Kubota RTV with VHT Transmission

[lantxinNETX]

Anyone have any experience with the Kubota RTVs with the VHT transmission? I think this hydrostatic transmission is standard on the RTV500 and the RVT900XT. Interested in hearing how the hydro transmission effects the driving experience. I know what my HST is like on my Mahindra, but curious how well this works on a utility vehicle.

Thanks!

Martin

 

[DT86]

The VHT is in the 500, 900, 1100 and 1140 not the 400.

Personally I like it. For some learning to drive the VHT is hard. When going up a hill you let off the pedal some to maintain a faster speed instead of mashing it to the floor. The RTV's VHT is no speed demon no matter how you drive and probably isn't the best for steep land.

 

[timswi]

I like it but you do have to learn how to pedal it correctly...It does have fantastic engine braking and so far, great durability...No speed demon, but a great worker...All in what you're looking for. More like a tractor than an ATV.

 

[DIXIEDOG]

It is good for some uses and bad for others. It's nice in that you get excellent engine braking and very smooth take off. It's bad in that you get robbed of power and fast acceleration....a CVT keeps your engine in the powerband better than the Kubota's hydro tranny. If you plan to work around the house -and generally won't be doing much trail riding the hydro will likely be your favorite....if you plan to use it for more universal work and play I think you may be disappointed in the RTV's hydro tranny....it's just not responsive enough especially in mud....you floor it and the tires barely spin and will not unload.

 

[GolfAddict]

Agree with most of the comments, except a bit puzzled by "probably isn't the best for steep land" comment. That's exactly why I wanted a UTV with hydro - it climbs the steepest stuff in Low which is great, but the breaking coming down steep slopes is what I really wanted - without either having to wear the heck out of brakes or keep the engine sped up enough to engage a belt.

 

[Gary Fowler]

I love my RTV 900 just the way it is. It has good pulling power, much more than a belt drive Gator and the engine braking means I rarely have to use the brakes. It isn't fast by any means but it works like a tractor and I love the full hydraulic system on it. I can dump a rounded up bed full of rocks on idle with no problem, speaking of which, that is a lot of weight also and it carries it without any issue.

One downside to working in soft soil is that it is heavy and will rut pretty bad. I have never gotten mine stuck, but my soil gets mushy on the top 6" or so and stays pretty hard underneath.
Another thing is the frame is so stiff that if you cross a steep ditch in a slant, one wheel will come off the ground in front and again in back as you cross so you need a bit of speed to cross that way. It is best in this machine to cross at 90 degree angle on ditches but anything that you wont bottom the front bumper on, it will climb out of.

 

[DT86]

Agree with most of the comments, except a bit puzzled by "probably isn't the best for steep land" comment. That's exactly why I wanted a UTV with hydro - it climbs the steepest stuff in Low which is great, but the breaking coming down steep slopes is what I really wanted - without either having to wear the heck out of brakes or keep the engine sped up enough to engage a belt.

I said that because some people think it should go up a hill just as fast as they go down the other side. That ain't gonna happen in a RTV. Also when I say steep I mean steep, not this pansy 20* stuff people worry about.

Don't get me wrong, as I said before I love the HST, it does what I need on our hilly land.

 

[GolfAddict]

I said that because some people think it should go up a hill just as fast as they go down the other side. That ain't gonna happen in a RTV. Also when I say steep I mean steep, not this pansy 20* stuff people worry about.

Don't get me wrong, as I said before I love the HST, it does what I need on our hilly land.

Ah, got ya. I agree, if you want to go running up and down hills, through mud, etc., for sport and fun you'll no doubt be disappointed with an RTV...

 

[groundcover]

Love mine, hills and all ! It is a working machine, not a toy. Don't have to worry about it eating up belts either. Not much fun when the Polaris 6x6 did that, thought we would never get all the belt knobs out of it !

 

[DIXIEDOG]

Love mine, hills and all ! It is a working machine, not a toy. Don't have to worry about it eating up belts either. Not much fun when the Polaris 6x6 did that, thought we would never get all the belt knobs out of it !

The cost of a fluid/filter change is more than a belt and with today's enclosed belts you don't hear of people eating them up. The older stuff yes but the newer stuff not so much.