Kubota RTV900 for steep clayish hill in high altitude

[Rod1]

Hi everybody.

I need to buy my first UTV very soon. I'm thinking seriously about Kubota RTV900 but I have several questions:

Is RTV good in high altitude? It lacks of EFI and I have to use it at high altitude: 4500 to 7000 ft. (8000 ft. from time to time).

What about clayish very steep hills? I have a challenging one: 6700 ft., at least 30°, maybe a bit more, 200 ft. long.

What about lift kits for ground clearance?

Which size of tires to improve ground clearance and to deal with deep clay? 25", 26", 27"? Bigger tires reduce torque, I think.

I suppose I will need aggressive tires like Ancla M-T, ITP 589, or something like that.

What about exhausts to improve power? Is it worthwhile? How much power/torque increase with it? Which brand do you recommend?

Thanks for your opinions.

 

[murphy1244]

:welcome: to TBN, We do have a forum for this Try ATVs & Utility Vehicles

 

[Rod1]

:welcome: to TBN, We do have a forum for this Try ATVs & Utility Vehicles

It's the newbie syndrome! Thanks a lot.

 

[murphy1244]

It's the newbie syndrome! Thanks a lot.

Sudite.

 

[crazyangel]

Welcome! I do not have answers to your engine performance questions, but can share my experience with my own RTV900. Our lot has dirt trail running on a 20% grade over a stretch of about 400 ft. Elevation is 1400 ft. It is pretty wet at times too. I have never gotten stuck or been unable to climb the hill, and that includes days where the mud was over the axle. I have a stock 2004 model with ATV style tires on it. Good luck in your search.

 

[Gary Fowler]

Hi everybody.

I need to buy my first UTV very soon. I'm thinking seriously about Kubota RTV900 but I have several questions:

Is RTV good in high altitude? It lacks of EFI and I have to use it at high altitude: 4500 to 7000 ft. (8000 ft. from time to time).

What about clayish very steep hills? I have a challenging one: 6700 ft., at least 30ｰ, maybe a bit more, 200 ft. long.

What about lift kits for ground clearance?

Which size of tires to improve ground clearance and to deal with deep clay? 25", 26", 27"? Bigger tires reduce torque, I think.

I suppose I will need aggressive tires like Ancla M-T, ITP 589, or something like that.

What about exhausts to improve power? Is it worthwhile? How much power/torque increase with it? Which brand do you recommend?

Thanks for your opinions.

The RTV 900 is fuel injected diesel so no issues there. SOME enthusiast have put turbochargers on them for additional power. I find that where I am which is less than 1000' above sea level that power is not an issue. Some muddy guys have put the larger and taller tires but I haven't had any problem with traction on my ATV factory stock tires with any mud. If you are going into swamp bottom land, wider and especially taller tires might be the norm but for normal trail riding conditions the stock tires will do fine.
The one thing I did was remove the spark screen in the exhaust since I don't do national park trails. It stops up pretty fast with carbon and has to be cleaned frequently to avoid exhaust back pressure.
This isn't a vehicle that you can just jack up the suspension for ground clearance so if you want something like that, get a different brand. For more ground clearance you would need larger tires. I think it has plenty of ground clearance for normal activities.

As I have said before, this isn't a mud hog machine, it is too heavy for that. If you want a mud hog, get an ATV or one of the sport UTV's. RTV's are serious work machines that are set up to carry heavy loads and pull a decently loaded trailer also.

 

[Rod1]

:welcome: to TBN, We do have a forum for this Try ATVs & Utility Vehicles

HI, murphy1244.

I did it, but people answered here, so I must write again here. Thanks for you indication.

 

[Rod1]

Hi, crazyangel.

Thanks for the input.

 

[Rod1]

The RTV 900 is fuel injected diesel so no issues there. SOME enthusiast have put turbochargers on them for additional power. I find that where I am which is less than 1000' above sea level that power is not an issue. Some muddy guys have put the larger and taller tires but I haven't had any problem with traction on my ATV factory stock tires with any mud. If you are going into swamp bottom land, wider and especially taller tires might be the norm but for normal trail riding conditions the stock tires will do fine.
The one thing I did was remove the spark screen in the exhaust since I don't do national park trails. It stops up pretty fast with carbon and has to be cleaned frequently to avoid exhaust back pressure.
This isn't a vehicle that you can just jack up the suspension for ground clearance so if you want something like that, get a different brand. For more ground clearance you would need larger tires. I think it has plenty of ground clearance for normal activities.

As I have said before, this isn't a mud hog machine, it is too heavy for that. If you want a mud hog, get an ATV or one of the sport UTV's. RTV's are serious work machines that are set up to carry heavy loads and pull a decently loaded trailer also.

Hi, Gary.

I read RTV900 has carburator and Kubota doesn't state it (kubota.com). Maybe it referred to older models, before RTV9800XT?

I forgot to say I don't need it for mudding but for work.

Thanks for the input.

 

[pdowling1]

Diesels don't have carburetors.

 

[Rod1]

Diesels don't have carburetors.

Hi, pdowling1.

I read it on atv.com such as you may see, the last thing on the "engine" part, just before "transmission".

2010 Kubota RTV900 Worksite Orange Reviews, Prices, and Specs

 

[aczlan]

Hi, pdowling1.
I read it on atv.com such as you may see, the last thing on the "engine" part, just before "transmission".
2010 Kubota RTV900 Worksite Orange Reviews, Prices, and Specs

Well, then someone on ATV.com messed things up. Diesels dont have carburetors and haven't since the 1940s when they would start diesel engines on gasoline and then switch over to diesel once the engine warmed up.

Aaron Z

 

[dennisgw]

Looking at Kubota site, seems the RTV500 is gas????, the rest are diesel.

Kubota Tractor Corporation -Kubota Utility Vehicles are Engineered for Versatility, Built for Durability

 

[aczlan]

Looking at Kubota site, seems the RTV500 is gas????, the rest are diesel.
Kubota Tractor Corporation -Kubota Utility Vehicles are Engineered for Versatility, Built for Durability

RTV400 and 500 are gas (both built on pretty much the same frame).
The differences (as I recall them from comparing them in Dec):
The 500 has a twin cylinder EFI water cooled engine. The 400 has a single cylinder carburated air-cooled engine.
The 500 has a hydrostatic transmission. The 400 has a belt type CVT transmission.

Aaron Z

 

[timswi]

RTV400 and 500 are gas (both built on pretty much the same frame).
The differences (as I recall them from comparing them in Dec):
The 500 has a twin cylinder EFI water cooled engine. The 400 has a single cylinder carburated air-cooled engine.
The 500 has a hydrostatic transmission. The 400 has a belt type CVT transmission.

Aaron Z

Yup..That pretty much sums it up.

 

[Rod1]

Well, then someone on ATV.com messed things up. Diesels dont have carburetors and haven't since the 1940s when they would start diesel engines on gasoline and then switch over to diesel once the engine warmed up.

Aaron Z

Hi, Aaron.

So, RTV would be good for so high altitude? Somebody told me there is one working at almost 9000 ft, but I prefer to be skeptic to take care of my money.

Thanks for the input.

 

[Rod1]

Hi, dennisgw.

Yes, 500 and 400 are gas.

 

[Rod1]

Somebody sent me a private message advising to buy a Can-Am because RTV would not be good for clayish hills. I must apologize because I forgot to say in my first post that I need my UTV for work. Anyway, if one is inquiring about a workhorse like RTV, it’s strange to suggest a sporty expensive toy like Can-Ams, isn’t it?

 

[aczlan]

If working at a high altitude and needing a bunch of power, I would look at turboing a RTV900 or 1100. From what I have read, an RTV can be sluggish at higher altitudes.
Do you have a dealer anywhere near you where you could test drive a RTV to see how it behaves at your approximate altitude?

Aaron Z

 

[Rod1]

If working at a high altitude and needing a bunch of power, I would look at turboing a RTV900 or 1100. From what I have read, an RTV can be sluggish at higher altitudes.
Do you have a dealer anywhere near you where you could test drive a RTV to see how it behaves at your approximate altitude?

Aaron Z

Hi, Aaron.

Yes, and he called this afternoon offering the test drive. He will call again when it will be possible for him to get a trailer to carry the RTV to the right place to test it, at around 8700 ft. I look forward to this day.

Thanks for your interest.