Given the current prices in 2025, what are your thoughts on PT422 over PT425?

[yim]

Hi guys, I've been reading a lot of great information on Power Trac on this forum so thanks to everyone that posts here. Most people are recommending that if you are going to buy new you might as well upgrade to the PT425 but seems like most of the comments on here are from some years back when the price difference was only a few thousand. Currently, the PT425 is $4,300 more than the PT422... that could buy a lot of attachments. I was planning on get the 425 but I'm leaning more and more to the 422 now.

The 425 has
- Bigger wheel motors
- 8" higher lift
- ROPS
- Can use the 60" mower

I think you can add the ROPS to the 422 and I'd use the 48" mower because I'm mowing areas with a boatload of trees to get around. That leaves the higher lift and bigger wheel motors. I'm on 4.5 acres that is pretty flat and I'll just be using it around the property for basic mowing, landscaping, etc type stuff so I'm not sure those 2 things are worth the extra 4,300. What do you guys think? When would you choose the 422 over the 425?

 

[m5040]

That is a tough decision. I was always aggravated by the errors in the specs on the machines. For example the weight between the two (425-1387 and 422-1344) is 43 lbs different! Yet the 425 is supposed to have a 8" longer wheel base (but the overall length is only 6" difference). So the 43 lbs heavier weight of the 425 is attributed to the 8" longer wheel base and larger engine is there any more for longer loader arms to account for the increased height? Or just longer cylinders? By memory when I was shopping for them maybe 8 years ago, the sizes of the 422/425 were identical. Just the 425 had 2 steering cylinders, ROPS and larger engine. I think the specs even say the 422 has no cooling fan but the pictures shows one. You almost have to go look for yourself in person. Unless they changed them, I bet they have the same lift specs (if same tire size).

The lift height is a big concern if you only have one machine and you figure the many many years you will be using this and the times when just a little more height could have gotten the job done.
If you find that the lift heights are in fact the same, I would go with the 422. I have the PT180 and love it (but with conditions). Like you, I have many trees to cut around but then add in 5 times as many rocks which are just about everywhere at my place. The 018 has small deck but I don't think there is a machine made anywhere for any price that can keep up with the nimbleness of it! I can't say that enough. I have a diesel 430 but still use the 018 for the rough rocky areas (and the fact that I have more control of the deck). It tends to be a lot of brushy/woody material and I probably only run the engine at 1/2 throttle or less and it does great (except for the sparse grasses which it will only cut about 95%) so more than enough horse power proportional to the size. All my PTs have a problem with heat rejection, I watch the hyd oil temp and switch to a different task when they get to hot.
The 180 has some advantages over the other PTs with the more simple cylinder arrangement for the loader arms. It allows for a vastly larger degree of rotation of the attachment (to the point of being dangerous). You can roll the bucket back so far it will start to dump toward the operator if you are not careful. And you can lift the mower so it is cutting 90 deg to the ground and cut back vegetation that crowds in along the fields.

The vintage 018 I have has more then enough wheel torque for all conditions. I actually have a problem not spinning the front wheels a bit when starting off. Don't know how the 422 compares.

Good luck with your purchase and enjoy the research.

 

[2manyrocks]

I have also wondered how these units compare and wondered what recommendation Terry at PT would offer?

60" deck will cut more acres faster than 48", especially considering that you may lose 6 inches or more on each cutting pass due to overlap. 25hp IMO isn't that much for cutting tall vegetation, especially when part of that HP is being run through a hydraulic system.

 

[yim]

m4050, appreciate the insight. The 180 sounds like a great little machine. I do wonder if having the extra lift height of the 425 is worth an extra 4k+. I don't think I need the extra wheel torque because I'll just be doing weekend warrior type projects around the house, but I've never own any kind of tractor before so it's all new to me.

2manyrocks, I actually called PT last week and posed this same question. The person I talked to on the phone said that given my situation the 422 could be a better option. They said I could come try em all out and see. (I'm only 3.5 hours away). I appreciate a company that isn't always trying to upsell you into the more expensive model.

 

[ponytug]

m4050, appreciate the insight. The 180 sounds like a great little machine. I do wonder if having the extra lift height of the 425 is worth an extra 4k+. I don't think I need the extra wheel torque because I'll just be doing weekend warrior type projects around the house, but I've never own any kind of tractor before so it's all new to me.

2manyrocks, I actually called PT last week and posed this same question. The person I talked to on the phone said that given my situation the 422 could be a better option. They said I could come try em all out and see. (I'm only 3.5 hours away). I appreciate a company that isn't always trying to upsell you into the more expensive model.

If you can swing it, I highly recommend going to visit the factory and trying out the models that you think you want, and some of the attachments. For me it confirmed my choice of model, and convinced me to buy some and not other attachments. I found the trip very well worth it. Plus, you get to meet the team!

I found the 1850 on the 45 degree tilt table in the showroom eye popping.

All the best,

Peter

 

[kmaz]

If only 3.5 hours away…. That’s a no brainer! You’ve gotta go try em all!
I believe when I bought my 425 it cost 10,500 vs 8,500 for the 422. I personally don’t know what I would do without the ROPS. What else would you hold onto? That does seem to be quite a price difference between the two. I definitely prefer the dual steering cylinders of the 425 and that there is deeper footwells because of the different engineering in mounting the single steering cylinder of the 422. Yupp…. You’re going to have to take a road trip.
Kris

 

[MossRoad]

I have also wondered how these units compare and wondered what recommendation Terry at PT would offer?

60" deck will cut more acres faster than 48", especially considering that you may lose 6 inches or more on each cutting pass due to overlap. 25hp IMO isn't that much for cutting tall vegetation, especially when part of that HP is being run through a hydraulic system.

We have to remember that there isn't 25HP available to spin the mower deck. We've done the math before in this forum and the main hydraulic PTO output is about 13hp. There's a formula in regards to gallons per minute, psi of the system, RPM of the pump, etc... I'd have to re-do the research to get the exact numbers, or search for that thread.

 

[muncybob311]

At times I wish I had spent the extra $$ for the 425. A larger mower deck would cut down on the 2.5+ hours it takes to do a complete cut(apprx. 3.5 acres). That's a lot of time running the tractor and takes it toll on both the tractor and yourself, so I cut half the area one day and the other half the next day providing weather cooperates. I find the mower handles tall weeds w/o much trouble and if I feel it will be a problem I do 2 cuts with the 1st being 6+ inches above ground. I'm glad I didn't spring for the brush hog, 48" deck seems to handle it.

Otherwise I rarely miss the addl lift height or the HP. I don't have the ROPS and use the seat or its arms to hold onto when traveling at extreme angles. Speaking of the seat, that's one area needing improvement along with eliminating the 90 degree turn on the exhaust pipe to the muffler. I changed that when I installed the fan to suck heat out of the cage and the engine runs considerably cooler.

The PT is some of the best $$ I ever spent, you'll probably agree down the road. I bought mine w/o a chance to test drive one..go to Tazewell if you can!

 

[ponytug]

We have to remember that there isn't 25HP available to spin the mower deck. We've done the math before in this forum and the main hydraulic PTO output is about 13hp. There's a formula in regards to gallons per minute, psi of the system, RPM of the pump, etc... I'd have to re-do the research to get the exact numbers, or search for that thread.

For the 425, a PTO of 8gpm @2500psi equates to about 7.5HP (flow x pressure/1714 for SAE units, assuming a typical 85% efficiency)

All the best,

Peter

 

[2manyrocks]

What's the PTO HP of the 422 based on its 8gpm@2,000psi? And what practical difference does the extra PSI of the 425 otherwise make other than being able to run a 60" cutter versus a 48" cutter?

422 manual quick attach wouldn't bother me. Not having a ROPs would bother me a lot. Even if someone (not me) argued it has no other benefit on flat land, it's a very effective sunshade.

Weight of the 422 1344 lbs versus 1387 for the 425. Same width. 800lb lift capacity for both models.

The Kohler engine in the 425 is a known good engine. Don't know anything about the engine in the 422.