RTV500 First Impressions

[Misfire]

According to my dealer there is no Kubota hook wrench for adjusting the shocks. Fortunately, while I could not manually adjust the shocks with my 65 year old hand and arm strength it was easy to adjust them with mechanical advantage provided by an adjustable slip wrench, with a rag to prevent the serrated wrench jaws from marking the shocks. I have my shocks adjusted all-the-way soft and it makes a comfortable difference.

Did you order the optional turf tires or go with the smaller standard tires on your RTV500?

I really like the Turf Tires but I have occasions to drive over my neighbor's lawns.

Thanks for the info on the wrench.

I got the heavy duty work site tires. The RTV500 comes with either those or ATV tires standard, but the "standard" work site tires increase the base price by $200 MSRP and make it RTV500-H. The ATV tires make it a RTV500-A.

The heavy duty work site tires are fine on the lawn. They don't tear up grass like the ATV tires. The only advantage I could see to actual turf tires is protecting a very fine lawn. Not something I have to worry about. :laughing:

Misfire

 

[jeff9366]

RE: Plastic body...this is no tank.

When you operate in the woods, squeezing between trees and around obstructions, you will be glad the body is made of a flexible plastic with memory; not metal. This is twice true when towing a trailer or an implement through the woods.

My RTV500 has been in the woods 18 months, the body has been compressed numerous times but bodywork springs back to original contours consistently.

My RTV500 resides in the garage, along with my Kubota B3300SU tractor and several implements. Our 2012 Subaru Forester resides in the driveway. Priorities are important.

 

[B52]

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Interesting to read. In the last month I've narrowed my search down to pretty much this machine. This is after trying out a RTV 500, a Mechron 2200, a Mule 610, and a Ranger 400. For the dollars, I'm liking this RTV 500 (that plus the Kubota dealer is only 8 miles from my house). The only thing I'm not positive that I would like is the positioning of the foot pedals. Have any of you owners found the positioning to be awkward when operating over an extended period of time ?

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[timswi]

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Interesting to read. In the last month I've narrowed my search down to pretty much this machine. This is after trying out a RTV 500, a Mechron 2200, a Mule 610, and a Ranger 400. For the dollars, I'm liking this RTV 500 (that plus the Kubota dealer is only 8 miles from my house). The only thing I'm not positive that I would like is the positioning of the foot pedals. Have any of you owners found the positioning to be awkward when operating over an extended period of time ?

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The pedal postion is annoying for the first 15 minutes..After that, it's all good...I had no complaints about that.

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

Good thorough review.
Couple of comments. Just like in cars the more money to buy the next model/size up will include some of the extras that just don't come with the lowest priced machine. Just economics and marketing to get customers to move up to the more deluxe model which they make more money.
The quick takeoff is the same on the top model but it becomes un noticed after just a small bit of driving. No problem with soft take offs now. My 7 year old drives mine and has since he was 5 and he nor I at 65 have any problems with it . Well yesterday I was in the passenger side and having him backup while I hit the pedal and it leaped backwards.:laughing:
The hitch tube that is to long can be cut off as you mentioned or stuck in and a hole drilled thru the tube where the pin hole is located which may decrease the structural intregity of the tube but I doubt it would ever break and can still use the hitch bar for other vehicles or for $18.95 buy another one just for the RTV.
Mine has drink holders but I can only use them to hold a drink that I'll drink after the RTV stops except on paved roads. Can't drink while it is bouncing thru the woods for me. I keep a knife and rag and pruning cutters in mine.

 

[B52]

The pedal postion is annoying for the first 15 minutes..After that, it's all good...I had no complaints about that.

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I tried one out for less than 10 minutes at the dealer. At the time I thought the pedal positioning should be fine (I think maybe it looks different than it actually feels while using). But a few days later I had a nagging thought about extended use. Thanks for your reply.

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