Buying Advice Replacing golf cart with bed - RTV 400 or rtv 500 ?

[Eagle09]

I was in the same situation and I chose the RTV 500. My wife loves it as much as I do and it is built like a tank. Our property has some very steep hills and creeks on it, and so far this one hasn't missed a beat. Did great in the snow too !

 

[Sawyer Rob]

I have the 500, my brother has a diesel Mule and a Kubota 900.

Personally, I don't like all the noise of the 900 and I also don't like the extra width either. I wouldn't even consider a Mule over my 500, and I wouldn't consider a Kubota 400 either...

Anyway, the 900 does have a lot more power, but it's power that I really don't need, so I'm happy with my 500 and my wife LOVES it too!

SR

 

[ultrarunner]

The 500 is like the 400 all grown up...

Hydro and twin cylinder water cooled if I remember right and it can fit in a pickup bed.

 

[kubotacres]

If your choice is between the RTV 400 and RTV 500 go with the 500. It's well worth the extra $1k for a "Kubota" twin water cooled engine, fuel injection and the completely sealed Hydro transmission. I went to my dealer with the sole purpose of purchasing the RTV 900 and changed my mind after looking at the 500. The size and being fuel injected sold me. I have had mine a year now with no complaints.

 

[ultrarunner]

Like many I try to read up before making a commitment...

The reviews on the RTV400 and RTV500 are mixed... especially on the 500.

Makes me wonder with reviews mostly at either end of the spectrum.

I do like power steering on my Tractors... how is the steering on the 500 in daily use?

A lot of the complaints seem to be about the Hydro and how it provides braking... being use to Hydro I think anyone with hills would find this a huge plus.

 

[Gary Fowler]

I suspect that complaints about the Kubota hydrostat drive are derived in total from folks who don't understand how to use a HST transmission and think it is like an accelerator on a gas engine, just push it down more if you want more power which is the wrong thing to do with the HST pedal (accelerator pedal on Kubota RTV's) which requires you to let up a bit on the pedal when climbing a hill so you give more power to the transmission just like downshifting on a gear transmission.
I admit that the braking on the RTV does take a little getting used to so you gradually reduce throttle rather than just removing your foot from the pedal like you would to coast on a gear drive (or belt drive like the JD Gator), but it is a quickly learned lesson.

 

[Gary Fowler]

One more addition, FOLKs should not write a review, especially a bad one about a product that they don't fully understand how it works, but you see it all the time. That is why you need to temper many of the reviews with a salt shaker full (as opposed to a grain) of salt.

 

[jeff9366]

I do like power steering on my Tractors... how is the steering on the 500 in daily use?

Quite a few turns, lock-to-lock, for mechanical advantage; not heavy. I have a "suicide knob" also known as a "wheel spinner" on my steering wheel.

 

[ultrarunner]

I've noticed when climbing steep uneven terrain with my non-power steering Samurai the Steering wheel can be a handful... climbing the same grade with the Kubota L3800 it is a non-issue.

Just want to cover all the bases before adding one to the family.

 

[jcbGM]

We've had our 500 for almost 2 years and nearly 400 hours. It fits our needs well. Would be a great replacement for a golf cart. I've taken ours up some grades that I had no business climbing. Put it in L and lock the diff and hold on. We use ours for hauling square bales, firewood, snow removal (2/3 mile driveway) and general farm chores.

It is NOT a play vehicle. If you're looking for speed and compliant ride, get a midsize ranger, you want a durable work tool, get the rtv500.

As for the HST, do a search and you'll find a couple threads on adjusting the aggressiveness of the HST. We tweaked our throttle stop, pedal travel and HST servo and can climb all but the steepest hills in H. Keep in mind that I live in western PA and we have some nice hills

As others have stated a sucide spinner is a helpful as is a windscreen and roof.