OK, Tell the truth now!!!!

EastTexFrank · Mar 2, 2005

My S-I-L, who lives at the farm, has fallen in love with the RTV900. Personally, I think buying one would be a waste of money but my opinion isn't likely to count for much when she sets her mind on something. Bear in mind that the farm is basically rolling, no steep hills, and we run beef cattle. Farm equipment wise, we already have 3 tractors (one FWD) - 75hp, 57hp and 38hp, two trucks - full size and compact, 2 yard tractors and 2 trailers. That doesn't count the trucks, the little B2400 and miscellaneous stuff I have at the house 6 miles away. Logically, and I admit that logic has nothing to do with this purchase, I don't see where the RTV900 fits in.

My question is, do you guys actually find these things to be a useful addition to the equipment you already own and use????? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif What can it do that can't be done with the stuff we already have?????

Oh, I'll admit, I'm kinda looking forward to running around on the thing but I can't help but feel that it's not going to add anything but FUN ... but maybe that's reason enough.

What do you think???? As you can tell, I'm having a hard time justifying the cost but then again, I'm originally Scottish, and we sometimes have trouble parting with a dollar.

cowboydoc · Mar 2, 2005

The truth is that for our operation yes they are a necessity. I wouldn't get an RTV, just because I think yes one of those is overkill. When I was looking at them they were $3500 more than an HPX. And for what it does I don't need that much of one. Before the RTV people jump on me I think it 's a great machine just overkill for my needs. With that said what I do need one for is all the chores in the barn. Ours are used daily hauling manure, feed, saddles, and ferrying all over between the house and barns. Would the compact tractor, pickup etc. work? It would but it would be terribly inconvenient, slower to use, much more damage to the arena, etc. With the Gators there is virtually no compaction, no scuffing the ground, I can drive it right up to the stalls and anywhere else, girls can easily drive them around, etc. Now if you don't have a barn and all that to do then your uses are going to be less.

I like them for around the place for a # of reasons too. They are great to hook the harrow to dress up the arena in a hurry. Great to haul seed around for the planters. Girls run them 100's of hours in the summer harrowing pastures in between rotations, I can drive them places the tractor or pickup will make ruts and cause damage to crops and pasture, great to use building fence, and general chores. IF I had to the ranch pickup would go before one of the Gators went.

In the summer our pickups rarely get used. We use the Gators almost non-stop. In our situation they are an absolute necessity, your mileage may vary. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

bczoom · Mar 2, 2005

Frank,

My conditions/uses may be different than your SIL's or coyboydoc's since I don't farm but...

My RTV is used constantly.

Prior to getting it, I used an ATV with trailer for light stuff and my CUT for heavier needs.

Now, unless I need to run the FEL or something off the 3PH, the tractor sits. I probably put less than 20 hours on it last year (since getting the RTV).

As for the ATV's... they pretty much sit also. The only times I hop on an ATV is either to do a "hard & fast" ride with friends or pulling something when the ground is super wet (ie. roll the lawn). Combined (all ATV's), I put less than 50 miles on them last year (again, since getting the RTV).

The RTV is now used for most everything.
I haul all kinds of stuff in the box. If it doesn't fit in the box, a trailer is in tow.

Since it does have a bench seat, it's also the kids favorite. I can't keep them off. Since they can't ride on the tractor(s) with me and having the kids with me on an ATV isn't the safest thing, I prefer it as well.

Another thing I really like is how little fuel it sips. I can get somewhere around 2 or 2.5 hours per gallon of fuel.

Oh, I put about 70 hours on it (in 10 months).

Dargo · Mar 2, 2005

I use my RTV a lot for work. I use my Rhino very little for work, and a lot for fun. I owned several JD Gators for about the last 8 years and found that they were very useful, but not in the same league as the RTV. That is why I sold a 4 month old diesel Gator I'd just bought so I cold buy my RTV. If you look at an unbiased write up on each as listed by another from TBN member here at http://www.atvillustrated.com/atv_reviews/Kubota/review.html
and then compare their write up and review on the HPX Gator and the RTV. I think that you'll find what I did and what the publication did; the Gator is really over priced for what you get and it is rather limited in it's abilities compared to the RTV. I can say that because I've owned both. I'm not someone who is just trying to justify what I bought and say that it is the greatest because I own it.

I began with the JD because I was pretty well brain washed by JD green. Heck, even my JD dealer said that he didn't see how Kubota could bring out a stronger unit with a true hydro tranny, power steering, a hydro bed lift, and rear hydro outlets for the price.

cowboydoc · Mar 2, 2005

Where does it say in that article that the Gator is overpriced for what it is? And just exactly what is so wrong with a Gator HPX? Here is the real summary from the article and not a BIASED opinion as you state:

Judged purely as a modern transportation machine of the sort that will stick mostly to logging trails, the Trail Gator will be fine. Building quality vehicles is ingrained in the John Deere mindset of manufacturing and the Trail Gator is no exception. It oozes solid construction and quality components and is priced accordingly. Our only real gripe is that you should get more than a so-so suspension from a premium-priced machine. It is neither as comfortable nor has the strong work capabilities of Kawasaki's Mule and, with Kubota's RTV 900 now entering the immensely competitive utility vehicle market, this should provide Deere with more than enough incentive to develop these characteristics. 

I even said that the RTV was overkill for me meaning that it is a better machine. How was that unbiased? I agree with what the article said and still stand by my statement that the RTV is a great machine but overkill for what I do with it and it was $3500 more for options I didn't need. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

EastTexFrank · Mar 3, 2005

OK gentlemen, you've convinced me. I forgot to mention that my S-I-L also runs a boarding kennel (for dogs) at the farm and the RTV900 could prove to be a real help in that regard. I can see that I'll have to start clearing out a space in the barn. I'll have to get rid of some stuff because it's getting pretty crowded in there. Oh my, why is so difficult to cull stuff that you've had for a while and grown attached to? Why do you get attached to farm machinery and "things" in the first place?

Once again, thanks for your honest opinions and information. They were a great help. I suppose now I'm going t have to start reading the ATV forum more regularly.

bczoom · Mar 3, 2005

( I can see that I'll have to start clearing out a space in the barn.)

Ahhh... You may want to check with your SIL before you start cleaning out a spot. It's not uncommon to hear that they spend their first several months in an attached (or closest to the house) garage. It's the first thing you grab to start the day and last thing put away in the evening.

riptides · Mar 3, 2005

It's my wifes machine.

What more can I say? /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Ask me where my truck is.
Ask me how many time I have driven the RTV. Dealer lot time not included.
Ask me who calls the dealer for maintenance questions.

Seriously, I thought it would be a good addition, but I was having a hard time in the cost justification. Well the wife did not have any problem, and is the major user of it. For -
e v e r y t h i n g.

-Mike Z. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif