new Utility Vehicle - Kubota RTV900 info pages

yellowsocks93 · Dec 9, 2003

Can you please tell me what advantages the Cub has over the Deere? Cub copied Deere's styling big time. Deere has a V-Twin engine too.

Tractors4u · Dec 9, 2003

I have a Deere so maybe my opinion won't be considered biased. The Cub has 4 wheel independent suspension on the rear end. That is a plus. I don't know how much of a plus because I have never driven one. My 6X4 Gator does not have rear suspension, it uses it's low pressure tires for suspension. To me it has a great ride. I am kind of concerned about the Cubs universal joints on the rear 4 wheels. That may be it's weak link. The Cub has a 20hp Honda twin vs the Gator's Kawasaki 18hp twin. Mine has never lacked in the power department though. I saw a utility vehicle on ebay a few months back that looked like a dark green Cub. It had a different name that I don't remember now. I looked the company up and they built turf and golf equipment. I wondered if MTD bought their Big Countrys from them or whether that company bought it's vehicle from Cub. I decided to go with the Gator. They are proven and there are Deere dealers all over the place here. The Cub dealers come and go. I felt it would take a while for the Big Countrys to became main stream enough for good support.

Bird · Dec 9, 2003

( Have you seen the Bobcat "Toolcat" about $32,000,it is an awesome machine )

I haven't actually seen one yet, although I've seen the pictures and read about them. I agree; it looks like an awesome machine.

Docsknotinn · Dec 9, 2003

Its cetainly all in how yopu look at it but man 10k is a bundle. For whats its worth I dont like the price of the gators for what you get either. The mule seems like it can whip the stuffing out of either one. Either way the days of kubota being less expensive seem to be fadeing fast. For the money and at least for my needs I tend to lean towards the gas models. I'm not sure I see any real benefit to a Diesel in one of theese. Cant agree with you more on the cost of new trucks, any of them, Gas or Diesel.

Bird · Dec 9, 2003

Jim, I really like what I've seen about the new Kubota, but I don't think you'll be sorry you bought that Mule. We never got around to putting a windshield on my brother's and he had an electric power dump put on his instead of hydraulic (cheaper and worked well), but he did have their steel canopy put on it (strong enough to walk anywhere on it and made a great rolling scaffold for several jobs).

Dozernut · Dec 9, 2003

Doc
I have the ZD21 Kubota mower and it has one sweet little diesel engine! It doesn't heat up like a gas engine, it produces good torque and sips the fuel. If I have not been completely misled, this is basically the same engine they are putting in the RTV900. That should be a great match up. I tend to hang on to my equipment and I feel that the diesel will be longer lived.
I have not discounted the gas engine models however. Yamaha makes a new side by side called the Rhino. From what I have read about it it is a real nice machine. It supposed to retail for around 9k. All of the side by side 4x4s seem to be in the same ballpark as far as pricing goes. I think the utility ATVs are going to become even more popular.

Docsknotinn · Dec 9, 2003

Yeah I sure agree with that. Theirs no denying the Kubota is a nice product. The one thing they make I would give my right arm for is a diesel powered hyrdraulic wood chipper/shredder. So many uses for a good diesel /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif I am a die hard Diesel fan but the gas models, even though less fuel effecient will last a very long time and cost little to rebuild. It all goes to need and want though. I have not yet driven the Yamaha but they make very nice stuff. I really liked the polaris. Next year its a barn for me and after that I will auction the fun buggy and start looking for a 4x4 used utility vehicle. Its interesting that so every one is comeing out with one. Maybee we'll get lucky and the prices will go down.

jinman · Dec 10, 2003

Bird, I got a Sam's Club online Christmas catalogue and found this Yerf Dog utility vehicle which seems to be the opposite end of the spectrum from the RTV900. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif It would seem that for a lot less money, you get a lot less vehicle. ...kinda like tractors. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

Docsknotinn · Dec 10, 2003

Based on the prices you and Jinman put up I guess the Kubotas not soo expensive after all. Man time flys. I was thinking about it and I guess its been nearly two years since I looked at theese. Most were around 8k then. I should have said the diesel is just less desireable for me because I use it at hunting camp, but if they are only 1k more thats certainly something to thing about. I do see some used Diesel mules on eBay every now and then around $4500.

PineRidge · Dec 10, 2003

While it may take Deere a while to copy, I have a hard,
repeat hard, time swallowing 11k for a utility vehicle. Heck at this price I could probably get 2 nice used Deeres and some
free labor to drive em.



I couldn't have said it any better. I still say 11k is way overpriced for what you get. But hey it's Christmas, we have to spend our money somewhere right? /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif