RTV in the mud

[rutwad]

I have owned and operated quads/UTVs in one form or another for 22 years. The UTV is the most utilitarian UTV I have ever driven. I never said the UTV wouldn't get stuck quicker than the others. I said that it was good enough to perform the OP's tasks without worrying about getting stuck. Simply put, the RTV does not get stuck easy. I think you, like many others, misinterpret the market Kubota is after with the RTV. This is evidenced by your listing of several very good sport side by sides, none of which have a diesel...except for the Mule; though I'm pretty sure the one you mentioned isn't the diesel version. The Kubota RTV is not a sport side by side.


Diesels are loud and expensive. Diesels are also meant to be driven all day long under load. The RTV is basically a tractor with a hydraulic bed. If you really want quiet, light and nimble and you want something to drive you to your barn or work vehicle...I think the EZ-Go electric is probably one of the better ones on the market.

I would say the only Sport side by side I mentioned is the Rhino, but we still use it all day to haul or pull loads, and carry work equipment with. We do not use it like you mentioned the Kubota is made for "to be driven all day long under load", but we do drive it to where work needs to be done, then load up and go to the next place.

I would also consider the Mule (gas or diesel) for work, not sport. They are similiar in speed to the UTV, not fast or sporty. Honestly, I don't like the Polaris because it is a Polaris. Other than that, it is great to work with. It is wider than the Rhino, but also offers more room in the bed. Yamaha is a great all around performer. It works as needed, runs a little faster than the Mule or RTV, but it is also great for just riding the trails. It is more versitile, but still has problems with CV boots and axles.

All points are good, and I enjoy reading all the input. But I still highly HIGHLY recommend testing the waters before diving in. Too bad dealers won't let you Demo most of these like you can equipment.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

 

[litework]

I would also consider the Mule (gas or diesel) for work, not sport. They are similiar in speed to the UTV, not fast or sporty. Honestly, I don't like the Polaris because it is a Polaris. Other than that, it is great to work with. It is wider than the Rhino, but also offers more room in the bed. Yamaha is a great all around performer. It works as needed, runs a little faster than the Mule or RTV, but it is also great for just riding the trails. It is more versitile, but still has problems with CV boots and axles.

All points are good, and I enjoy reading all the input. But I still highly HIGHLY recommend testing the waters before diving in. Too bad dealers won't let you Demo most of these like you can equipment.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

My wife and I looked at the Rhino first. There's a really good Yamaha dealership less than a mile away. We wanted more than 400lbs of cargo bed capacity. Ultimately, we had to prioritize and establish what was important to us.

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours.

 

[TWO GUNS]

rutwad,

Yes, the answer to you question, if I have used or run / worked any others...

Your humble answer is YES, YES , YES, Heck, run 'em , we own them,
On the farms & plantations that we also own, which consist of 6,632 acres of farm land & Hardwoods !!! Rhinos, Mules, RTV's, and Honda Rubicons & Rincons. So not pickin' on your either, but wouldn't own another Ranger, purchased two at the same time, and both of them stayed in the shop, keep the Polaris' seven months and got rid of them. Waste of good money ......
Now, that being said, in my opinion, the other utility vehicles are good, my second pic is the Rhino. They give us good service for what they are used for.But the RTV, in our applications, is the better machine, not knocking others, but serves use very, very well !!!!! We work our machines, don't play with them.
Now, for your information, not only are we purchasing several more RTV's come Feb. or March, as soon as Honda releases the new utility vehicles, there will be two of them purchased also. And then , we will let you know how they work out on the working & farming operations.
Oh, let me not forget, we had two gators also, and they were good utility vehicles !!!

 

[milkman]

litework, Thanks, I'm putting more stock in the actual owners/users comments, although there are some without mentioning names, but he thinks his BX22 will out work a D11R Cat, I know how the hydro works and that it will stop short if you don't know how to let up on the pedal, and it won't pull if you try to climb in high gear, ie pedal all the way down, the hydro works like my tractor. I'm hoping it would do at least as well in the mud as my BX 2200 and have more ground clerance, I have a down hill drive way and a really steep long road going down to the creek so I need the hold back with the hydro. I still hate dropping the cash without seeing one work right here.

 

[milkman]

TWO GUNS, I was typeing the same time you were, didn't realize you had actually owned/used all those other machines, and you have enough ground to find out what they're made of. I know it is different to go and sit in one and drive around the lot and actually work one. I have a good friend that has a UTV and he thinks it is the all purpose do all wonder, I've used it, tried it over and over, cannot make myself like it, but they've sold a gazillion of them so it must fit a lot of people.
I'd like to see some of the mud you've been through, that swamp stuff has no bottom.

 

[BrianW]

... I know how the hydro works and that it will stop short if you don't know how to let up on the pedal, and it won't pull if you try to climb in high gear, ie pedal all the way down, the hydro works like my tractor. ...

milkman, I think you hit the nail on the head here. We are accustomed to pushing an accelerator pedal down when we need more power going up a hill. Exactly the wrong reaction with a hydro. I think that is why many think the RTV is under powered.
I like the way a belt drive system drives, except for the fact they don't compression brake. What is with that! They figured out how to do it with ATVs. I like the way the RTV holds you on a hill. I think if you lean towards "sporty", the RTV is not for you. If you lean to "utility" and you understand how to drive a hydro, then the RTV is. I would rather be pushing snow, bogged in mud or creeping up a hill with a heavy load with a hydro than slipping a belt. JMHO I would rather be running down dirt roads pleasure driving with a belt. If only one of the manufacturers would produce a belt driven diesel with compression breaking.

 

[rutwad]

Two Guns, I completely agree with you about the Polaris. I did not elaborate on it earlier, but the Polaris does stay in the shop. I cannot believe how much trouble Polaris is having.

If you plan on running with the windshield installed, the Kubota's is the best.
The others tend to create a vacuum behind the windshield and just pull in more dust. If you are getting the enclosed model, then you should not have a problem at all.

milkman, ultimately it is up to you. Since dealerships won't offer a demo, maybe you could find some used side by sides for sale locally to test.

What does anyone know about these..

http://www.atvtruck.com/images/Tim's%20Truck.htm

 

[rutwad]

To expand upon our opinions, read through some of these.

Load Warriors
Mississippi Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks - Hunting - Trapping
Kubota RTV900 Review, Price, Information
http://www.kubota.com/h/products/Rtvcomps.pdf

 

[Skipholiday]

All that and no video or pictures?? LOL

Happy Thanksgiving and God Bless you all

Goodgame

rutwad,

Yes, the answer to you question, if I have used or run / worked any others...

Your humble answer is YES, YES , YES, Heck, run 'em , we own them,
On the farms & plantations that we also own, which consist of 6,632 acres of farm land & Hardwoods !!! Rhinos, Mules, RTV's, and Honda Rubicons & Rincons. So not pickin' on your either, but wouldn't own another Ranger, purchased two at the same time, and both of them stayed in the shop, keep the Polaris' seven months and got rid of them. Waste of good money ......
Now, that being said, in my opinion, the other utility vehicles are good, my second pic is the Rhino. They give us good service for what they are used for.But the RTV, in our applications, is the better machine, not knocking others, but serves use very, very well !!!!! We work our machines, don't play with them.
Now, for your information, not only are we purchasing several more RTV's come Feb. or March, as soon as Honda releases the new utility vehicles, there will be two of them purchased also. And then , we will let you know how they work out on the working & farming operations.
Oh, let me not forget, we had two gators also, and they were good utility vehicles !!!

TWO GUNS,
I'd like to see some of the mud you've been through, that swamp stuff has no bottom.

Goodluck milkman~!
Tommy has some of the HPX..

 

[TOMMYHPX4X4]

there ya'll go draggin da poor coonass into the arguement.lol need pictures?i still gotta get my boys to load them batteries.den i'ma gonna take an drive my three wheel drive hpx up a hill in 6 foot deep water with all dat in da bed. at da same time while watchin me some saints football on tv. and i'm gonna post a picture of it too. just as soon as i figure out how to do it all at one time.