Crossed over to the other side

[PapaPerk]

The main reasons were that I wanted better suspension travel so when riding down rough trails I wouldn't get bounced around so bad...the Kubota was limited in that aspect.....I wanted more ground clearance so I wouldn't get hung up so much and I wanted more speed for when I hit a good trail I could cruise along. The Gator tops out in the mid 40's where as the RTV topped out at 23 gps.


The RTV is a great machine but I believe the Gator will be better for what I want to use it for which is trail riding as well as snow plowing and pulling trailers. The RTV 500 is a snow plowing animal but for trail use the suspension is just not set up right.

This is exactly why I didn't buy the Kubota. I love Kubota tractors. But the UTVs suspension is set-up for work primarily. Very stiff and short travel. I bought a Polaris Ranger 400 and so far really like it. Build quality is not as good as Kubota. But performance is outstanding!

 

[BrianW]

Have you gone down any steep hills? Do you miss the engine braking or is it no big deal?

 

[DIXIEDOG]

Have you gone down any steep hills? Do you miss the engine braking or is it no big deal?

I've gone down steep hills....it doesn't have nearly the engine braking of the Kubota but it's no big deal you just need to use the brakes a bit. I took the Gator through the woods in areas I never would have dared bring my Kubota just because of ground clearance issues.....that's the type of stuff I changed for. Top speed is fine but not a selling point for me....the number of times you really floor it up here are few and far between but a reasonably smooth ride and not bottoming out and getting stuck are big issues in the tree harvest type areas up here.

 

[General Lee]

Man you lucky dog! I wanted the 825i when I was shopping for a UTV but I didn't like the price. Settled for the RTV500. Maybe one day I'll cross over.....

Another thing is the dealer couldn't tell me who makes the gas engine in the new models. Seemed to be a Chinese brand.

 

[PapaPerk]

Man you lucky dog! I wanted the 825i when I was shopping for a UTV but I didn't like the price. Settled for the RTV500. Maybe one day I'll cross over.....

Another thing is the dealer couldn't tell me who makes the gas engine in the new models. Seemed to be a Chinese brand.

That's what bothered me too...

 

[DIXIEDOG]

The engine really didn't bother me at all....JD is going to back it up.....for a few hundred bucks I can purchase a 3 yr warranty if I decide to but I've yet to hear of one major engine failure on a 825 so I think it's safe to say it will last awhile.