Kubota RTV vs. PUG vs. AUSA Task M50?

Bob_Skurka · Sep 12, 2004

Seems like much of the conversation is centering on the Kubota being made in the USA so that makes it good? The PUG is not only made here, it is an American owned company too.

I guess I like all 3 of the vehicles for some different reasons. The PUG is rugged and with the articulated frame will climb like a goat and haul just about anything over any terrain (and my property ranges from smooth and flat to steep to rough. The AUSA and the Kubota are both premium grade machines, the Kubota is well proven here, even if it is a relatively new model. The AUSA sounds and appears to be the most refined (but again I have not driven it yet) with creature comforts the others don't have, yet still apparently rugged enough for the commercial worksite it is designed to service.

rtv900 · Jul 20, 2005

I have a dealer that is about 5 miles from me. I road an Ausa Task m50 today. Wow what a blast. The machine did a great job towing a heavy trailer they had there. I can haul a 1500lb load (they say). I really liked it. It has a Bomb Rotax 400cc engine in it. Wow was it quiet. I love Diesel though so the gas was a new thing for me.

It had a lot of features that just plain made sense. It has a hood that locks. It is finished off with diamond plate on the inside of the hood. You could put a lot of stuff under the hood. The brake fluid was also located there. The gas guage was right next to the gas cap on the side (someone was not thinking). It comes with reverse lights already installed. I comes with a backup beeper already installed (easily removed). It comes with turn signals already installed as well as a hazard light switch. It comes with two flood lights (standard) that mount to the top of the ROPS.

I thought the load height of the box was a little high. I like the load height of the Kubota RTV and I know some people even think that is a little high. I am 6'5 and when I think it is a little high its going to really be high for short people. I drive it on pavement, field grass, bumpy rock/gravel, rough dirt trail and through some swamp. The swamp was muddy but not real crazy. Some of the really bumpy trails were a little rough riding. It has a real stiff rear suspension. I think once it has a little load it will smooth out.

It has a nice low gear and a fast high gear. The dealer said that it will go 40 mph. It went fast but I dont know that I ever actually got it to go to 40 mph.

It has push button 4wd that worked very nicely. It has two bucket seats. I am a bench seat fan because I have two little boys that are my helpers and they both need a place to sit safely. The nice thing is that the bucket seats sit on top of a strong metal box. I am butchering the descripton. Its not actually a box but it is a flat part of the frame... well if you see a picture you will know what I am talking about. What I am getting at is it could be made into a bench seat with out much work at all. You could put a Kawi Mule seat in very easily.

Over all I thought it was a nice machine. There was a lot of access to all of the areas that would need checking or mainenance. Overall it was a nice machine.

I love my RTV. I have been looking for a "fun" machine in addition to my RTV. I ordered an Arctic Cat Prowler but I have had first year Arctic Cats in the past and I have never had them for more than 6 -8 months before I get rid of them and buy the one with all of the bugs worked out. I love having a new toy. This time I am going to look at it very hard. I buy so much from this dealer that I dont have to worry about losing a deposit or anything like that.

If I like it I will take it. If not I will take another look at the Ausa.

I am looking for a fun machine to play with and I want to keep my Kubota for working around the house and some of the Hunting that I do. I always tend to gravitate toward a fun machine that can handle getting the snot kicked out of it. I think the Ausa Task m50 might just be that machine.

Before someone jumps in and says I should get a Rhino or a Polaris Ranger I will give you my take on that up front. The Rhino is a great machine with a wonderful engine. I am 6'5 and about 300lb. I am not comfortable in the machine. It does not work for me. I have wanted one for a long time but it is just not going to happen. The Ranger is a fun machine. The XP has some get up and go. The problem is I just dont have a dealer in my area that I like. I like to spend my money with people I know and like. I just dont like any of the dealers around me and I am not willing to drive more than 25 miles to get one because I will have to drive that distance again when it breaks and agin to pick it up. I am not going to do that.

Again the Ausa was fun. It is also a machine that seems to really have a lot going for it when it comes to working. After all it is a work machine, just a really fast one.

I did have some concerns regarding getting it fixed. Well all of the drive train is Bomb 400cc parts and it looks like a dream to work on compared to my Kubota. I dont even mess around with the Kubota. Well I have rambled on enough. Thats my report on the Ausa Task m50. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

rtv900 · Jul 20, 2005

Oh, I almost forgot the price.

Asking is $9420.00 Seems like it will go out the door including setup for just under $9000.00

I know someone posted something like $14,000. I called uvcountry and another Ausa dealer and the $9000.00 range seems like the price.

hobbyfarm · Jul 24, 2005

( This AUSA thing looks like a Quad on steroids! From the website it looks to me like their made somewhere in Europe. )

I believe it is made in Spain.

BTW, Bob, did you see the Multi-Task 250 ?

Now THAT looks useful!

rtv900 · Jul 28, 2005

Well I picked up an Ausa Task M50. I had it painted Red and I am having a Windshield, roof and rear window fabricated for it. It is a real nice ride. I am of course keeping my RTV. I love that RTV.

rtv900 · Aug 2, 2005

I have put some miles on that new machine. Its not a Kubota. I am impressed with how strong of a machine it is. It turns nice but not as nice as the RTV with power steering.

The Ausa is a fast machine and feels really stable. So far so good.

Bob_Skurka · Aug 2, 2005

So can you give us a point by point comparison between the RTV and the Task 50? Are they designed for similar types of tasks? Which handles better with a heavy load in the bed, which handles better with a heavy trailer in tow, which is better for running across a field, is one a fun oriented machine while the other is a workhorse, does one climb better, does one do better in deep muck, what about comfort of ride, etc.

My distant observation is they are very different machines designed for the working but perhaps differnt types of work???

rtv900 · Aug 3, 2005

Bob,

I believe you are correct in saying that these are very different machines. They are both marketed for work but at the same time different. Here is what I have found.

The box on the Kubota is one inch narrower and 2.5 inches longer.
The Kubota is diesel and Ausa is gas.
The Ausa has a shifter on that goes from park to rev, n, high and then low in one strait line. when you are stopped it can be confusing to figure out what gear you are in. No confusion on the Kubota. It may just take me some time to get used to the Ausa.
The Ausa is fast. on blacktop 43 has been the fastest I have gone (gps). The kubota is not fast but it drives with purpose.
The Ausa has two bucket seats. They are great to sit in. Comfort is a strong point with Ausa. It is very comfortable. Kubota as you know has a bench seat whick I think is very comfortable but not as nice as the Ausa.
Now on to tasks:
The Kubota is more stable with a heavy load. I put 1000lb of water with a generator and pump in the Kubota every day. It handles the load very well. I drive in med. gear and have no problems. I can drive in high gear but I know that would not be good for the tranny so I dont do it. I side hill on a mild hill with that weight and the kubota does just fine and feels really stable.
The Ausa does fine with the same load. I dont have as many choices when it comes to gears though. with 1000+lb in the back I need to use low only. Ausa is belt drive and I have had enough belt drive ATV's to make me nervious about it. this Ausa seems to be great though. I can have that weight in the box and stop going up a steep hill and then start again and I dont have any slipping or problems that I can notice. I think the Kubota is more stable than the Ausa with a 1000+lb load though.
I do not have a hitch put on the Ausa yet so I cannot comment on towing at this time. My guess is it will do just fine but I really dont know.
Going across a field is hands down the Ausa. That has a nuch better ride over rough stuff when compaired to the Kubota. The Ausa is fast and smooth.
The Ausa is lands on the fun work machine while the Kubota is all work. Dont get me wrong I and many others have tons of fun with the Kubota but I think you know what I mean. The Ausa with its speed and ability to handle rough bumpy terrain at a high speed is not something that the Kubota wants to do.
I dont have any complaints on hill climbing with either machine. I feel like they are both stable on hills and the both climb just fine. You can just get a faster running start with the Ausa.
The Ausa does have a rattle in the box at about 20 mph to 25mph. It buggs the snot out of me. I have to fix that rattle some how.
I have not tried the deep muck with the Ausa yet. It has more ground clearance and comes with mudlite tires so I think it will do better. I am running worksite tires on my Kubota right now because I dont want to tear up my grass so I know the Ausa would do better because of that alone.
The bench seat is still my favorite because my little boys can ride with me. That is not something they can do safely with bucket seats.
They are both great work machines. The Kubota is a better work machine. I really work my Kubota every day hauling water and trailers and whatever comes up.

I think a person should consider the Ausa if they are currently looking at a Ranger or Mule or Gator. The Ausa has a lot of features that just make sense and I like it more than the Gator, Ranger or Mule by a long shot. That's my thoughts. Please ansk any questions you may have. In the next few days I will post pictures.

bczoom · Aug 3, 2005

RTV900,

Thanks for the info.
A couple more questions.
Does the AUSA have Hyd. lift for the bed?

On the RTV tires, many of us have removed the HDWS and went with something more appropriate for slick/muddy areas. It seems the Maxxis Bighorns or MudLites are the 2 favorites for replacements. I run the Bighorns and there's been no damage to lawn.

Does the UASA have any engine braking when going down hills?

Thanks
Brian

rtv900 · Aug 3, 2005

The ausa does not have a Hyd. life bed. It has an electric screw like the Gator. I like the Hyd. lift bed myself because it is so fast when you need it. The screw system works well too just not as good as the hyd. system.

Funny you mention the tires. I have a set of bighorns (26") for the RTV but I have never put them on because I use my RTV daily for work around the house. I always thought they might work on the lawn but I never put them on fearing that I would tear things up. I will give them a try since you say that you have not had any problems. I did use my HDWS tires for the entire hunting season last year because I was to lazy to change tires and I never had a problem. Muddy stuff was a pain but with patience I made it through.

The Ausa has wonderful engine braking. I should have mentioned that. I am amazed at how good the engine braking is. It allows for a very controlled decent even with a load. Now you have a Kubota as I do and remember it is nothing like the braking we get out of out Hyd. system. For a belt system I would have to say Ausa did its homework on that one and got it right.