About To Pull Trigger on 1140 CPX

[trailmaker]

Any regrets from you 1140 owners? Any problems, things to look out for? I never thought I would buy the 1140 over the diesel trans mule but the stories of the excellent engine braking have won me over. Our property has lots of steep slopes, the kind that end in ravines. The fact that other people (wife, sister in law, etc.) will be driving this vehicle with kids on board has made me willing to spend the extra money. I think if I lived in the flat land or if I knew that I would be the only driver then the Trans Mule would be a no brainer.

[JOHNTHOMAS]

I bought a RTV1140 over a year ago, been thru 2 winters with it. Wish I had bought it sooner. I've had no problems with it other than I forgot to release the hand brake a few days ago until I had reached home. Had a bad smell....like brake pads burning. Sure it will be OK. Used to do it on my Kubota tractors fairly often.
I made my own windshield out of 1/4" plexiglas, need to hinge the middle so I can drop the top half in the summer to get bugs in my mouth like I do on my tractor.
I also made a cloth top for it or my wife did and that didn't work out to long so finally bought a black plastic one and installed it. Should have done that from the beginning.
Get a couple of mirrors from Auto parts and clamp on side bars to see behind you.
The foot brake is for releasing pressure to shift from one gear to the other so you have to stop when changing gears. A throttle blip can also aid in this gear change with constant pressure on the lever. A bit of practise and it's easy.
I usually have mine in M 2wd most of the time.
Constant pressure on the 2wd4wd lever and some times a blip of the throttle will let it change easy and without stopping.
Wife, daughter, dog, 3 Grandkids, Neice and nephew.

[trailmaker]

Thanks for the report John. It looks like you're having a lot of fun with it. It seems like a machine that can get a little work done, and be fun for cruising the property with the family. Mine is coming with a plastic top, same as yours I think. Mine also has something called an "up air kit" which relocates the intake up high.

[JOHNTHOMAS]

Thanks for the report John. It looks like you're having a lot of fun with it. It seems like a machine that can get a little work done, and be fun for cruising the property with the family. Mine is coming with a plastic top, same as yours I think. Mine also has something called an "up air kit" which relocates the intake up high.

I actually bought mine to be used 95% for the fun with Grands and 5% work. Have actually used it more than I expected for work. Moved 16 tons of gravel with it last week 3 BX bucket scoops of gravel fills the bed to the top when fully extended. I moved my "stash" of topsoil from my fartherest corner of my property to my garden with it last year. Use it to take burn trash to my burn pile, pick up sticks from downed trees and drive around my large steep yard when surveying tree growth, etc. Have actually used it alot more for work than I expected and my wife does to.
The truck stop where I get my deisel fuel is about 4 miles away by highway. I grab 3 five (5) gallon jugs and put them in the RTV and go down my street, across the creek, up the little one lane road, across the 4 lane East 80 Hwy, down the old Hwy 80 into the back of the truck stop, about a mile and a half. Fill the RTV and jugs and back home. Illegal? Parts of it but that's life. Guess if I was persued I could take off up one of the fields but crime doesn't pay so I'd probably just act stunned that there was an issue since I'm careful and look both ways crossing the 4 lane.
You'll not be disappointed with its versatility, power and fun.

[texasjohn]

go for it... I use mine every time I mess around on the ranch.
I've enhanced the usability of mine with some added touches all over it.... am sure you will too.

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/a...-bit-help.html

my link above re accessories.

[trailmaker]

Thanks for the link texasjohn, there's good information there. I pulled the trigger it's sitting in my garage right now. I've only got about an hour on the machine but I'm really liking it. It feels like a tank, which I like. I'll try to get a few pics up when I have a chance.

[texasjohn]

critical upgrade....to resolve a design flaw IMHO...is a snorkel to get your air intake up out of the dust trail

Other stuff includes, depending on your needs
front and/or rear risers for the trailer hitch...you'll figure out why this is handy
carrier for front or rear hitch...increases carrying capacity
front hood rack
floodlights, front, rear, right, left
interior light
a light to let you know the emergency brake is on
additional 12 volt outlets
gun rack mounted on rear seat movable frame
rear mirrors, right/left/center
additional hand holds, front and rear
110 V inverter, 1500 watts or greater...remote power where YOU are.
a rack of pockets with zippers on front dash and on back of driver's seat
overhead gun rack
spare rim and tire (my recommendation instead of slime in all wheels)
12 V oscillating fan for summer heat
string in key and looped over steering wheel...pull it out and drop it...else too likely to leave key turned on and thus leave hour meter running.
eye bolts on dump bed for tying things to.
tool box in dump bed for weatherproof carry of tools/supplies

[trailmaker]

Thanks tj I've already got the key looped around the wheel. My machine came with the "up air kit". The outfit I purchased from does that to all their machines as soon as they get them. It is a bit annoying that you have to pay for a proper air intake on top of the high purchase price. You mentioned eye bolts. Is that what the threaded holes are for in the sides of the bed? Is the bed difficult to remove? I'm thinking about getting Line-x sprayed on.

I just saw your security cam video. Did they ever get the dirtbag?

[texasjohn]

I put my eye bolts thru large holes in sides/top of dump bed, secured with large washers/nuts/lock nuts.

dunno about threaded holes exact "purpose", never removed the bed.

I got a small single axle metal sided trailer, manual dump, from Craig's List for $150....superb purchase, have tool box in it for carrying supplies out of weather. Didn't actually need the manual dump, but having a trailer is sooooo handy. It takes all the punishment of heavy hauling and I haven't worried about RTV dump bed finish.

I got a 9 inch flexible insulated AC conduit, removed internal wire, cut to length, stuffed it between bed of dump and back of rear seat. Greatly reduces sound and diverts hot air to sides away from rear passengers.

Yes, the woman who shot the girl found on my property has been jailed, along with the male accomplice. Was in my RTV when I found her.