2025r 60d deck, X300, or rear finish mower decision.

We have a 2025r with a FEL, backhoe and 60 in MMM. Very happy with only having one machine to maintain. Does a nice job mowing and has more than enough power. We have the R4 tires and have had no lawn damage. The large back tires, longer wheelbase and spring mounted seat make for a smooth ride and fatigue free mowing. The 4wd has come in handy more than once when mowing some of the soft areas of our lawn.

Takes about 15 minutes to remove the backhoe and FEL and put the MMM deck on, its really no big deal (once you get the hang of it.) A bit longer to reverse the process. We have the "load and go" brackets on the deck which allow you to pick up the deck and move it around with the FEL, very handy to use, and it makes cleaning the deck very easy. You can also use the FEL to hang the deck on a wall if space is an issue.

With all that said, a 2025r is not a zero turn, nor is it small (though it does turn tight.) Keep in mind that a finish mower is even more difficult to maneuver with. I suspect if you have a lot of obstacles to mow around a dedicated mower would be a better choice. Since you already have a 2025, you probably have a pretty good idea how maneuverable it is.

Good luck with your choice!

NovaScotia2025r said:

First time posting here.

I have a 2022 2025r which I bought without mmm, as it is primarily being used for grading/snow clearing and blowing. I do see a 60d auto connect for sale locally for $2000 cad. Currently I have an x300 with a 42" deck mowing about 2 acres, which gets tiring. Its also quite hilly in spots and the x300 can spin on a few of the climbs/feels underpowered.

I also have a snowblower and canopy for the x300 as well, and could probably sell for ~$3000, however the reason I kept the lawn tractor and didn't get a deck with the tractor was because of some of the negative experiences I have heard with mmm for these tractors. Lots of folks seem to curse them upside down, and often never use them, which is a bad sign to me. My yard is still quite uneven/rocky (something that the 2025r is working on) so I am really not concerned with making a golf course pristine cut, but primarily something to keep the grass and weeds down that doesn't take 4 hours. The 2025 rides much more smoothly than the tractor over the ground also, so fast ground speed and deck width should help.

I also looked at a rear finish mower option, which may work as well, but I watched a tractor time with tim video where he suggests the mmm unless no other option, and rear decks are more costly than the mmm option here...

Any help on this decision from some experienced members would be greatly appreciated.

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Hello fellow Canuck. You have a great machine, if I do say so myself. You know how good the tractor is and the MMM fits it very well and enables very productive usage. I have several rough acres to mow and it's almost unfair, the combo absolutely powers through the work and I only have the 54" MMM.

I find that the combo can mow in High on almost any terrain including thick rough grass. This 2019 style MMM is a pretty tough attachment on the 2025. I would not call it fragile, although you certainly need to avoid smacking hard against a rock or other obstacle. That is just common sense. Sure, it's not as rugged as my rotary cutter, but different horses for courses.

I have myself debated in a thought experiment what I would do if I lost use of the MMM or the mid-PTO for whatever reason. Fix/replace to get the MMM back up and running, or trade for a RFM? It would be a very difficult decision actually. Both systems have their pros and cons I believe.

In short, the 2025 with my MMM is llke having and using the biggest, baddest ride-on mower you have ever seen. It eats up the job. I also have an older high-quality 42" Deere rider I use when the ground is too soft, and I can tell you there is no comparison in ride quality, productivity or enjoyment. 2025+MMM all day, when the conditions are right. This IS a factor on my property, I cannot really start my mowing season with the 2025.

But, an RFM on the back of the 2025R would certainly be different too. Probably lower ground speed, but very rugged, an awkwardly long profile which might change your patterns of use, but perhaps a larger cutting deck, etc.

A zero turn, if your land can take it, would have it's own pros and cons I'm sure.

I traded my 60" z-turn in on a 2025R with a 60" mmm and at first liked mowing with the tractor but the added time it required to mow the about 2 acres started to bother me. I also got tired of reconfiguring the tractor every time I wanted to use it. I also didn't like dealing with having to leave valuable shop floor space available for the deck installation and removal. So I bought another zero turn, used commercial with a 60" deck and suspension seat. It was a low hour unit that wasn't used commercially.

I save so much time every week that I couldn't see myself going back. My property has a lot of obstacles so I ended up shaving 1.5 hours off of my mowing time plus I save time not having to reconfigure the tractor. I have small children, a full time job, and interests outside of mowing so that time is really valuable to me.

Besides time saved, I no longer have to reconfigure my tractor for mowing and my zero turn ends up taking up less valuable space because I can park it wherever I want to and if it's in the way I can jump on it and move it quickly.

Everyone's situation and needs are different but there's my experience for what it's worth.