Looking at a 2018 John Deere 2025r

[Citydude]

16K is a lot if money but your not investing in a car that deprecates the day you sign the papers.

My wife thinks I need a new car but I would rather pay the $$$ for a good used mini ex.

 

[2manyrocks]

it is $16000 for the tractor plus a finish or mmm plus a rotary cutter. It also makes a difference if the op isn't getting paid to maintain trails because it is all outflow with no offsetting inflow of money.

Then we all face price increases for everything else needed to live because of inflation that puts more pressure on everyone's budgets.

 

[Citydude]

I don't make any money with my tractor. But it has made a substantial increase in the value of my property by way of not needing a contractor to do the upgrades that the place needed.

 

[kthompson]

Admit did skip some pages but: I have a Kubota about same size. No loader, often wish it did. Bought it to mow our yards (ours, farm shop's, and grand parents with pond and barn, total of about 8 acres. Bought a 6 foot Bushog brand rear finishing mower which will be much less than mid mount mower which have never used but realize it has advantages such as rear tires not over the grass before it is cut but to me also disadvantage to me such as installing and could be in the way for other jobs without removing.

You will need to make turns slow so the front tires do not slip ripping the grass as they will want to dig in. My kubota is 27hp and the 6 foot rear finishing mower was too large in heavy grass. But was able to handle it buy slowing ground speed.

My wife will tell you real quick we are doing a project of some sort every year with one place or another with our equipment that we would have never hired done. A quick thought, you know your wife, is the a person who might enjoy using a tractor? More women when trained or with experience are quick and comfortable to hop on them and run them better than...well many men. Not a rough often. You will want to change attachments she will need to know how to operate it to backup to some for you to pin it and such. My wife is great at that. One of my daughters is great on that small Kubota while my other daughter has no interest but her daughter age 14 is getting training of it.

One point on the three year old with only 100 hours, what kind of service has it had? Has it had the service of adjustments most recommend about 100 hours or is that a cost you will face. same on all fluids.

I do agree take care of it and if in couple of years you decide it is not for you, most likely will at least not loose money selling it.

 

[LittleBittyBigJohn]

I have a 1025R with a belly mower. I also have used it to groom some trails at the deer lease. It is a bit smaller than the 2025R but I don't think enough to change anything. If you are used to mowing the yard with a lawn tractor then you will be fine with it if you want the belly mower. I lower the deck wheels down pretty far and don't have much issue at all with scalping (60 inch deck). If your trails are not heavily rutted up by water erosion then it should be good for trail maintenance. I have a 4' brush hog for mine. The drawback is having to get so close or under the trees to get the trail cut. Also it is a very rough ride with the small tires, yours would be a little bigger but I'm not sure if they are big enough to make an appreciable difference. It should absolutely run a 5' cutter on the types of trails we have out here as I can run my 4' through head high Johnson grass at full speed in low range. I have not hooked up a 5' personally, my neighbor has one I've talked to him about trying out on it. If it will lift it, it should be no problem. The size is a pro in the woods. It's relatively low to the ground and has a tight turning radius. The loader is a hoss on this machine, if you understand it is a smallish machine. From what it sounds like your expected uses are, I think it would be perfect for your needs. You might think about some wheel spacers if your yard and trails are pretty unlevel.

Loaded for trail maintenance on a 16' trailer. It's pretty long and heavy.

 

[2manyrocks]

Take note that the tail wheel is sticking out of that 16 foot tandem trailer with that rig. I suspect the 2025r with fel and a 5 foot cutter would be longer. I personally would not tow that combo on a single axle trailer.

I could see the 1025r as being more suited to a lawn while yet being capable of trail cutting.

 

[ArlyA]

Its been sold so no worries....

 

[ArlyA]

I have a 1025R with a belly mower. I also have used it to groom some trails at the deer lease. It is a bit smaller than the 2025R but I don't think enough to change anything. If you are used to mowing the yard with a lawn tractor then you will be fine with it if you want the belly mower. I lower the deck wheels down pretty far and don't have much issue at all with scalping (60 inch deck). If your trails are not heavily rutted up by water erosion then it should be good for trail maintenance. I have a 4' brush hog for mine. The drawback is having to get so close or under the trees to get the trail cut. Also it is a very rough ride with the small tires, yours would be a little bigger but I'm not sure if they are big enough to make an appreciable difference. It should absolutely run a 5' cutter on the types of trails we have out here as I can run my 4' through head high Johnson grass at full speed in low range. I have not hooked up a 5' personally, my neighbor has one I've talked to him about trying out on it. If it will lift it, it should be no problem. The size is a pro in the woods. It's relatively low to the ground and has a tight turning radius. The loader is a hoss on this machine, if you understand it is a smallish machine. From what it sounds like your expected uses are, I think it would be perfect for your needs. You might think about some wheel spacers if your yard and trails are pretty unlevel.

Loaded for trail maintenance on a 16' trailer. It's pretty long and heavy.
View attachment 752387

When you say "groom trails", do note some people really do groom trails. Here is a pic of me doing that.

 

[dodge man]

Arly, hook a brush hog to that thing and put the weed eater away.

 

[ArlyA]

Arly, hook a brush hog to that thing and put the weed eater away.

For our trails, 2 miles oif them are logging roads which could be done via tractor brush hog like mower. The other 1.5 are sinlge track and must be done by weed whacker.