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

[MossRoad]

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

pressure times flow rate / 1714

2500 x 8 =20,000 = 20,000

20,000 / 1714 = 11.669

 

[2manyrocks]

In your situation, why did you pick the 425 over the 422, Moss Road?

 

[MossRoad]

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?

9.33HP VS 11.67HP
As Terry described it, it'll keep the blades spinning better.

And if you use a brush cutter, same thing.

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.

 

[MossRoad]

In your situation, why did you pick the 425 over the 422, Moss Road?

At the time, 2001, I did a horse power per dollar cost. The two units were the same dollar per horsepower, I got a free ROPS and two steering cylinders and higher PSI on the PTOs. The lift heights were the same at the time. Today, the 425 lifts higher than mine. There are many times I've wished for a little higher lift. I've always gotten around it with unoriginal ingenuity (build a ramp, dig a trench, find a hillside, etc...)

I needed the 60" mower and Terry said he'd only suggest the 48" mower for the 422. I wanted to mow our 1 acre, 4 ball diamonds at the Little League Park, and my wife's church ball diamond. So bigger was better.

I also wanted the 48" brush cutter, and we have a very hilly piece of property, so the higher HP would help with that.

So let's compare today's 422 to 425.

422 is $11,600 / 22hp =$527.273/HP
425 is $15,900 / 25hp =$636/HP

So about $110/hp more.

You also get free ROPS, two steering cylinders, larger wheel motors (that's a big plus for me) and an 8" higher lift.

I don't know what to tell the Original Poster. I've always been a fan of getting the biggest motor in a platform that was available. The platforms were equal back then. Today, they are different with the higher lift and bigger wheel motors; both things I wish I had today.

My best advice would be not only listen to what members/owners here say, but go to Power Trac and get some seat time. Pick their brain.

 

[MossRoad]

I'd really like to drive a new 425 to compare it to my 2001 model. I really abuse mine, pushing it to the max lift limit often, mowing in high summer temps, and bushwhacking new trails. I'd like to see how it does under load on our hills.

 

[2manyrocks]

The question of whether to buy a 422 v 425 has been discussed in a couple of older TBN threads. There were some members who posted their opinions in those older threads that haven't posted in this one. I'd suggest using the search tool to find and read those older threads.

One member in the past said he'd spend more for the 425 to get the larger wheel motors, the ROPs, the ability to power a 60" cutter and the Kohler 25hp engine. Another had the opinion that the additional lift height of the 425 was important to him.

 

[ponytug]

pressure times flow rate / 1714

2500 x 8 =20,000 = 20,000

20,000 / 1714 = 11.669

My bad. Corrected.

 

[marrt]

Everything depends on your specific needs and circumstances, like most things in life. For perspective, I own two 425s and an 1845, all purchased used. On one of the 425s, I upgraded both the wheel motors and the engine (to 35 HP).

On hilly terrain (which you don't have, but others will read these comments) using the 60" mower, I find the standard 425 to be a bit underpowered. That assessment comes from personal experience as well as extensive calculations. But would a 422 with a 48" mower be worse? Hard to say. On level ground, you might not even notice the difference.

Regarding lift height, those extra 8 inches can make a big difference in certain situations—like loading material into a trailer or using forks to unload cargo from a tall trailer such as an 18-wheeler.

When it comes to attachments, you may not need many. For me, the sweet spot includes the mower, a bucket, and a set of forks. Everything else tends to sit mostly unused. Although I own other machines now, I’m considering this from the perspective of when I relied on the 425 for everything.

Personally, I’d definitely choose the 425 again—for the extra horsepower, larger wheel motors, higher lift capacity, ROPS (I'd had several branches fall on the ROPS), and dual steering cylinders (assuming that hasn’t changed). For the work I do most often, I’d prioritize those built-in features over collecting more attachments. I have lots of attachments, as part of the used package deal, that have never been used.

In the end, it's a difficult choice if you have level ground (as you mentioned). If you don't, then it's an easy choice in my opinion.

 

[MossRoad]

My bad. Corrected.

I feel better now. You're up on me by about 35,000 to 1.

 

[2manyrocks]

$4,300 spread over 20 years of ownership would be $215 per year not considering the net present value of how those funds might have been otherwise invested.

But I really want to emphasize using the search tool to read prior discussion threads because they may contain some very useful insights that have already been posted. Some of those members may be no longer active, but their insights are still valuable.