacker and seed in one pass. The CCM is heavy built and has gear drive. I made the tongue longer on the cultipacker so the seed would fall in front of the rollers. Been using it for 3 years now and well pleased. No-till rent here went to $10-$12 per acre and that's why I went with this setup.
Not a lot of rock here but I've hit a few bricks and a few rocks about the size of a ball cap. The CCM took it well. I leave the back gate open about 4-5 in. and they just fly out the back. Hardly shakes the tiller. It's heavy enough to take it. I had another brand some years back and was built lighter. Rock would make that thing jump up and down pretty bad.
