Kubota RTV900 Sightings or Demo's ?

RET · Feb 12, 2004

Re: Kubota RTV900 Sightings or Demo\'s ?

I was surfing the net last night looking at pics and prices. I was really looking for some head-to-head reviews (RTV vs mule vs gator, etc). Could not find any. Has anyone found a full review yet or a head to head comparison?

The boss ain't gonna let me have one anytime soon, but I sure fell in love with it just by looking at the pics and specs!
roger

cowboydoc · Feb 12, 2004

Re: Kubota RTV900 Sightings or Demo\'s ?

I don't think you'll see alot of head to head reviews for a little while. All of the big producers have introduced brand new machines that are just hitting the owners now. The bar has definitely been raised and everyone has put out some great products. I drove one of the new Yamaha Rhinos the other day and that thing was really nice too. If you want the versatility of a utility vehicle and still have the fun of an ATV that thing is for you. It's fast, nimble, and great center of gravity. It's not quite up to par with the pulling and bed capacity of a gator or the new kubota but wow that thing was fun to drive!!

RET · Feb 12, 2004

Re: Kubota RTV900 Sightings or Demo\'s ?

Yeah, I read a review not too long ago on the Rhino. The reviewers actually tested it alongside one of the better ATV's (don't remember which) to see how well it could keep up. In summary, these folks were VERY impressed with the Rhino. They had a hard time finding ANYTHING that the ATV could beat te Rhino at. It could handle the mud, rough terrain, steep climbs, etc. About the only thing the ATV could do that the Rhino couldn't was squeeze through the really narrow spots in the woods.
r

hairy78 · Feb 12, 2004

Re: Kubota RTV900 Sightings or Demo\'s ?

I work at a New Holland/Kubota dealership located in Ashland, KY. We are currently demoing the RTV's. We have the general purpose and the work site models in stock. Accessories should be arriving soon.

BeeFarmer · Feb 12, 2004

Re: Kubota RTV900 Sightings or Demo\'s ?

I think you're going to find that there is a big difference in comparison to many of the RUV\ATV. You will see that many are really not designed for work but more for having fun on the off road areas. The Gator, Mule and Kubota wouldn't be one that I would place in a catagory with the Rhino. Maybe a close comparison to the Rhino might be the Ranger. The Rhino can do over 60 mph when setup. Out of the factory it is faster than any of them however, YOU WON'T load it up like you would a real work horse like the Kubota, Gator or Mule.

jinman · Feb 12, 2004

Re: Kubota RTV900 Sightings or Demo\'s ?

Actually, from what I have found, to get EPA certification as a farm (non-highway) vehicle, the top speed has to be 25 mph or less. That's the reason most of the utility vehicles limit their top speed.

Kyle_in_Tex · Feb 13, 2004

Re: Kubota RTV900 Sightings or Demo\'s ?

MY logic would lead me to the Rhino. I am biased towards pleasure usage. Great suspension and ride combined with good power. My father in law says "But it only is rated for 400lbs in the bed".
I said, "If you want to haul weight, use the same trailer you'll need to haul it around on (when you get to your work zone)". If you need to haul more weight than that, buy a used 1 ton 4x4 truck. Plus, you can drive it down the road to get a coke and potato chips legally.

cowboydoc · Feb 13, 2004

Re: Kubota RTV900 Sightings or Demo\'s ?

For us it doesn't make much sense as 99% of our usage is loading and pulling. But somebody that wanted one just for running around and occasionally hauling stuff that thing is fun!! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

RET · Feb 13, 2004

Re: Kubota RTV900 Sightings or Demo\'s ?

I've always thought of mules, Rhino's RTV's, etc as more of a 'fun' thing (hunting, running thru the woods, etc). How does one of these justify their $10-12 cost just for working around the homestead? I can hook up my litttle BX2200 to my little 5X10 trailer and haul 2000 lb of stuff around the house, so where does a 4 wheeler fit in? It can't do what my little BX can....maybe it can go a little faster, and manuever a little better, but my baby BX will most likey do more 'grunt' work.

I'm not trying to be a smart a%^, I just need to understand the justification so that I can start planning the strategy to talk the Mrs. into letting me have one!

Bird · Feb 13, 2004

Re: Kubota RTV900 Sightings or Demo\'s ?

Roger, those utility vehicles can certainly be a "fun" thing, but for some people they are really work vehicles. I took a rancher neighbor for a ride on my brother's Mule to find the spot in the fence where some of his cattle had gotten out; down through ravines, over brush piles, and back through the woods where neither his pickup nor his tractor would go. He promptly went and bought a Mule himself. He could put all his tools, his portable generator, etc. in the bed of the Mule when he had that kind of work to do. He'd also put his 15 gallon 12 volt spray rig in it to spot spray herbicides and insecticides. He used it to herd cattle at times (didn't have horses), and he could use it to catch newborn calves much easier than trying to get in and out of a pickup even if it were in a location the truck could go. And that's just a few of the many jobs that Mule got used for.

Some time ago, I noticed a whole fleet of Mules being used by the airlines at D-FW airport, and I frequently drive by a hospital that's had a major expansion/construction job going for over a year and noticed the contractor has a couple of Mules to run around the premises. I know a tire dealer whose warehouse is a hundred yards or so from the retail store and he uses a Mule to haul tires back and forth.

So, while for many of us, it would be a "fun" vehicle, I think a good portion of them are used for genuine work machines.