Comparison 1025r/LS MT125 mowing prowess? Cab?

[rkruppiak]

I've been looking into small tractors for a few months now and I am definitely in the 25hp game with my 10 acre yard. The only tractors I really considered from the start are the 1025R, BX2680, gc1720, emax 25, and the mt125. After digging a bit i'm between the 1025r and the MT125, weird I know. I've only seen one MT 125 with no deck on it but with the loader and backhoe and it was a very similar feeling machine to the Deere drivetrain wise :laughing:. Similar or same drivetrain aside I liked the controls and seat better than most and obviously I love the price and lift capacity but I live no where near an LS dealership. I do live about 3 miles from a JD Dealer and within 30 miles of another 4, and I have always had Deere mowers but im not loving the price and my last two JD mowers have been anything but a prime example of a quality products! I still love the Deere brand and hear great things about the 1025r and like the "under dog" MT 125 and the more comfortable lawn tractor control easy access feel so its down two things I have no experience with on either machine, Mowing and Cab.

Does anyone have any experience with either machine as far as cut quality, maintenance, or ease of use? Also I know I dislike the Cozy Cab but hear the Mauser is amazing. I haven't seen a cab option for the MT125 nor have I been able to find one.

Thanks for any help in advance!

 

[ThirdMan]

We mow with the MT125 and it mows very well for our needs. We bought the TLB package with the MMM. We needed something that could mow a small section of 20-30 degree slope and that led us to mowing with a SCUT. We also have a horse and lots of loader work and so were not looking at a zero turn. It was not in the budget for a separate tractor and mower. The MT125 mowing deck is not drive over and does require getting down on the ground to move it around and connect the PTO. That is an inconvenience but it was worth the lower cost to me. There is also no mulching kit available for the MT125.

One of my concerns when I looked at the 1025R with the auto connect deck was all the parts exposed when the deck was off. It looked like there could be some damage to the links and other parts down there, but I have not heard of that as being an issue. I drive around in the woods with lots of sticks and other hazards on the ground. The MT125 has a big steel plate in front of the HST fan and the only thing that can really get banged up is one of the HST filters.

I am not surprised that you have not found an after market cab option. The higher volume tractors get more after market support and is one reason they can command a higher price point.

I got one of the early models and there have been a few manufacturer updates to the MT125. I have been glad to be close to the dealer as I am not as experienced with tractors as many on this forum. My dealer has been a help with some of the small issues I have had. It is well built and we love our blue tractor. If budget was not a major limitation for me I may have ended up with a different color, but I have no regrets with the purchase.

 

[sugarloafguy]

Hi,


You might try New Holland the Workmaster 25S is the same as the LS if there is a dealer nearer to you.


Brian

 

[Tractorable]

What tasks do you want the tractor to do on your 10 acres? Just mowing?

 

[LS Tractor Owner]

I have the MT125 TLB also, but no MMM. I use a 72" rear finish mower without issue. There's no LS dealer near me, I drove 550 miles each way to pick up my MT. There was a major price difference between the local JD dealers 1025 and the LS (basically about $5,000). Worth it for me to take a road trip.

I now have 140 hrs on it and has performed flawlessly! As ThirdMan stated, there were a few factory updates, which the dealer shipped to me. Took all about 40 minutes to install the updates myself.

When I was at the JD dealer, he was bragging about their service department, saying "look at all the tractors being serviced here". I asked him if they were there for repairs or service. He didn't like that and walked away. I did too, then bought the LS the next day.

There are a few very good YouTube pages about the MT125, check them out.

 

[rkruppiak]

I plan on using the mower more than any other attachment but I will use the front loader frequently and I have a quite few tasks planned for the backhoe. I bought the acreage as a foreclosure and it had been abandoned for years so there痴 plenty of use for the fel and hoe. I will also be using it to grade my lane and as my primary snow mover which we get enough of in Minnesota.

I recently connected with a salesman from a dealer in northern mn and was quoted 17750 for the mt125 and fel mmm and hoe. Of course the jerk recommended the xj2025h after I told him what I planned on using it for and now I知 more unsure. I like the extra capability of the 2025 for little extra $ and the more responsive hydraulics but I don稚 know much about the Mitsubishi motor not that I have a ton of experience or knowledge with the Yanmar but enough to know I壇 feel comfortable purchasing an machine with one.

I did get a few quotes from a new holland dealer when I was first looking before I knew it was the same as the LS and the pricing wasn稚 that great compared to others. Could have just been that dealer though.

 

[Diggin It]

We mow with the MT125 and it mows very well for our needs. We bought the TLB package with the MMM. We needed something that could mow a small section of 20-30 degree slope and that led us to mowing with a SCUT.

Similar to my needs. A hill on one side of the house, about 75 linear feet and 20% or so grade drop. Covers 100' or so along the property. I can do it with two small riders, but the small Hydros heat up quite fast and I can only do part of it at a time. Do you find you can mow both uphill and down? Or do you slide (tear turf) downhill?

I have an LS dealer within about 80 miles along an Interstate, so not hard to get to. Deere dealer is closer, but that is one office of a franchise that has offices for 100 miles or more around me -- meaning only one Deere dealer.

 

[ThirdMan]

On the steepest parts we drive up and back down in low gear 4wd. I watched this video with a Kubota BX before buying.
BX Mowing Steep Hill (Tractor View) - YouTube

 

[Diggin It]

I don't think I'd want to back down these hills. Seems extremely unsafe.

Everybody wants to post videos here for some reason. I don't watch videos at all. I have that site blocked for security reasons. I prefer written text and static images.