John deere gator or kubota Rtv

[aczlan]

I don't think anyone on this forum could dispute the brute work qualities of the RTV. But if you're looking for something that is truly a "utility" vehicle, get the 825i. And spend the extra money and find one with the Big Horn package. I got mine used on Craigslist for a heckuva deal!
Here's a load of wood I hauled yesterday. Drove it straight up a pretty steep incline with power to spare in spades.

I agree that the 825i is quite the machine (we demoed a 625i before we got the RTV500), but that's not much wood in the back . This is a a Kubota sized load of wood (would have put another row on the tailgate, but it would have hit the splitter) :laughing::


And a decent sized trailer (which requires a bigger Kubota to pull uphill when full of wood):


Yes, we have to slow down with the RTV500 when going up hills, but for our small (sub 40 acre) farm, it is plenty and the grandkids can drive it without their grandparents worrying if they will be doing 55 across the back pasture where we cant see them.

Aaron Z

 

[econometrics]

Yeah, yeah, yeah... if I had more wood laying around, I woulda loaded the Gator up more!

The difference for me is that it would take me 1/4 of the time to get to where I am going with that load of wood than it would in your little Kubota.

 

[gec343]

I'm 71 years old, and bought a new 2012 RTV900 13 months ago. I love this thing, and yes, it is a workhorse. However, a few days ago, I was forced into driving a new Ranger 900 w/heated cab. Man, was I impressed, since it had speed, acceleration, heated cab, etc. The fun factor is lacking on this RTV, so after that test ride, I would have to consider the Ranger 900 or the John Deere if I had it to do over again. The RTV is for older guys like me, or maybe people not concerned with the fun factor.

 

[aczlan]

Yeah, yeah, yeah... if I had more wood laying around, I woulda loaded the Gator up more!
The difference for me is that it would take me 1/4 of the time to get to where I am going with that load of wood than it would in your little Kubota.

90% of the time is spent cutting, splitting, stacking, unloading and re-stacking, so you wouldn't gain much time. Also, my inlaws dont need a stepladder to get into the RTV like they did with the 625i we demoed :laughing:. The cab and bed floors on that were the same height as the ones in our 4x4 pickup :duh:.

Aaron Z

 

[econometrics]

Also, my inlaws dont need a stepladder to get into the RTV like they did with the 625i we demoed :laughing:. The cab and bed floors on that were the same height as the ones in our 4x4 pickup :duh:.

Aaron Z

12"? Many (such as I) would view the added ground clearance as a plus.

Takes all kinds (of UTVs) to make the world go 'round. I just happen to think the Gator makes a larger % of the world go 'round.

 

[aczlan]

12"? Many (such as I) would view the added ground clearance as a plus.

The 625I we demoed was about 18" from the ground to the cab deck (just below my kneecap). I agree that, to a certain extent more ground clearance is better, but in our case, my inlaws have some mobility issues (knee, hip and spinal problems make getting in and out of tall vehicles onto the ground dangerous), so easy entry/exit was high on the list of priorities.
We don't go mudding and most of our work is in places accessible to a golf cart, so we dont need much ground clearance.
This is replacing a Toro Workman which had an even lower bed and that was great except in the snow/mud traction and noise departments.
Also, I can (while standing on the ground) stack big pieces of wood higher on the bed of the RTV than I could have on the Gator as the bed starts from a lower height .

Takes all kinds (of UTVs) to make the world go 'round. I just happen to think the Gator makes a larger % of the world go 'round.

They are great machines, just not what we needed and not the be-all-end-all in every case.

Aaron Z

 

[Cat_Driver]

I wouldn't buy a machine made in China or with a Chinese engine.


HS.

Yet you bought a Kubota RTV made in China

Kubota Begins Tractor Manufacture in China | DrivelineNEWS.com

 

[houstonscott]

I think you will find all of those will stay in China.


HS

 

[vfr700f2]

I think you will find all of those will stay in China.

Yes, and you'll see similar announcements about other brands. BMW recently announced they would build cars in China, so that was the headline, but the fact is, they are building cars in China for China, because the Chinese have strict import restrictions (ironic, no?). They also don't allow a foreign company to open a plant in China, the foreign company must partner with a Chinese company - that makes it easier for the Chinese to steal the design.

Maybe some day the Chinese-built products will get exported to the US, but that will only be after "Chinese" stops being a four-letter word. Can you imagine today's BMW or Kubota buyer accepting a BMW or Kubota made in China?

 

[RoyJackson]

Show me where the Japanese Yanmar engine is Chinese.

The 825 is a gasoline engine...it's the 855D with the Yanmar diesel.
I have no idea where the 825 engine is built....but I thought it was India.

 

[JESSE1]

The 825 engine is built in China, Yanmar diesel built in Japan.

 

[ssls6]

You guys need to realize that to sell in china you must have 50% of the item built in china. It's their law.

 

[DT86]

You guys need to realize that to sell in china you must have 50% of the item built in china. It's their law.

Why can't we have laws like that?!!!

 

[ssls6]

I wish we did but we only have tax breaks for outsourcing jobs. The cost of laying off people and retraining foreign workers can be written off against taxes. I remember when Bush signed that law, I was ordered the next day to transfer work to India.

 

[MHarryE]

Not quite correct on Chinese law. Have been a part of selling a lot of stuff in China with virtually zero Chinese content. High tariffs make it tougher if you have competition from their domestic sources so it is best to work on sourcing and assembling as much as possible there. The USA only has tariffs on about 30% of what we import and they are generally low.

 

[ssls6]

It differs by industry. I should not have been so general. In my industry it is 50%.