Honda RT5000 for the archives

Anonymous Poster · Apr 22, 2003

I just wanted to share some info on the tractor that's been my workhorse for the last 11 years.

It's a Honda RT5000 with a 13 hp air-cooled engine, 8 speeds forward, 4 reverse (hi/lo ranges), 4wd with lockable rear differential, 4wheel steering, hydraulic lift front and rear (gravity descend), 3pt hitch in the back with a shaft PTO, and mid-mount belt PTO.

I bought it with a 48" mid mount mower that doesn't get slowed down in 6", wet, thick grass. I soon bought a 48" dozer blade and 48" rear-mount tiller, and did final landscaping on my 3/4 acre lot. It has pulled a 2'x2'x4' granite boulder out of the ground, and tills my 30'x60' clay garden. With a running start, I can pound a 4' frozen snowbank into the ditch, and with a 3'x2'x2' plywood bucket mounted to the front quick hitch, I can lift and haul a half-cubic yard of pea gravel. I've moved about 48 yards of topsoil with that bucket!

I've been dreading the day this tractor gives up the ghost, but after finding TBN, there's a gleam in my eye for a small Kubota with FEL and BH!

Hope everyone enjoys this blast from the past!

Tractors4u · Apr 22, 2003

Pretty neat looking rig. What happened to the rear fenders?

Boone · Apr 23, 2003

A friend bought a Honda like that around the same time as you. It is 18 hp and the engine looks like half of a civic car engine. He had a 400 series JD and is thrilled with the Honda. He claims he gets done mowing 1/2 hour quicker with the articulating Honda vs the JD.

pritch4398 · Jan 30, 2005

Hey Poster - In addition to the rear fenders being off, what happened to the ROPS and the front lower engine cowl? Did the cowl need to be removed to handle the front blade?

Ever wanna sell your RT5000, let me know as I'd be interested.

twinstackram · Jan 30, 2005

I have my RT5000 for sale, I bought a 234 international and don't need my Honda anymore,these are amazing little tractors.

L3650 · Feb 5, 2005

What happened to Honda in the garden / compact tractor market? The products seemed well designed and engineered. With the reputation Honda has for quality equipment, one would think that these products would be a profitable market segment for them.

jim_wilson · Feb 13, 2005

I wonder what happened to Honda in the garden/utility tractor market too. Before I ever thought about buying a tractor I have had Honda equipment and pretty much all of it has served me well. I have two Honda cars, a weedwhacker, snowblower and a lawnmower. A tractor would complete the set. Maybe there is too much competition and they decided to just sell the engines to dedicated tractor manufacturers?

jpr62902 · Feb 13, 2005

I had a 4514 lawn tractor and man, that liquid cooled v-twin was smoooooooooth. Had a great mulcher kit on it too. The thing's 12 years old and still runs as new (my sister has it now).

Honda's now out of the tractor market, but they still sell their engines to American Yard Products, who make the Sears and Husqvarna models.

Skyco · Jul 13, 2008

Interesting tractor- I'd never heard of it until I saw one for sale. A google turned up this thread on TBN

If anyone is interested in an RT5000 then PM me and I can tell you the details on the ad, it is in central SC. I have nothing to do with it, don't know the seller haven't seen the tractor etc...but I can tell where the ad is in a PM if anyone wants to know, I'd post the link here but I think that is verboten. Seller is asking $3800 with a front blade and a belly mower. If it was diesel I'd buy it as a novelty to play with maybe.....but can't justify it right now