Help on picking and pricing UTV

Slippy · Jul 17, 2004

I stopped by my local Kubota dealer today and checked out the RTV. It is a beast. The only thing I did not care for is when you let off the gas, the thing comes to a very quick stop. There is no roll at all, due to the hydrostat transmission. Would probably be ok once you get used to it. The base price is 10,500. No dealing though. They are selling quick. Its that old supply and demand concept at work. I was amazed at the price of the accessories. The list price for some of the add ons is high from Kubota. The dealer is willing to work on the extras. For example, the windshield is $600 list price.
I think I can get the worksite which comes with dump & front guard for $10,500. Anyone done any better? Did find another unit, dealer will add canopy, bed linner and swap out tires for the atv type that comes on the recreational unit for $10,400. Unit has 15 hours on it. Is that a good price?

flyingn · Jul 17, 2004

not a bad price. The trans will loosten up a little over time. Its like a tractor. Hydrostatic trannys are like that. You will get used to it..
I paid $13,700 delivered with full hard cab, wiper, bu beeper, aux lights, cab heater, heavy duty front springs, rear hitch.. all installed and delivered.. Thats over $15k list..

Frank

MessickFarmEqu · Jul 17, 2004

( Slippy, I don't know who told you that the RTV is the only UTV that can "stop and start" on a hill, but that is not accurate. )

This comes from a Demo that was done at the Kubota dealer meeting (I did not see this). They lined up the RTV, Gator, Muel and a 4th model. Drove them all up the same slope, stopped, then continued to drive up again. The RTV was the only one that did it successfuly. On the others either the brakes would not hold it on the slope or they did not have enough torque to continue up further. Granted, it was an extreme example, but thats where this comes from.

MessickFarmEqu · Jul 17, 2004

(
I think I can get the worksite which comes with dump & front guard for $10,500. Anyone done any better? Did find another unit, dealer will add canopy, bed linner and swap out tires for the atv type that comes on the recreational unit for $10,400. Unit has 15 hours on it. Is that a good price? )

These seem to be the going prices. As you said, its supply and demand right now. As inventories catch up the price will fall. They are selling at full list right now and no one seems to care. I have been discounting the units that I have comming in 3-4 months from now, but asking just under list for the stock ones.

lloyd123 · Jul 17, 2004

( I paid $13,700 delivered with full hard cab, wiper, bu beeper, aux lights, cab heater, heavy duty front springs, rear hitch.. all installed and delivered.. Thats over $15k list..

Frank )

Didn't you also get the plow included in that price? I thought I read that in an earlier post.

rmorgan · Jul 17, 2004

Slippy--

I coveted a Ranger for years and ended up with an RTV. The three most important factors for me were the Kubota diesel; the certified ROPS; and the full hydro. In a review of everything but the RTV back in the May '04 issue, ATV Illustrated magazine writers found none of the other machines were fully capable of stopping on a slope with a load on; the RTV is remarkable at this. The ROPS just makes me feel safter (and unfortulately, the ROPS on the Ranger is faux, unless you go to the "professional" models). That said, I drove a Ranger several times and liked lots about it; the Mule has a venerable heritage, excellent capabilities both for terrain and load, and aftermarket support; and the Gators have many fans on this board and elsewhere. One machine that has not gotten attention here but is very cool if you're not planning to haul a bunch is the Yamaha Rhino, which looks like a downsized jeep and of all these vehicles is most like a true ATV--the most fun to use and the least "work friendly" in the category. Everybody's making a UTV now and so it's pretty much a buyer's market--so you might as well try 'em all!! /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

lloyd123 · Jul 17, 2004

Attached is a photo that was on the web that looks like it was taken during the hill climb demo

Dargo · Jul 17, 2004

Yup, what I thought. I couldn't imagine the RTV with "worksite" tires on it outclimbing anything. Since the ramp is not dirt or mud, that explains it. I like my RTV, but my 6X4 Gator was much better at climbing the dirt hills in my area. I assume that a tire change on the RTV would help loads. I'm waiting for some guys on here who have ordered more agressive tires for their RTV's to post the results of the tire change. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

Slippy · Jul 17, 2004

Well, I am continuing my search and have found that eveyone right now is within a couple of hundred dollars of each other. I read in another post that a rep had indicated that the price would be going up. Better to buy now and beat the increas, or wait and get it cheaper? My guess is that if they do increase in price, it will be a higher increase than the drop in price that could be expected.

Also, anyone added a winch to the front of the RTV? I looked at the front of one and there is a flat steel plate right behind the grill. Is this where it would mount, or do you need a special mounting kit?

Dargo · Jul 17, 2004

I have a great winch mounted on my RTV. I've used it several times for various things. Jippy and Dozernut on here were kind enough to actually install mine. At the time I was recovering from some surgery and only had one arm. It has a wireless remote on the winch. After using that, I'll never consider anything else. I got my mower hung up in the mud and was able to winch myself out without anybody else to help. Usually I'd have to get one person on the mower assisting, and one on the winch vehicle. Not now! Heck, my wife has buried the mower twice for me since then. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif