Anyone Rolled or flipped their UTV? UTV Ballast in Tires or Wheel Weights?

[TableRocked]

I've got a loaner Kubota RTV 900 while my RTV 1140 CPX is enroute from the factory and noticed on my most recent trip up a steep trail in my yard (I'd guess around 50 degree slope) with a very full load of granite rocks (well above the rim of the box), it felt like my front wheels were coming off the ground (lost all steering), and when I went to turn it around to back up the hill, and I may be wrong, it felt like I was about nearing the point of it tipping over completely......

...... that being said, in reverse, up the steep hill (around 900 yards), and it made it just fine...... that diesel engine must have a ton of torque because it didn't even begin to act like it was needing more power, just more weight on the front end......

Has anyone else experienced this with their UTV's, Kubotas or otherwise? Has anyone put ballast in their UTV tires or wheel weights?

(yes, I know I need a tractor, but my toy/tool budget is limited.... so having to make do in the short term while I save for my B26 or L45)

 

[pwright]

When I put a heaping load of gravel in the bed of my Ranger it definitely gets light in the front but so far not so much that I actually lost steering. Can't say that I noticed any lateral tippiness. I would have thought the RTV carries the load a bit lower than on my Ranger so I'm a bit surprised that you would have had that problem.

 

[TableRocked]

Just ran another load up an even steeper hill and it must just be I'm still getting used to the machine. I got out to look and while it felt like my front got very light, and the steering lost most of its directionality, the tires were still fully in contact with the ground, and I wasn't able to flip the unit backwards.

(I wish I had a truck scale to measure how much these loads of granite rock weigh.)

I'm still extremely impressed, this RTV 900 seems to have tons of torque and has no issues hauling heavy loads on unstable, extremely steep, rock strewn, paths. I'm curious to see how my RTV 1140 CPX fairs.

Oh, and this model has no bedliner, spray in or lay in. Moving rocks is brutal on the bed, but, I'm happy to say, the thickness of the metal is sufficient such that no major dents have occurred on the diamond patterned steel area. The sides, however, have a few new dimples.

Oh, and while I did keep it in 4WD, I did not have to engage the differential lock to make it up the hills.

Let's see how another 30 to 50 hours or so of this kind of hauling impacts this machine......

 

[Gary Fowler]

Do you have any kind of inclinometer , angle finder etc. to determine exact angle of slope. 50 degrees seems a bit steep for pulling an empty RTV up and it is nearly impossible to walk up or down that angle of grade especially if on grass or rocks without slipping and falling. I have an RTV 900 and it will climb a steep grade and haul a bed full of rocks easily without getting light on the front end but I don't know if I would tackle a 50 degree slope.

 

[ctann]

Do you have any kind of inclinometer , angle finder etc. to determine exact angle of slope. 50 degrees seems a bit steep for pulling an empty RTV up and it is nearly impossible to walk up or down that angle of grade especially if on grass or rocks without slipping and falling. I have an RTV 900 and it will climb a steep grade and haul a bed full of rocks easily without getting light on the front end but I don't know if I would tackle a 50 degree slope.

I too would like to know some more details on that slope. When asking about the sort of slopes these machines will tackle, everyone talks about "pucker factor" rather than real measurements. I am still shopping for my UTV, and so everything is theory for me right now - but I was a little worried about a 40% slope (about 22 degrees).

Google earth will give you a pretty accurate measurement (at least on my property), so it should be easy to check...

Thanks,
Chris.

 

[MotorSeven]

50 degrees? If you're like me you guess steeper than they really are. This is an easy way to verify your slope:

How to calculate grade percentage of a slope - YouTube

 

[jeff9366]

Consider a trailer. ATV trailers are designed to carry the load low, between the wheels, not over the wheels. The MUTS is very stable. Mine has been completely dependable in thirty months unsparing use.

MUTS - Multi-Use Trailer System for your ATV, Quad and 4 Wheeler - Welcome


I do not have personal experience with Monroe Tufline, but they have a very good reputation. Poly bed might be better if you want to move a lot of granite. Monroe plant is in Mississippi, closer to you than MUTS.

http://www.monroetufline.com/products/uc20-30-utilitycarts.htm


I believe you can order POLAR from Home Depot.

http://clamoutdoors.com/polar_trailer/polar-category.html


BE CONSIDERATE OF THE OWNER OF THAT "LOANER" AS YOU USE IT.

 

[phiferpharm]

My son rolled my Rhino over making a turn too fast. No real damage to anything or anybody, but after that we added wheel spacers to widen the stance. So far, it has remained stable on turns.

 

[Xfaxman]

For those that didn't see it yesterday on this other thread:

Re: What ATV, side by side or UTV do you have.

2014 Kubota RTV 1140 CPX - still in transit from the factory, so zero hours


I have a loaner RTV 900 (with over 1500 hours on it) from my Kubota dealer until mine arrives..... the loaner appears to have been a rental and has been used extremely hard, but she's already hauled close to a dozen loads of granite rock for me up 50 degree rocky trails in my woods without complaint.

Man that is steep, does the front end get light? It might go over backwards.

I would also be concerned about oil starvation on that incline.

This is what 30 degrees of body lean looks like.
​

 

[TableRocked]

Thanks for all the info..... downloaded an "APP" for my iPhone which shows a -28 degrees .... I guess I was way off in my "gestimation"...... my wife keeps telling me I have a depth perception problem :duh:

 

[TableRocked]

Hit return too quickly..... to Jeff from Fanning Springs, good point to clarify, I'm definitely not doing anything with this loaner I don't plan to do with my brand new RTV.... oh, and thanks for the cool cart / trailer short cuts.... I had a brief flash of my having wasted my money on a dodgy Kubota, when I could have instead gotten one of those sand rail like Can Am speed demons plus a Polar HD 1500 TA..... leaving the work stuff to the trailer.....

2 more heaping loads of granite rock and she's still pulling strong....

 

[pwright]

Thanks for all the info..... downloaded an "APP" for my iPhone which shows a -28 degrees .... I guess I was way off in my "gestimation"...... my wife keeps telling me I have a depth perception problem :duh:

It's weird how the brain works. You look at a 45 degree angle on paper and think that's not steep and then get on a 28 degree slope and feel like you are in danger of flipping over backwards.

 

[ctann]

Thanks for all the info..... downloaded an "APP" for my iPhone which shows a -28 degrees .... I guess I was way off in my "gestimation"...... my wife keeps telling me I have a depth perception problem :duh:

Thanks, great info. Sounds like my 40% slopes (22 degrees) should be a breeze!

This is what 30 degrees of body lean looks like.
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That looks pretty hairy - how did it feel? Close to the limit?

Chris.

 

[MotorSeven]

Hmmmm...an app for a smart phone? I have a new Droid and what I have figured out is that idiots should not have smart phones:mur:

Off to look for a droid slope app..................

 

[Xfaxman]

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That looks pretty hairy - how did it feel? Close to the limit?

Chris.

This is the steep side of the dam. The first time I mowed it I used the TORO with the 6' deck, because it is unlikely to roll.

I started at the bottom and worked up to the steepest part, 26.6 degrees. Had to set on the edge of the seat, if it lost traction, it would just slide downhill.


The next time, I used the Toolcat with the 7' brush hog. Much higher pucker factor due to the height, but I had a seat belt and ROPS. The chain hanging from the work light shows true vertical.


The Ranger EV, with 8 batteries under the seat felt very stable. :thumbsup:

It is hard to walk on the steep slope.

 

[texasjohn]

Seems like all your own experience on your terrain and the comments of others has just about covered your concerns.

I believe the 1140 with its longer wheel base will feel more stable.
http://www.kubota.com/product/UtilityVehicles/RTV900XT/pdf/rtv900xt_spec.pdf here are the specs for the 900

Says the cargo load capacity is 1102 lbs. That's a half ton capacity...kinda like a pickup. And dimensions are 52x46x11 inches.

this site gives a granite weight calculator Material Weight Calculator Marble Weight Granite Travertine Online Stone Weight Calculation

A solid level granite block computes to 2615 lbs. I dunno how to adjust for your heaping load with air pockets.

So, maybe your load is half of a solid block...or 1307 lbs...or just over the rated capacity.

At any rate, I think you have proven that the RTV will do your job, both load and pulling capability. If I had known that this was your task, I would have given my opinion that the Kubota HST transmission is the only one that would do your job....a CVT belt would be in terrible trouble, IMHO, for your task. So, it is clear to me that you made the right choice for you.

If I recall properly, the bed of the 1140 is larger and the engine has more horsepower.

so I predict that you will be even more pleased with the 1140.

If you still want more weight on the front, add a cargo carrier to your front hitch and put weight in it.

 

[TableRocked]

Thanks all for the insights and calculations......

Texas John, being that it was heaping full, and actually lost a few larger rocks due to the incline on the return trip home, having 1,300 to 1,800 pounds makes sense......last trip was close to 1000 yards up that -28 to -36 degree incline and she wasn't even breathing hard when she arrived at the dump site.....but she is drinking quite a bit of diesel fuel working her like that.....

xFaxman:

That tool cat is one mean looking machine and, wow, are they pricey! Bobcat sure makes amazing stuff! Are those made in house or has Bobcat subbed out the making of these machines to someone else?

Is that Kubota diesel powered like their skid steers and full hydrostatic tranny, steering, externals?

 

[Xfaxman]

Thanks all for the insights and calculations......
----------------

xFaxman:

That tool cat is one mean looking machine and, wow, are they pricey! Bobcat sure makes amazing stuff! Are those made in house or has Bobcat subbed out the making of these machines to someone else?

Is that Kubota diesel powered like their skid steers and full hydrostatic tranny, steering, externals?

I think it is made by Bobcat, but don't know for sure.

This one is last years Series F, 61 hp, turbocharged 3 cylinder Kubota diesel. 4WD 4 wheel steer.

My picture thread: http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/toolcat/270965-toolcat-5610-series-f-pictures.html

 

[texasjohn]

TableRocked, I think that all is good with your setup. Multiple long trips up steep hill, loaded, will use some diesel. Mine is light on diesel use but clearly how often you fill the tank is a function of how far you travel and how loaded you are. FYI, I located a 4x6 metal utility trailer that also has a manual dump feature. Cost me about $300....great buy. In your shoes, I would load both the RTV and a small trailer, hopefully dump, and make about half the trips. I don't think that you would burn much if any more diesel running in low like you are and must, and if you could locate such a trailer, you would be amazed at how handy it is! I leave mine hooked up over half the time...be sure to have a winch stand on the hitch so you can hook and unhook with a load in the trailer. You simply cannot believe how much that RTV can pull in a trailer. Found my trailer on craig's list...