RTV 1100 Camo

johnr · Jul 27, 2007

I test drove one today and have a couple of comments. It was not quiet inside cab. Its as loud as my BX2200 is at full RPM and the cutter on. The one I tested didn't have a radio in it but suspect if it did it would need to be up very loud to go above the engine noise. It only seats 2 , more than one grandchild at a time probably won't work very well.
and If you go up much of a grade , with 2 170 # people in it, its not long before you have to shift to low gear. I was wondering if any owners have experience with going up a steep grade loaded? The box is quite small (about the size of a 1/2 sheet of plywood 4'X4' and only about 8 or 9 inches deep .It' hard to associate that capacity with the words "work horse" I hear people use. I want to love it because I like the idea of a full cab with heat/air. but it does seem to have limitations. I would love to here from those that have one as to what they have decided about its performance and capabilites.

darkday · Jul 27, 2007

There is a technique to getting up hills apparently. I think it's something like flooring it and then letting off and you should be ok. I don't own a kubota but if I were to get something in addition to my John deere gator HPX I would get an 1100.

TWO GUNS · Jul 27, 2007

I also test drove a 1100, and it had power, alot of power. But then again, I just own a RTV 900 with less than 50 hours on it. But, I know several men in my area that works theirs in the woody hills and on the farms, and they praise 'em all the time. Go ask these questions on Compact Tractor Review - Kubota RTV Owners Group

They are several folks there that will answer all your questions, for they are several that own them and talk about them all the time .....

I have plans on purchasing another RTV in September, and maybe two of them, for the farms, and both of them are going to be the 1100 series RTV's ....
Would have purchase a 1100 have they been released at my purchasing date that I bought the RTV 900 >>>>

Personally, I really liked what I seen and felt when I test drove mine >>>>
Don't have any idea why the one you drove did like it did. Was that the first RTV you have ever driven? For you have to know how to run the transmission on these things. They are alot different than any other vehicles that you will operate >>>>>>> They also have some threads on the way to drive these transmissions on that forum >>>>>>

jcmseven · Jul 28, 2007

John,

The Kubota 1100 RTV I recall has around 25 hp and is HEAVY, carrying about 70-75 pounds per horsepower. I suspect even with the increased power, the machine could struggle on steeper hills in higher range. If it is anything like my hydrostatic tractors, flooring the pedal will only bog the engine. My JD 4310 would almost stall out, so to achieve good speed increase, I had to somewhat feather the pedal, or use the LoadMatch feature. My current 3720 JD has so much more power that it does not require this action. The RTV is a true hydrostatic tranny, so I suspect the engine load varies somewhat. The way JD gets around this is with the CVT belt drive tranny. My JD XUV diesel has similar engine power to the Kubota 1100 but weighes stock about 300-350# less. It will essentially "underdrive" the tranny to maintain engine RPM, and thusly maintain speed fairly well up steep hills. It seems to work plenty well, but I do not believe is as durable as Kubota's setup, although tough and fine for me. The Kubota to me is a bit more like my tractors, as it operates more on the hydrostatic characteristics as noted, some of which might not be good. As for the cab, and radio, the cab is nice but the radio is useless. I had a marine stereo and speakers mounted on my Gator, and it was truly a waste of money as the engine is loud enough to drown out any musical tunes.

John M

TOMMYHPX4X4 · Jul 28, 2007

i like them cabs with the a/c and truck like appearance.

milkman · Jul 28, 2007

johnr said:
I test drove one today and have a couple of comments. It was not quiet inside cab. Its as loud as my BX2200 is at full RPM and the cutter on. The one I tested didn't have a radio in it but suspect if it did it would need to be up very loud to go above the engine noise. It only seats 2 , more than one grandchild at a time probably won't work very well.
and If you go up much of a grade , with 2 170 # people in it, its not long before you have to shift to low gear. I was wondering if any owners have experience with going up a steep grade loaded? The box is quite small (about the size of a 1/2 sheet of plywood 4'X4' and only about 8 or 9 inches deep .It' hard to associate that capacity with the words "work horse" I hear people use. I want to love it because I like the idea of a full cab with heat/air. but it does seem to have limitations. I would love to here from those that have one as to what they have decided about its performance and capabilites.

I drove a RTV 1100 around the dealer lot and when I parked, I found that the door was only in the first catch, maybe the reason it was noisy is your door wasn't latched all the way, the cabs are really tight and the doors are hard to get closed all the way.

bigdeer2000 · Jul 28, 2007

I have 15 hrs on my 1100 so far and have been very happy with it. i keep it in medium range unless i am on a road. the cab is very tight and it takes a good tug on the door to close it up. cab seems quiet compared to the open 900's.normal conversation is easy in the cab. it is not a billy goat. i think the power is there but it is too stiff. it will not flex to allow it to get traction in uneven or off camber situations.

mikeyd · Jul 29, 2007

I suspect you didn't have the door closed all the way as the cab is very quiet with the door closed. Your statement that the RTV1100 is as loud in the cab as a bx with the mower running is way out of whack with my experience. I can carry on a conversation in a normal tone, when I listen to the stereo there is no need to crank it up to hear.

The box has the same relative capacity as all the others. Yesterday I carried near a ton of heavy wet sand (yes I said a ton)in the bed with myself and a buddy, both of us 190lbs. In medium speed easily climbed several small hills and one long(about 500ft) relatively steep hill, no problem. On the long steep hill I did have to allow the tranny to step down as has been discussed on this forum many times. Hyraulic dump handled this load easily. This type of use fits my definition of a workhorse.

It has a bench seat, not two seats,a couple of grandkids should fit nicely.

You sure it was a RTV1100 you test drove? Sounds like you don't want to like this machine.

I must say that this machine has ample power, is quiet and the fit and finish is fantastic. I have 30+ hours on it and am very pleased.

TWO GUNS · Jul 29, 2007

Went took a ride yesterday in a rtv 1100 with a man on another farm, his cab was really quiet. Not noisey at all *** Also, he had the back bed loaded up, really heavy with equipment, along with a trailer full of heavy items., and we went in some really hilly & boggy places. The 1100 didn't even know this thing had anything in it at all. We ran the A/C the whole time. This unit is very, very strong. And will do everything that anybody would has a need as far as a working utility vehicle. IT'S TOUGH AS A OX ***** I don't have a doubt that if anybody is hearing to much noise in the cab, the door is not shut completely, for the cab is really tight fitting for sure. And as far as power, IT IS THERE !!!!!!!!!!