Opinion on Kubota RTV

[Ken45101]

I agree with all said above. Ours is 6 or 7 years old, used on the farm almost daily and used on state bridal trails for maintenance. 700+ hours and replacing the rear tires has been the only thing done other than routine maintenance.

Personally, I prefer the diesel since I can store it better than gasoline and not have to worry about problems.

 

[628pm]

I have the new model year, mine is the 2014 Rtv X900. Had it for several months now. Really like it. Previously had the 4010 Kawasaki Mule. I thought it was good, but the RTV is much better. You could not ask for a better UTV if you are not looking for speed. My top speed is 22-25 mph. I would buy it again, maybe with a few more options on it.

 

[Gary Fowler]

When I first got my RTV 900, the wife wouldn't drive it, preferred here electric golf cart because the RTV was "too large and obnoxious". After a few times behind the wheel though, it became her ride of choice. Now the only time the cart gets used is when I am out working with the RTV.
The RTV diesel may be a bit loud, but I haven't been too concerned about that like some TBN complainers. I like the diesel engine that uses so little fuel, that I forget when the last time it was filled up and it cranks easily with just a bit of glow plug in the coldest weather. I don't have to worry about stale fuel with diesel like I would gasoline. I buy it a couple hundred gallons at a time.

We use it daily many times per day for commuting to and from anyplace on our property or even to neighbors. It hauls, dumps, pulls and winches just about anything needing attention. I have used the winch to drag out logs and rocks, pull posts and stretch fencing. A winch is a good option to include with it. So far, I haven't needed it to winch out the RTV from mud.

It is amazing how big of a log it can pull and the amount of load that it can carry and dump without a problem. I don't think you could overload the dump bed enough so that it wouldn't dump. I have had it rounded up to the point of falling off with wet clay soil and/or rock and it dumps on an idle.
I couldn't be without it around my place.

 

[coolnature]

I just bought a 2014 RTV-X1120D in June. I have not used it much but it does ride good with the new independent rear suspension. I have a farm and my primary use will be general farm work. I looked at other diesels; Polaris, John Deere, Kawasaki. IMO, the overall build quality of the RTV appeared to be more heavy duty. I have nothing against the other brands, I just felt the RTV would best meet my needs and be more durable (time will tell).

 

[DIXIEDOG]

Depends what you want to use it for, I made the mistake of buying a RTV 500 and got rid of it a year or so later. The lack of power and no suspension travel sucked. If you plan to go down trails the RTV is about the worst choice you can make, if you're going to use it on pavement or mild fields it's good to go but if you plan to go in the woods or very hilly terrain I'd look elsewhere.

For an all around machine I believe the Ranger or Gator is a far better choice. You get a machine that can work all week and then play on the weekends.

 

[coobie]

If your looking for a hot rod mud slinger or rock climber don,t buy the Kubota RTV.If your looking for a true work horse that goes 25 MPH than the Kubota is for you.Great all around REAL working machine with a good track record.

 

[texasjohn]

er, yep, an opinion...if you are going to be doing farm/ranch work, you need one. I love mine. I put a luggage rack on the front of mine...use it all the time; added gun racks, extra lights, all sorts of extras, all highly used...Got the 1140, am pleased every time I use it...great for extra people, or extra tools, work platform...the extra seat is soooooo handy.

 

[roadhunter]

From what I have seen they are really nice. The ones with a cab are almost like a car inside. Heat, AC, radio, turn signals, etc... I also really like the aux hydro lines on the back. For a working machine I can't think of a better UTV.

For off road performance and higher top speed Polaris is the best. They also offer some models with a loader on the front that looks pretty useful.

Yamaha looks nice but the payload is quite a bit lighter than the Polaris.

Mule is a glorified golf cart and not on the level of the Kubota or Polaris or the others for that matter. Compare the drivetrain and suspension and you will see the difference.

I see more and more local ranchers using the Honda UTV but I have not driven one. My guess is that like most things Honda makes they are really nice and dependable.

I've also used one of the older Bobcat UTV's but it was just a aluminum framed club car. Still nice but not like their newer models that have options like a PTO or front end loader.

The new John Deere UTV's also look pretty nice. They have really nice cabs/glass.

 

[zionview]

The prison I work at has a half dozen or more RTVs: 2-1100's on perimeter patrol 24/7; 1-1140 pulling trash trailers, sometimes 2 at once; and the rest are 900s for trash, snow plowing, short range transportation, etc. It's a hard environment for any machine, but they are holding up well. The original 900s are rough looking, but still work well. The cabs on the 1100s are really nice.

 

[Will_C]

I have had my 900 since Memorial Day weekend of 2013. Like others have said, it's not a play thing. I have around 60 hours on mine-it has hauled 1/3 cord loads of firewood out of the woods, hauled 12 yards of dirt that accumulated around my house from various projects (located where a dump truck could not reached it without damaging the lawn), hauled us in and out of the woods during deer season (including hauling deer back when were lucky!) and pulled a roller on a 9 acre property.

It's been a good useful purchase.

Will