HD10 retirement. Whats next????

ArlyA · Aug 10, 2017

As stated in the title, our HD10 is coming up on its retirement so we ponder what machine to replace it with. The Defender has required modifications and had some minor grief for working hard. Its level of power had been no better than OK and we've had it occasionally pegged to the floor. The service from the dealership reasonable as well.. At this point, we would get another and its review address is pasted below. Is there another machine we should consider??

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/atvs-utility-vehicles/355357-can-am-2016-defender-hd10.html

harpoonalt · Aug 10, 2017

ArlyA said:
As stated in the title, our HD10 is coming up on its retirement so we pondered what machine to replace it with. The Defender has required modifications and had some minor grief for working hard. Its level of power had been no better than OK and we've had it occasionally pegged to the floor. The service from the dealership reasonable as well.. At this point, we would get another and its review address is pasted below. Is there another machine we should consider??

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/atvs-utility-vehicles/355357-can-am-2016-defender-hd10.html

Why not a Tucker Snocat or similar ?

ArlyA · Aug 11, 2017

A new Prinoth or Pisten Bully that would be appropriate for our trails is in the 140K price range. I have operated all those machines and a Tucker. If we did that, we'd still need a UTV for summer trail work. We can purchase a UTV and equip it for winter used for around 30K. What would you do?

harpoonalt · Aug 12, 2017

ArlyA said:
A new Prinoth or Pisten Bully that would be appropriate for our trails is in the 140K price range. I have operated all those machines and a Tucker. If we did that, we'd still need a UTV for summer trail work. We can purchase a UTV and equip it for winter used for around 30K. What would you do?

A friend grooms for a club here in Vermont. They bought a well cared for used Tucker for about 50 grand. Still going strong after 5 years. The tucker or similar are designed for the work and will last thousands of hours. He felt it was a good investment that was cheaper long term. They struggled with other options before the Tucker that just didn't last or perform like they wanted.
What would I do? I guess I'd sit down and run the numbers on long term costs for each option. Not many UTV options for the work you need it to do that will hold up to the hours you do. Im interested to see how the new one performs. Good luck!

symphony · Aug 12, 2017

Kubota dealers are indicating that a new gas version of the RTV-X will be introduced this fall. It purportedly has a much higher top speed, 50mph vs. 25mph and much more HP than the 25HP diesel version. Not uncommon to see RTVs with thousands of hours of very hard use.

I was about to pull the trigger on a HD10 but when I learned that Kubota may be releasing this new UTV, I decided to wait. The Kubota cabs are very well designed and this new machine equipped with tracks, will allow me to run it 4 seasons for work and play.

ArlyA · Aug 13, 2017

We don't do high hours on UTVs, since its not our primary tow machine. The only tucker small enough to fit on our trails seems to be no longer in production. A Pisten Bully 100 is to wide and heavy for our bridges even a PB Paana might be to much. Nonetheless, you can purchase older used Tuckers, PBs and Prinoths for dirt cheap and the problem is, they like to break. You can wait for weeks for a $5000 rebuilt pump or motor to show up, and who's grooming during the wait?? Old used machines are great for other folks to keep running, were as I'd prefer to be out grooming new snow down, not wrenching :duh:.

harpoonalt said:
A friend grooms for a club here in Vermont. They bought a well cared for used Tucker for about 50 grand. Still going strong after 5 years. The tucker or similar are designed for the work and will last thousands of hours. He felt it was a good investment that was cheaper long term. They struggled with other options before the Tucker that just didn't last or perform like they wanted.
What would I do? I guess I'd sit down and run the numbers on long term costs for each option. Not many UTV options for the work you need it to do that will hold up to the hours you do. Im interested to see how the new one performs. Good luck!

ArlyA · Aug 15, 2017

symphony, I'm not sure what constitutes "very hard use" to you?? The problem with machines that use a hydrostatic transmission is there high power loss and low top end when used with pods. I'm sure for many users, a hydrostatic transmission is wonderful idea but for snow working machines like us, they don't. We need great HP to run through snow AND enough top speed for use with pods, they just don't cut it.. Hydrostatic transmission's run at very high power losses. Does this new RTV have a CVT transmission??

symphony said:
Kubota dealers are indicating that a new gas version of the RTV-X will be introduced this fall. It purportedly has a much higher top speed, 50mph vs. 25mph and much more HP than the 25HP diesel version. Not uncommon to see RTVs with thousands of hours of very hard use.

I was about to pull the trigger on a HD10 but when I learned that Kubota may be releasing this new UTV, I decided to wait. The Kubota cabs are very well designed and this new machine equipped with tracks, will allow me to run it 4 seasons for work and play.