Reasons not to buy an RTV 1100C?

[Rock Crawler]

I got the 2018 Mule Pro DX with Yanmar diesel last Friday, I put the Seizmik doors, Seizmik mirrors and Seizmik rear wall on it Friday as well.

I also installed Beamtech H13 4,000 lumen headlight bulbs into the factory halogen housings. Those are amazing!

The cab with the Curtis hot water heater made plowing at -5°f a pleasant experience for sure with me just wearing a pull over sweatshirt!

I think I'm going to buy the proper hard top for the cab enclosure, using pool noodles to close the gaps is a crutch that works, but I'm just not a fan of it.

The bed is massive (54x53) and the dump ram is going to be awesome.

The machine is titled at 1860 lbs, but then the plow frame, ram, winch, heater and glass was installed. I'm sure it's at least 2,100 lbs now, if not closer to 2,200 lbs.

Low range is very low, speed peaks at about 11 mph, while in high range I can just touch 31 mph on flat ground.

The diesel is loud, and they sell sound insulation panels to cover the engine in the side facing the cab. I might buy them.

It's slow coming up my steep trails, floored in high range it will go around 8mph. Low range actually goes right to 10 mph up the same hill.

Engine breaking is extremely strong in low range, similar to my hydrostatic tractor. In high range it's not strong enough....

The tires are not like traditional V bar style ATV tread, they are more like a pickup truck mud tire. Yesterday I had it stuck in my yard and tore the heck out of a lot of grass while I tried over and over to climb up from the woods edge to the back of the house. It finally did it, but it was ugly! I really am thinking that I might swap the tires over to a more traditional/aggressive ATV tire since I live on a freaking mud covered cliff.

Anyways, so far I love the machine. I'm really happy with all of my choices side from the to cab roof, but that can be easily changed.

 

[Jchonline]

Looks awesome thanks for sharing!

 

[ovrszd]

I put ITP Blackwater Evolution tires on my RTV. Will go in 2wd where it wouldn't go in 4wd with the original tires.

A 2K lb vehicle needs aggressive tires.

Also pay attention to load rating. Most ATV tires are maxxed out with no load in the bed. Your Mule, if equally balanced, is putting 550lbs on each tire.

 

[Rock Crawler]

I put ITP Blackwater Evolution tires on my RTV. Will go in 2wd where it wouldn't go in 4wd with the original tires.

A 2K lb vehicle needs aggressive tires.

Also pay attention to load rating. Most ATV tires are maxxed out with no load in the bed. Your Mule, if equally balanced, is putting 550lbs on each tire.

Holy cow Batman! That there is one bad to the Bone super mudding tire!

 

[ovrszd]

With a very strong load rating.

 

[milkman636]

Great thread on your buying process. It seems like I'm a couple months behind you with similar concerns about belt driven CVTs. How does the Mule Pro engine braking compare to the Rhino? do you think it is less effective than the rhino?

Personally, I've been weighing a Viking vs. RTV because of the true three across seating without extra length/weight/cost. This thread also threw up a couple more options that I haven't considered too.

 

[Rock Crawler]

Great thread on your buying process. It seems like I'm a couple months behind you with similar concerns about belt driven CVTs. How does the Mule Pro engine braking compare to the Rhino? do you think it is less effective than the rhino?

Personally, I've been weighing a Viking vs. RTV because of the true three across seating without extra length/weight/cost. This thread also threw up a couple more options that I haven't considered too.

The Mule is odd compared to the Ultramatic in the Rhino.... I'm not saying bad necessarily... But after 13 years with the Rhino it's odd.

The Rhino never ever disconnects. Period.

The Mule, if you slow to a stop or really close to a stop, it releases the belt. You'll have to tap the throttle to grab it and bring the engine braking back in to play.

In low range this rarely ever Will happen outside of a real stop.

The bed size is amazing at 54"x53", and that combined with 3 across seating in the single seat DX is what closed the deal for me. The Yanmar sure didn't hurt it.... Great great engine!

So let's assume that ever 4 or 5 years I pull the plastic cover and at least inspect the belt. If there is no rubber debris indicating wear and the vehicle performs as normal.... Keep a spare belt hanging in the shop beside the spare winch cable and call it good. I did this on the Rhino 2 times, never did replace the belt.

Overall I'm super thrilled with this massive machine. It's literally a small pickup truck sized machine with a hydraulic dump bed, far smoother suspension and just all around better for moving around my logging roads in treacherous steep terrain.

If I had to cry and complain about something, I guess it would be that going up steep logging roads that the Rhino would be catching air on, this is on the rug in low range doing 10 mph. Meh..... I really don't care. It does move fast enough to destroy a loaded trailer or to destroy a 800 lb log splitter being towed behind. And that's why I bought it. To pull, push, carry and do work. And to do it for around 30 years.

 

[Mowbizz]

The Mule is odd compared to the Ultramatic in the Rhino.... I'm not saying bad necessarily... But after 13 years with the Rhino it's odd.

The Rhino never ever disconnects. Period.

The Mule, if you slow to a stop or really close to a stop, it releases the belt. You'll have to tap the throttle to grab it and bring the engine braking back in to play.

In low range this rarely ever Will happen outside of a real stop.

The bed size is amazing at 54"x53", and that combined with 3 across seating in the single seat DX is what closed the deal for me. The Yanmar sure didn't hurt it.... Great great engine!

So let's assume that ever 4 or 5 years I pull the plastic cover and at least inspect the belt. If there is no rubber debris indicating wear and the vehicle performs as normal.... Keep a spare belt hanging in the shop beside the spare winch cable and call it good. I did this on the Rhino 2 times, never did replace the belt.

Overall I'm super thrilled with this massive machine. It's literally a small pickup truck sized machine with a hydraulic dump bed, far smoother suspension and just all around better for moving around my logging roads in treacherous steep terrain.

If I had to cry and complain about something, I guess it would be that going up steep logging roads that the Rhino would be catching air on, this is on the rug in low range doing 10 mph. Meh..... I really don't care. It does move fast enough to destroy a loaded trailer or to destroy a 800 lb log splitter being towed behind. And that's why I bought it. To pull, push, carry and do work. And to do it for around 30 years.

View attachment 591510

Very nice machine!

 

[Rock Crawler]

Very nice machine!

Yesterday I picked up Ricochet CV guards, actually, I ordered them 2 weeks ago from Whomoto.com who sold them to me for $202 shipped for all 4, that's $100 less than the same thing sold by Kawasaki Accessories. Fit and finish is perfect, installed them in about 15 minutes. Side from the 2 weeks between ordering and getting.... I'm totally happy. I'm so spoiled by the life and times if Amazon prime that 13 days is really difficult to deal with emotionally!

I can't wait to start using this thing!

 

[FTG-05]

I put ITP Blackwater Evolution tires on my RTV. Will go in 2wd where it wouldn't go in 4wd with the original tires.

A 2K lb vehicle needs aggressive tires.

Also pay attention to load rating. Most ATV tires are maxxed out with no load in the bed. Your Mule, if equally balanced, is putting 550lbs on each tire.

Same here, see pic.

Listen to Overszd last point: UTVs, especially heavy UTVs, need 6 or 8 ply tires IMO. I would not use ATV-rated tires.