Here is my new RTV 500

[jcmseven]

I could be wrong here, but if the 500 is like the 900 and 1100 RTV, it has an open front differential, not true 4WD. This was a killer for me, and I would wonder (not saying he--the dealer-- is wrong, but I think he could be) about the validity of what you were told. I have two neighbors, one two doors down and another 1/2 mile from me. My nearest neighbor has an 1100 and his IS NOT true four wheel drive. He has a diff lock, but it only affects the rear, not the front, even in four wheel drive. The other fellow down the road has a 500 and it IS NOT true four wheel drive. Kubota does not readily put this information in the literature, and my closest neighbor said he specifically asked his dealer if his machine was true four wheel drive and was told it was. It is NOT, clearly not. I would have likely bought a Kubota RTV at that time had this not been the case. This is an area where Kubota lags behind the others and would be easy and relatively cheap to fix in design. Sadly, it is my impression that the Kubota UTV's are open front, unless they have made a running change in them recently.
I am not the be-all of any information, much less on Kubota, so I would rely on someone with more Kubota tech experience to give final word on this. Regardless, your machine is really nice and should give you many years of trouble-free service. Congratulations on it and Merry Christmas!!

John M

 

[General Lee]

Based on what me and my passenger saw while I was climbing the snow covered hill, the 500 IS NOT true 4wd. I was able to watch the left tire and my passenger was able to watch the right. The front would not pull simutainiously while diff locked in 4wd. I was dissapointed after being told it was true 4wd.

 

[timswi]

Based on what me and my passenger saw while I was climbing the snow covered hill, the 500 IS NOT true 4wd. I was able to watch the left tire and my passenger was able to watch the right. The front would not pull simutainiously while diff locked in 4wd. I was dissapointed after being told it was true 4wd.

I plowed 3 feet of snow with my 500 and some of it was up hill. The 4wd in the front is more limited slip than anything else. I don't think that would cause you much trouble. It never caused me any. I agree that this should be made clear in the literature...It does say 4x4 right on the machine.

I think you'll be fine...I never had a problem that one more wheel spinning full time would have helped anyway. There's almost no weight in the front to help unless you have a plow hanging out there, then you're good to go with the limited slip.

To be honest the diff lock is your best friend on the 500...The rear is where all the weight is, the front helps it along....

Don't worry about it...There's no way to really test these before you buy them unless the dealer lets you demo it for a month...That ain't gonna happen.

You have a very nice machine there. Run it and enjoy it...

By the way, Mine did get louder in the front when in 4x4...Normal in my opinion.

 

[beretta96man]

Based on what me and my passenger saw while I was climbing the snow covered hill, the 500 IS NOT true 4wd. I was able to watch the left tire and my passenger was able to watch the right. The front would not pull simutainiously while diff locked in 4wd. I was dissapointed after being told it was true 4wd.

Well, I'm both sorry and pissed that I was wrong. I just got mine this week and apparently I was told the wrong info from my dealer. It is pissing me off now because I wanted true 4wd for the tracks I just ordered. True 4wd was a breaking point for me when choosing machines and it sounds like kubota misleads their dealers if more than one are touting it as true 4wd

 

[General Lee]

By the way, Mine did get louder in the front when in 4x4...Normal in my opinion.

Sheww. That makes me relax a little. I thought I read a thread where you posted a while back about your front being noisy. I came across it when I was browsing info on the 500.

 

[General Lee]

Well, I'm both sorry and pissed that I was wrong. I just got mine this week and apparently I was told the wrong info from my dealer. It is pissing me off now because I wanted true 4wd for the tracks I just ordered. True 4wd was a breaking point for me when choosing machines and it sounds like kubota misleads their dealers if more than one are touting it as true 4wd

Nothing to be sorry about. I to was led to believe by my dealer the 500 was true 4wd. I specifically asked him if all 4 wheels spin simultaneously in 4wd with diff locked. He told me yes. I think most salesman just don't know much about the operational aspects of the things they sell.

By the way, for Christmas the wife is getting me the same winch you bought for your 500. I also chose to try out the synthetic rope. I'm not trying to copy you but I thought it was a great price on that winch :thumbsup: You will probably get yours installed and tested before I do so keep us posted on how it performs as well as the synthetic rope.

 

[beretta96man]

Nothing to be sorry about. I to was led to believe by my dealer the 500 was true 4wd. I specifically asked him if all 4 wheels spin simultaneously in 4wd with diff locked. He told me yes. I think most salesman just don't know much about the operational aspects of the things they sell.

By the way, for Christmas the wife is getting me the same winch you bought for your 500. I also chose to try out the synthetic rope. I'm not trying to copy you but I thought it was a great price on that winch :thumbsup: You will probably get yours installed and tested before I do so keep us posted on how it performs as well as the synthetic rope.

I did catch my dealer making subtle slips of not knowing what he was talking about, should have not taken his word on that.

I just finished the winch install and it looks REALLY nice. Lots of advice for you so I'll start a new thread. BTW, I'm really considering buying another for the rear.